A History of Revolutionary Shoot-'Em-Ups
Hey Team, I wanna play every revolutionary shoot-'em-up, in order of release, so that I can get a first hand impression of how the genre has progressed. "Revolutionary" can be defined however you like. This is the list I've come up with so far. Any thoughts? Any glaring omissions? Any games on the list that shouldn't be?
Spacewar!
Space Invaders
Asteroids
Defender
Galaga
Xevious
Thunder Force
1942
Gradius
TwinBee
Darius
Life Force (also known as Salamander)
R-Type
Axelay
Gunbird
Battle Garegga
DoDonPachi
Radiant Silvergun
Giga Wing
Ikaruga
Espgaluda
Gradius V
Mushihimesama
Deathsmiles
Jamestown: Legend of the Lost Colony
Crimzon Clover
Sine Mora
Astebreed
Rigid Force Redux
Rolling Gunner
ZeroRanger
Sisters Royale
UPDATE (4 days after the original post):
Thanks to all the comments in this thread, this is the updated list, expanding the original 32 games to a whopping 72 (which may not even be enough!), in chronological order.
Before browsing, I want to acknowledge that I know some of these, particularly the games after Ikaruga, are highly debtable! But this is the compiled list from your suggestions, of revolutionary shoot-'em-up games.
For the record, for me, revolutionary means bringing something new to the table, OR, using something from the past, but to a level of perfection not yet seen at that point in gaming history. But perhaps it means something different for YOU. :D
Spacewar!
Space Invaders
Asteroids
Defender
Galaga
Bosconian
Scramble
Xevious
Time Pilot
River Raid
Yars Revenge
Thunder Force
Super Spy Hunter
1942
Gradius
TwinBee
Tiger-Heli
Space Harrier
Gun Frontier
Darius
Life Force (also known as Salamander)
Side Arms
Zanac
R-Type
Twin cobra aka Kyokyoku tiger
Hishouzame (known as Flying Shark in Europe and Sky Shark in North America)
Parodius (specifically Parodius: The Octopus Saves the Earth, also known as Parodius: Tako wa Chikyū o Sukū in Japan)
Blazing Lazers (known as Gunhed in Japan)
Omega Fighter
Raiden
GG Aleste
Summer Carnival '92: Recca
Boogie Wings
Viewpoint
Gleylancer
Raiden II
Batsugun
V-V (also known as "V-Five" or "Grind Stormer" in some regions)
Cybattler
RayForce (also known as Layer Section in Japan, Galactic Attack in North America, and Gunlock in Europe)
Shippuu Mahou Daisakusen
DonPachi
Tyrian
Cho Ren Sha 68k
Battle Garegga
Twinkle Star Sprites
DoDonPachi
Dodonpachi
Touhou
Einhander
Radiant Silvergun
Giga Wing
Psyvariar
Ikaruga
Progear
Shikigami no Shiro
Touhou Koumakyou: The Embodiment of Scarlet Devil (commonly referred to as Touhou 6)
Ketsui
Jets'n'Guns
Judgement Silversword
Radirgy
Sky Force Reloaded
Hellsinker
Genetos
Illvelo
∀kashicverse
DonDonPachi Maximum
Aka To Blue
ZeroRanger
Ginga Force
Angel at Dusk
CYGNI