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[[quoteright:350:[[VideoGame/FlyingRedBarrel https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ss_4ec0f35a6eaaf5b09e26b932139f65f99711b00c1920x1080.jpg]]]]

A subgenre of the ShootEmUp genre.

As the name suggests, the game's playfield constantly scrolls vertically over the course of a level, giving a top-down view of the action. The most common use of such an engine has been for games with some kind of spacecraft or plane, although a number of games were based on roads with the player controlling a car.

Most such games had the player collect health, lives and weapons as {{powerup}}s in the levels, although some allowed the player to make purchases with their points between levels.

Complexity varies by having different numbers of [[MotionParallax layers of parallax]] and in some cases, transparency effects, such as translucent explosions.

Many vertical scrolling shooters were designed for arcade machines with screens taller than they are wide, which causes technical problems when playing them on home systems where TV screens/monitors are invariably wider than they are tall. To accommodate this difference, some home versions have an option to alter the orientation of the video output, requiring the display to be tilted 90 degrees, or, failing that, the player's head; this is known as "tate" mode (not short for "rotate" but the Japanese word for vertical). The alternative, "yoko" (horizontal) mode, allows the display to retain its usual orientation at the expense of having the playing field truncated, zoomed out, squashed or scrolled back and forth.

Compare HorizontalScrollingShooter.
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!!Examples:
[[index]]
* ''VideoGame/NineteenSeventeenTheAlienInvasionDX''
* The ''[[VideoGame/NineteenFortyTwo 194X]]'' series
* ''Aces of the Luftwaffe - Squadron''
* ''VideoGame/AcrobatMission''
* ''VideoGame/AdventuresOfDinoRiki''
* The ''VideoGame/AeroFighters''/''Sonic Wings'' series
* ''VideoGame/AeroStar'' (unique that your plane only moves on land but can hover to platforms)
* ''[[VideoGame/FireBarrel Air Assault]]'' a.k.a. ''Fire Barrel''
* ''VideoGame/AirAttack''
* ''VideoGame/AirGallet''
* ''VideoGame/AkaToBlue''
* The ''VideoGame/{{Aleste}}''/''Power Strike'' series
** ''VideoGame/{{MUSHA}}'' (a.k.a. ''Musha Aleste'')
** VideoGame/SuperAleste (released in the US as ''Space Megaforce'')
* ''VideoGame/AlienWars''
* ''VideoGame/AlligatorHunt''
* ''VideoGame/AngelAtDusk''
* ''VideoGame/AngryLaserSpace''
* The PC game ''VideoGame/{{Archmage}}'', with the player being a witch riding a Pegasus or a wizard on a dragon.
* ''VideoGame/AreaFlat'' series
* ''VideoGame/ArmedPoliceBatrider''
* ''ASO: Armored Scrum Object'' (AKA: ''VideoGame/AlphaMission''), and its sequel
* ''VideoGame/AstroBlaster''
* ''VideoGame/AstroAssembler''
* ''VideoGame/{{Axelay}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Baryon}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Batsugun}}''
* ''VideoGame/BattleGaregga'' and sequel ''Battle Bakraid''
* ''VideoGame/BlastOff'', a semi-sequel to VideoGame/{{Bosconian}}, a multi-diractional shooter
* ''VideoGame/BlazingLazers''
* VideoGame/BloonsSuperMonkey
* ''VideoGame/BlueRevolver''
* ''VideoGame/BlueWishResurrection''
* ''VideoGame/BroodStar''
* ''VideoGame/BulletHellMonday''
** ''Bullet Hell Monday Black''
** ''Bullet Hell Monday Finale''
* ''VideoGame/CaptainTomaday''
* ''VideoGame/{{Caladrius}}''
* The ''VideoGame/{{Castle of Shikigami}}'' trilogy
* VideoGame/TheChasteFullmetalMaidenLeiria and it's remake
* ''VideoGame/ChaosField''
* ''VideoGame/ChoRenSha68K''
* ''VideoGame/CloudCutter''
* ''VideoGame/CrimzonClover''
* ''VideoGame/CrisisForce''
* ''VideoGame/{{Cybattler}}'' -- it's interesting to note that your default equipment is a LaserBlade instead of a laser cannon, for once
* ''VideoGame/DangarUFORobo''
* ''VideoGame/DangerousSeed''
* ''VideoGame/DangunFeveron''
* ''VideoGame/DanmakuUnlimited''
** ''Danmaku Unlimited 2''
** ''Danmaku Unlimited 3''
*** ''Storm Strikers''
* ''Darwin 4078''
* ''VideoGame/{{DemonStar}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Dogyuun}}''
* The ''VideoGame/DonPachi''/''[=DoDonPachi=]'' series
* ''VideoGame/{{Dragon Blaze|2000}}''
* ''VideoGame/DragonSpirit''
** It's sequel ''Dragon Saber''
* ''VideoGame/{{DownWell}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Enigmata}}'' and sequel
* ''VideoGame/EveryExtend'' is a subversion; you move freely on a top-down plane, and enemies will fire attacks, but your only method of attacking is [[ActionBomb blowing yourself up]].
