Shooties: Vertical vs. Horizontal

[Tatsujin]

! Hope it's better than LS2

LS [x---------------I---------------] LS2

[saintfu]

I voted vertical, and oddly enough Air Zonk might be my favorite turbo shmup...

I think my favorite of all time might be Galactic Attack on Saturn.  That game is always overlooked.

The stage 2 of Galactic Attack on Sega Saturn lacks the perspective effects, you can check the Arcade version for these amazing effects.

Back to the topic, I think the hardware of PCE is more suitable to handle vertical shooting, for exmaple, the sprite size (32x64) and the display limitation of line (8 sprites per line). The soldier series and GUNHED are good example. However, PCE also has many amazing horizontal shooting games such as GOT, WOT and Gradius II, almost no flicker found in those games.

[Arkhan]

PC Engine does 16 sprites per line, not 8!

[Joe Redifer]

The stage 2 of Galactic Attack on Sega Saturn lacks the perspective effects, you can check the Arcade version for these amazing effects.

You need to play with your TV tilted on its side or in horizontal mode.  There are many more effects that are present in the Saturn version when played in this way compared to when it is played in the default, windowboxed shrunken mode.

[Digi.k]

hori... and vert... Salamander spoils for choice

but mostly hori for magical chase, gradius and parodius and a few other shumps I'm too lazy to mention right now XD

[ceti alpha]

It really is a tough call and also depends on what games you're comparing. But if I'm comparing my favourite hori vs. my favourite vert, I'm settling on the vert.

hori... and vert... Salamander spoils for choice

but mostly hori for magical chase, gradius and parodius and a few other shumps I'm too lazy to mention right now XD

Yeah, there are definitely some great hori shooties. It almost doesn't feel right to have to choose between the two styles. heh

[Arkhan]

Yeah, there are definitely some great hori shooties. It almost doesn't feel right to have to choose between the two styles. heh

THEN WHY YOU MAKE POLL!? FOOL!

[TheClash603]

Wow, didn't realize there were so many Galactic Attack fans!

Guess that proves vertical is better.

..but not on handheld systems.  Horizontal is the only way to play on a handheld.

[Tatsujin]

one thing i really don't like on verts (in horiz. tv mode only) is the bad side effect, that the scanlines seems to kinda vanish, while the BG is scrolling, which then let the BG appearing much more pixled.

[Arkhan]

..but not on handheld systems.  Horizontal is the only way to play on a handheld.

err?


Explain Turbo Express + Blazing Lazers then.

[Sparky]

i am going with vertical...just based on me living longer

Does anyone else find there is less shit coming at you from the sides (right & left) on verticals, always coming from the top and sometimes bottom.  In horizontials it seems to be coming at you from everywhere!!! top, bottom right & left..

or am i just drunk

[ceti alpha]

i am going with vertical...just based on me living longer

Does anyone else find there is less shit coming at you from the sides (right & left) on verticals, always coming from the top and sometimes bottom.  In horizontials it seems to be coming at you from everywhere!!! top, bottom right & left..

or am i just drunk

You're just drunk.   

Even still, you're absolutely right. 

Yeah, there are definitely some great hori shooties. It almost doesn't feel right to have to choose between the two styles. heh

THEN WHY YOU MAKE POLL!? FOOL!

I think we're all brave enough, here, to make the tough calls.

[ccovell]

There are fantastic exceptions on both sides, but generally, while verticals are great for bullet-hell adrenaline rushes, horizontals are prone to much more varied themes, interaction and level designs.  There's only so much that you can do with the "bird's eye view over a landscape" constriction, unless you're someone like Treasure or Raizing.

[rag-time4]

I went ahead and voted vertical... only because of how much I love Image Fight and Gun.Smoke... but I tend to agree with Chris... horizontal games do seem to have more variety.

It seems like with vertical shooters terrain is less of a factor.

[Joe Redifer]

Wow, didn't realize there were so many Galactic Attack fans!

Guess that proves vertical is better.

No, that just proves that Galactic Attack is awesome.