Screw Attack: Eco Fighters

Eco Fighters, an arcade game released in both the US and Japan (where it was called Ultimate Ecology), is a unique, hand eye coordination intensive 2D scrolling shooter (or SHMUP for short) released in 1993 and again in 2006 on Capcom Classics Vol 2. As well as superbly rendered graphics, Eco Fighters features an interesting play mechanic with the addition of an extended metal arm mounted on the side of the player's ship. On the end of the arm is a weapon that can be rotated through 360 degrees. This weapon comes in 4 different forms; Energy Ball, Long-range Hammer, Laser Sword or Scatter-Bomb foil. The rotatable weapon can be powered up before being fired, in a similar fashion to the 'Force' weapon that featured in Irem's "R-Type". The rotatable weapon is also impervious to all enemy contact and can be used as a shield. In addition to the rotating weapon, the player's ship is also equipped with forward-firing laser guns. Both the guns and rotatable weapon can be powered-up with greater shot power when the relevant icon is picked up.

Basically, its a simple twist on classic shooter mechanics and it works quite well. Apparently Stuttering Craig from ScrewAttack and I have 95% the same taste in games - especially shootem ups and classic games. He even thinks Crazy Balloon kicks ass. Hopefully Eco Fighters or a remake or a sequel to it could one day come out on XBLA and PSN. Hey, you never know.