Run and gun games, which combine 2D platformers and scrolling shooters, were formerly extremely popular. The vast majority of fans of interactive entertainment were familiar with and enjoyed games like Contra, Ghouls ‘n Ghosts, and Metal Slug. Although these productions are less common today, there are still a lot of highly intriguing ideas in this vein. Here is a ranking of the greatest run and gun games from the last decade. These are The top ten run and gun hits.
10. Mighty Gunvolt Burst
That is how compelling of a title Mighty No ought to be. 9, which ultimately proved to be a major failure, as we all know quite well. An fantastic creation that draws inspiration from the Megaman series is called Mighty Gunvolt Burst. The game may have 2D graphics that are a little different from those of the other games in the ranking, but the gameplay more than makes up for this.
9. Blazing Chrome
Blazing Chrome is a fantastic treat for fans of the Contra series. The game offers not only very similar 2D graphics to Contra III from the SNES, but also a perfectly recognizable style of play and all shooting mechanics. Like many other run and gun productions, the title tastes best in cooperation for 2 people.
8. Shank 2
Yes, I know that the second Shank 2 appeared not a “decade”, but 11 years ago, but let’s not be so meticulous. A little date shift won’t stop me from ranking this great run and gun game. The production, introduced in 2012 on PS3, X360 and PC, came out great for Klei Entertaninent. The team skillfully weaved hack and slash motifs (the importance of melee weapons) into the traditional formula of the Contra series, and thanks to that we got a deliciously tasting dish for fans of retro climates.
7. Huntdown
Huntdown from 2020 not only looks great, offering a lovely pixel-art aesthetic in a cyberpunk climate. Here, all the elements of the run and gun experience were simply sensational. The title is full of black humor and allusions to kitschy action movies from the 80s, which further increases the attractiveness of this proposal. Be sure to play it. Preferably in an excellent, couch cooperation for 2 people.
6. Ghosts ‘n Goblins Resurrection
The classic with a very high level of difficulty has returned in a beautifully presented, modern form. After the premiere on Switch in February 2021, the game running on RE Engine (which shows how versatile Capcom’s technology is) appeared a few months later also on PS4, XOne and PC. Despite the name “Resurrection”, we are not dealing with a remake/remaster here. Ghosts ‘n Goblins is a completely new installment of the series, something of a reboot for the entire IP. Contrary to appearances (medieval fantasy vibes), the title obviously has a place for a lot of shooter motifs (Arthur throws his gun as fast as if he was firing from a machine gun), which will delight fans of the run and gun genre.
5. Mighty Goose
This goose is really POWERFUL. Unfortunately, for some reason, it was not appreciated by the reviewers. The title, in which we play the title bird, with an impressive arsenal of guns (and armored vehicles!) received the most ratings around 7/10. Personally, I would give this beautifully animated, very honey 2D gem a rating at least one notch higher. Excellent pace of fun, beautiful pixel-art graphics, good humor and excellent controls are the most important advantages of this proposal. The only drawback is that the adventure ends a little too quickly.
4. Valfaris
Valfaris is one of the newer and most interesting productions in our ranking. The game combines motifs straight from classics such as Contra with excellent heavy metal music. The authors of the good Slain: Back from Hell have corrected practically all the shortcomings of this production, which was a kind of exercise for the Steel Mantis team, providing us with a title that you want to play not only once, but you want to come back to it after finishing it, which takes about 8 hours.
3. My Friend Pedro
Conceptually, My Friend Pedro can be classified as a new wave of run and gun games. The game complements the traditional old-school themes of 8 and 16-bit 2D games of this type with some very creative ideas. The essence of the fun in My Friend Pedro is a slow-motion two-gun takedown, a bit like Max Payne. The game is full of elements related to the physics of the virtual environment. without being bored for long hours and encouraging you to get better and better scores in quick, concise levels. There is no shortage of crazy, absurd humor in all this, which makes the murderous escapade of the main character and the eponymous talking banana even more enjoyable.
2.Broforce
It’s hard to believe, but after so many years, the sensational Broforce is still being developed. The game will receive a major update in the coming weeks. “Broforce Forever”, introducing many new stages. It’s nice to see that this great 2015 run and gun game, rightly highly praised at the time of its release, continues to be enriched. This gem, which allows 4 people to play together in cooperation (also locally, in couch multiplayer), can be played on PS4, PS5, XOne, XSX, Switch and on PC (Steam, MS Store).
1. Cuphead
Cuphead is certainly not a traditional run and gun production, because the title leans heavily towards scrolling shooters. However, a beautifully made and animated game could not be missing from our list. Cuphead’s run and gun level themes taste delicious, and are the perfect starter for some very challenging boss fights.
Before buying Cuphead, one note, because not everyone is aware of it: this game is very difficult, requires a lot of patience (several hours devoted to killing one of the most difficult bosses is the norm here) and great dexterity. Therefore, I recommend caution not to be disappointed with the old-school level of challenge.
Source: PewGames