Tomb Raider II 1997
Why it still holds upA trip from the Great Wall to Venice is a tour that still draws a returning player.
Shooters that still hold up
From cover, from the hip, and from a side-scrolling jet
Games
Tomb Raider II 1997
Why it still holds upA trip from the Great Wall to Venice is a tour that still draws a returning player.
Second Sight 2004
Why it still holds upPsychic powers include throwing enemies and taking control of their minds, but the power bar drains quickly, which still pushes you toward weapons.
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner 2003
Why it still holds upFast, furious fights in short stages still make it a game to replay for better ranks.
Metal Slug 6 2006
Why it still holds upCarrying two weapons still gives every shootout more tactical choices.
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division 1998
Why it still holds upIt is still easy to pick up, since two kinds of combat share one set of controls.
Moon Patrol 1982
Why it still holds upWith only speed, two cannons and a jump to manage, a short session still gets you a full run today.
Wings of Fury 1987
Why it still holds upSupplies that run out still turn each mission into a trip planned between the carrier and the target today.
Xybots 1987
Why it still holds upLearning to read each maze, alone or with a second player, still keeps each level worth playing today.
Crack Down 1989
Why it still holds upYou still get a countdown, bombs to plant and a way out to reach, and together they turn each level into a route you plan and shorten.
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six 3: Raven Shield 2003
Why it still holds upPlanning a raid on the map before you play it still makes each mission two jobs in one.
Midnight Resistance 1989
Why it still holds upChoosing which gun to buy before every stage still gives each run a plan to make and revise.
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor 2009
Why it still holds upYou are still making a choice every moment, with aim, dodge and sword all in play.
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake 1990
Why it still holds upSneaking past guards who listen is a test of care, and it remains one now.
PixelJunk Shooter 2009
Why it still holds upA shooter where liquids are the puzzle still gives each cavern its own problem.
Battlefield 3 2011
Why it still holds upA map for every kind of vehicle is still a draw for a squad.
Jak II 2003
Why it still holds upA whole city to cross, with platforming, guns and vehicles mixed in, still gives it variety today.
Atlantis 1982
Why it still holds upStart it today and three fixed guns, with a city that shrinks with every miss, turn each wave into a choice of which ship to shoot first.
Raid over Moscow 1984
Why it still holds upA race against a missile launch clock is still a tense goal.
Cry of Fear 2013
Why it still holds upA small inventory still turns every pickup into a choice today.
Toki 1989
Why it still holds upA spitting ape with a helmet has a charm that is still worth a look.
Descent 3 1999
Why it still holds upEach tunnel is still a question of orientation as well as combat, with movement in every direction.
Metal Slug 4 2002
Why it still holds upEven today, a bonus scoring system gives a reason to replay a level.
Clive Barker's Undying 2001
Why it still holds upIt still has a darker tone, from a horror writer's story and spells beside the guns.
1943: The Battle of Midway 1987
Why it still holds upA real battle turned into stages of two kinds still makes it a clear way into the genre today.
Air Zonk 1992
Why it still holds upTen companions that change how Zonk fights still give each stage a different choice today.
Far Cry Instincts 2005
Why it still holds upTraps let you fight by setting things up beforehand, and that planning is still part of what it offers.
Astro Boy: Omega Factor 2003
Why it still holds upMeeting characters that upgrade your stats and a second run with new stages still give you reasons to replay it.
Mega Man Zero 4 2005
Why it still holds upChoosing the weather and the order of eight stages still gives you a say in how hard each one is today.
Lords of Thunder 1993
Why it still holds upChoosing the order of the stages and which armor to wear still gives each run a plan.
Crusader: No Remorse 1995
Why it still holds upThe scenery is still as destructible as the men in it.
Elite 1984
Why it still holds upAn open-ended universe still invites a player to set their own course.
Velocity Ultra 2013
Why it still holds upTeleporting and bombs still turn each stage into a quick puzzle as much as a shooter.
Top Gunner 1986
Also known as Jackal
Why it still holds upA jeep with a friend riding along is still a fun arcade idea today.
Hellgate: London 2007
Why it still holds upA random city to hack through still makes each run a different London.
Fantasy Zone 1986
Why it still holds upIt still has a rhythm of its own, from flying both ways and spending between waves.
Rocket Knight Adventures 1993
Why it still holds upThe rocket pack, charged and bounced off walls, still offers plenty of ways through a stage.
Operation C 1991
Why it still holds upAlternating side and top views over five stages still makes a compact run and gun.
Syphon Filter 1999
Why it still holds upA mix of shooting and stealth, across missions that keep changing, still makes it worth a look today.
Titanfall 2014
R-Type II 1989
Why it still holds upCheckpoints and a charged cannon make each section something to learn and retry, and that rhythm is still how it plays.
TimeSplitters 2000
Why it still holds upA map maker and four player matches with bots still keep it going after the story.
Metal Gear: Ghost Babel 2000
Why it still holds upLeaning on walls and knocking to lure guards still makes each room a small stealth puzzle.
N.O.V.A.: Near Orbit Vanguard Alliance 2009
Why it still holds upA short campaign with a console feel still makes a quick shooter for a phone.
Blazing Lazers 1989
Why it still holds upFive ship speeds and four weapons still let you tune how the ship plays.
Battlezone 1980
Why it still holds upSteering a tank with two sticks is still a distinct way to play today.
The Punisher 2005
Why it still holds upInterrogation is not required to progress, but its advantages still make each fight more than shooting.
Xenon 1988
Why it still holds upChoosing between plane and tank to fit each enemy still makes every level a plan today.