man, the C64 had all the cool shoot em ups

[ajlwalker]

Actually I just remembered Zynaps.  Amazing game which had an annoying habit if crashing occasionally.

[Khephren]

Zybex was pretty cool. But loved Katakis, Uridium and X-out. Does paradroid count?
As for R-type....I prefered it on my speccy (I know, i'll get my coat!)

[vidarh]

the c64 game 'delta' was a nice one....

I have about 10 different remixes of the Delta music on my music player... The title tune is an all time favourite but the in game track is really hypnotic as background while going for a walk or working...

[Drummerboy]

One of the best C=64 Shoot em games is Parsec if you never saw.. look it up and see..

Others--

-Rtype
-Katakis
-Delta

[Speelgoedmannetje]

Xenon 2?

/I'll also get my coat

[coldfish]

I thought SWIV was more impressive on the C64 than the Amiga.

...where's my coat?

[fishy_fiz]

Ah, speaking of c64 shooters, I just noticed there's a c64 seuck contest on at the moment (finishes 5 dec.). I might have a rushed attempt at an entry  

[Arkhan]

The shooters were abysmal compared to other computers at the time.

1 button, totally cool.  NOT.



MSX had better Konami shooters, and PC Engine had better everything.


Sorry, but the C64 ports of nearly every shooter were a disaster.



does Parallax count as a shooter?  It was good.

[Calen]

Loved X-out. Salamander & Saint Dragon great to. Blue Max i have a soft spot for as it was one of the first games i played on the C64.
The shootem up parts in Turrican 1 & 2 was pretty special also. alittle nod to Rainbow Arts/F5 other hit Katakis i would say.

[kedawa]

I don't think it's fair to compare it to the PC Engine, since it came along much later.

[Arkhan]

I don't think it's fair to compare it to the PC Engine, since it came along much later.

Sure it is. It was only 3 years later, and uses a 6502 based CPU just the same.     Sure its souped up, but its still an 8bit CPU.

If we cant compare to the PCE, we could just compare them to the NES and get similar results.

or the arcade originals.


Sidearms on C64 is an abortion.

[yakumo9275]

Sure it is. It was only 3 years later, and uses a 6502 based CPU just the same.     Sure its souped up, but its still an 8bit CPU.

If we cant compare to the PCE, we could just compare them to the NES and get similar results.

1982 vs 1987 is not 3 years.

[klx300r]

Bungling Bay and R-Type were my favs on the mighty 64

[fishy_fiz]

Sure, the conversions often werent great conversions, but some good games were made from them (salamander,rtype,nemesis,forgotten worlds, etc, etc.). However, conversions were often inferiror to the c64's original titles. Still one of the best 2d shooter platforms around. C64 vs. nes or msx for shooters ? You're joking right ? The c64 blitzed them both. One or 2 excpetions doesnt change this fact. Also, I never understood how the MSX received a good reputation for shooters. Speccy style graphics with inferior movement isnt the best formula for a good 2d shooter.

[Arkhan]

1982 vs 1987 is not 3 years.

whatever, 82, 84, close enough.
 
Splitting hairs since the PCE was ready in 86, so 4 years difference and the same CPU architecture.
 
I blame the VIC-II for all the commodore shmups sucking.  It just doesn't do action-packed shooters right without looking like crap.
 
and the SID for often having sfx that overtake the music, no music at all, or no sfx.  
 
No shooter really found the proper balance on the C64.

[fishy_fiz]

Why do you blame the VIC-II. Any particular reason, or are you just saying it for fun ? What aspect of the VIC-II do you blame for this ?  Additionally I wonder if you actually know anything about it other than the name ? As it is it sounds like you're deliberately trying to provoke responses from people. If that's something you enjoy then good luck to you.
As for the CPU, a 7.16 mhz HuC6280A is far from the same thing as a 6502. Sure they share some herritage, but so does a 80286 and an i7.