When did you last play a space shooter? Better yet, if you're under the age of 20, have you ever played a space shooter? Back when it was a popular genre, we used to run to the local 7-11 with a fistful of mom's laundry money, eager to plow through a hectic sea of deadly asteroids and insect-shaped enemy craft.
Since those days when high scores meant something, it seems every other genre that existed at the time has grown and evolved into something amazing. Rally-x paved the way for Gran Turismo and Forza Motorsport. Pitfall became Tomb Raider. Even other classes of shooters like Contra have led to great games like Gears of War.
Why, then, have space shooters hit a darwinian roadblock? If Metroid can move through generations and still be fun, why can't Galaga? Hit the jump for a closer look at this possible extinction and a chance to tell us what you think.
It's no surprise that some games have a longer shelf life than others. Looking back at your library of Atari 2600 and NES titles, it's a good chance there aren't more than a handful of cartridges you'd consider dusting off and spending more than 5 minutes with. Shuffle through them long enough, though, and you're bound to find a gem or two that might be worth a bit of your precious gaming time.
For me, it doesn't matter how old I get or how much I enjoy the shimmering splendor of this current console generation, I can always run through a few worlds of Super Mario Brothers or try to beat my old Galaga score when I'm in the mood to kick it old school. One is a platformer, one is a space shooter. The bigger difference, however, is that I can turn on any other console or handheld in my collection and play any number of platformers.
So if everything from the racing game to the block puzzle has grown and held its place in the industry, what the hell happened to this old favorite? Sure, there was Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and a few crummy follow-ups, but most of what we've been handed lately is nothing more than prettier versions of the same old tired crap. Is there some unwritten law that confines space shooters to up-scrolling 2-D? Is that horrid Gummi Ship minigame from the Kingdom Hearts series really all we get?
Don't get me wrong here. I'll be the first to stand up alongside Dtoid's finest like Aaron and Colette to applaud new and original ideas like ICO, Shadow of the Colossus and Katamari. Give me something fresh that I haven't played before and you'll find me in a state of gaming nirvana. By the same token, though, I still enjoy "More of the same, only better" just like many of you might. If developers can get away with releasing Mega Man 5000 G and pile after steaming pile of Sonic the Hedgehog, why don't we have a new Axelay? Imagine what might be possible on today's hardware, which is fully capable of rendering colorful galaxies where you could blow up entire planets or dogfight with hundreds of enemies at once.
What do you think, robot friends? Would you jump at the chance to play a 3-D spaceship game built for the 360, or do you think this genre is no longer viable and should be forgotten about?
Contest:
6:08 PM on 03.06.2007
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Actually I remember how there were way too many space shooters back in the 16-bit days. In fact they were called shooters then so I'd say they evolved into all of the shooters we play now.
I'd also argue that Contra was more of a platformer anyway.
Also I seem to remember rumours of another new Battlestar Galactica game...
YES! A new BSG game would be teh win!
Maybe a way to build your own ship, or just so much bullshit on the screen blowing up and everything at once, who knows. I just hope there IS going to be some more shooters; me being 24, I miss those games of yesteryear.
Bring Raiden to XBLV and Ill be a happy man
Also, there's supposedly a new R-Type in the works, but even still, that's only one game. Why do we have such an abundance of first-person shooters and racing games but so few space shooters? They used to be all over the place.
AMEN Spencers. Hell, go 1 step further and make a Raiden HD with updated graphics.
i.e. they suck
Raiden IV is coming to 360:
http://www.teamfremont.com/news/check%20this/Raiden_IV_Coming_to_the_U..shtml
It's true though, space shooters are few and far between these days, especially compared to juggernauts like shooters or racing games.
3D is a little different, there's a LOT that could be done there, and I'm disappointed with the lack of space shooters. Imagine the detail that would be possible on the current gen hardware. I like to daydream about something akin to Colony Wars, except SO MUCH MORE AND BETTER.
And it's not a space shooter, per se, but while we're talking about PSX games, I really want another goddamn Jumping Flash! title. The world needs more Robbit. I wonder who owns the rights now. Doesn't matter much, I guess; I'll go where the Robbit goes.
i play a shooter for a little while almost every day.
Every Extend Extra for the psp, xyanide for the xbox, there have been a few, but not many in recent years. more get released overseas. the genre is hard by nature, and unfortunately, western gamers are lazy, and sometimes dislike a game just b/c its challenging.
@GRIM - if shock troopers doesn't hit the VC i'll be PISSED!!!
FUCKING.
SPACE.
All you need to know. I'm out.