Shoot-em-ups, or shmups as they are affectionately nicknamed, have been itching gamer's trigger fingers since the dawn of gaming. What constitutes a shmup? Well, that is a minor point of contention to fans. Some people would cry foul at the inclusion of Star Fox and Geometry Wars in this list. However, most agree that if you are controlling an avatar through near infinite amounts of gunfire, then it's a shmup. The POV and graphics interface are open to discussion.
Now to be clear, shoot-em-ups are a niche genre. While there won't be lines outside of Gamestop waiting for the next Ikaruga release, there sure will be a gaggle of excited blog posts. And the fans, while not legion, are extremely passionate about their favorite game genre. Indeed there are enough of them to warrant new releases. The Wii just saw release of Sin and Punishment: Star Successor, a follow up to the N64 original. So are you ready to memorize boss patterns and try to survive long enough to beat your high score? Who needs girlfriends, right? Here are the best shmups of all time.
Best Shoot 'Em Up Games of All Time | Bestcovery