* ''VideoGame/{{Espgaluda}}'' and sequel
* ''VideoGame/EspRaDe''
* ''VideoGame/{{eXceed}}''
* ''Exed Exes'' (AKA: ''Savage Bees'')
* ''VideoGame/ExplosiveBreaker''
* ''VideoGame/{{Fixeight}}''
* ''VideoGame/FinalBlaster''
* ''VideoGame/FlutterBombs'' - one of the oddest examples, where you're a ''butterfly'' shooting at assorted enemy insects!
* ''VideoGame/FlyingRedBarrel''
* ''VideoGame/FlyingShark''
** The sequel, ''VideoGame/FireShark''
* ''VideoGame/FlyingTigers''
* ''VideoGame/FormationArmedF''
* ''VideoGame/GaryoRetsuden'' - a ''Literature/RomanceOfTheThreeKingdoms'' shooter, because why not?
* ''VideoGame/GeminiWing''
* ''VideoGame/GhostPilots''
* ''VideoGame/GigaWing'' and its sequel
* ''Ginga Fukei Densetsu Sapphire''
* ''VideoGame/GoBeryllium''
* ''VideoGame/{{Gondomania}}''
* Some sections of ''[[VideoGame/{{Gradius}} Salamander/Life Force (internationally)]]'' and its sequel.
* ''VideoGame/GrazeCounter''
* ''VideoGame/GrindStormer'' / ''V-V''
* ''VideoGame/TheGuardianLegend''
* ''VideoGame/{{Gunbird}}'' and its sequel
* ''VideoGame/GunNac''
* ''VideoGame/{{Gundhara}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Guwange}}''
* ''VideoGame/HighwayHunter'' is a powerups-only example that uses a car. Classification as NintendoHard is quite likely, especially given the fact that you can't save your game.
* ''Hitogata Happa'' from the ''VideoGame/GundemoniumSeries''
* ''VideoGame/HotDogStorm''
* ''VideoGame/GunFrontier''
* ''VideoGame/GunSmoke''
* ''VideoGame/{{Hellsinker}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Ibara}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Ikaruga}}''
* ''VideoGame/ImageFight''
* ''VideoGame/JamestownLegendOfTheLostColony''
* ''VideoGame/JudgementSilversword'' (and its spinoff, ''Cardinal Sins'')
** ''VideoGame/{{Eschatos}}'', the sequel to ''Judgement Silversword''
** ''VideoGame/GingaForce'', the SpiritualSuccessor to ''Eschatos''
* ''VideoGame/JigokuKisetsukan''
* ''VideoGame/JuuniJumon''
* ''VideoGame/{{Karous}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Ketsui}}''
* ''Kiloblaster''
* ''KOFSkyStage''
* ''[[VideoGame/LastDuelInterPlanetWar2012 Last Duel]]''
* ''VideoGame/LegendaryWings is this for most of the game, the "DANGER", "LUCKY", and "palace" stages are horizontal.
* ''VideoGame/LethalThunder''/''Thunder Blaster''
* ''VideoGame/LightningFighters''
* ''VideoGame/MagicalCannonWars''
* ''VideoGame/MahouDaisakusen'' (a.k.a. ''Sorcer Striker'')
** ''Shippu Mahou Daisakusen'' (a.k.a. ''Kingdom Grandprix'')
** ''Great Mahou Daisakusen'' (a.k.a. ''Dimahoo'')
* ''VideoGame/LenEn''
* ''VideoGame/MajorStryker''
* ''VideoGame/MamorukunCurse''
* ''VideoGame/MarsMatrix''
* ''VideoGame/MetalHawk'' - one notable trait is that you can change the ''elevation'' of your helicopter during gameplay to avoid attacks.
* ''[[VideoGame/MuchiMuchiPork Muchi-Muchi Pork]]''
* ''VideoGame/{{Mushihimesama}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Nexzr}}''
* ''Night Raid''
* ''Noiz2sa''
* ''VideoGame/NotAugust''
* ''VideoGame/OmegaFighter''
* ''VideoGame/OutZone''
* ''VideoGame/{{Overkill}}''
* ''VideoGame/Parsec47''
* ''VideoGame/{{Pawarumi}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Phelios}}'', in which you ride a Pegasus.
* ''VideoGame/{{Philosoma}}''
* ''VideoGame/PrismaticSolid''
* ''VideoGame/PsychoChaser''
* ''VideoGame/QPShooting''
* ''VideoGame/RadiantSilvergun''
* ''VideoGame/{{Radirgy}}''
* The ''VideoGame/{{Raiden}}'' series
** ''VideoGame/RaidenV''
** The ''VideoGame/RaidenFighters'' series
* ''VideoGame/RapidHero'' - also known in some ports as ''Arcadia''
* ''[[VideoGame/RaptorCallOfTheShadows Raptor: Call of the Shadows]]''
* The VideoGame/RaySeries: ''[=RayForce=]'', ''[=RayStorm=]'', and ''[=RayCrisis=]''
* ''VideoGame/{{Recca}}''
* ''VideoGame/RivalMegagun''
* ''VideoGame/RiverRaid'', one of the first
* ''VideoGame/{{rRootage}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Seihou}}''
* ''VideoGame/SeireiSenshiSpriggan''
* ''VideoGame/SengokuAce'' (AKA ''Samurai Aces'')
* ''VideoGame/{{Shienryu}}'' (AKA ''Geki-oh: Shooting King'')
* ''VideoGame/{{Shoot1up}}''
* ''VideoGame/ShockTroopers''
* ''VideoGame/ShmupsSkillTest''
* ''VideoGame/{{Silpheed}}''
* ''VideoGame/SkullFang''
* ''VideoGame/{{SPACESHIPS}}''
* ''VideoGame/SparkAndSparkle''
* ''VideoGame/SolarStriker''
* ''VideoGame/{{Soukyugurentai}}'' (AKA ''Terra Diver'')
* ''VideoGame/StahlfederTetsukouHikuudan''
* ''VideoGame/StarForce''
* ''VideoGame/StarGagnant''
* ''VideoGame/StarSoldier''
* ''VideoGame/StraniaTheStellaMachina''
* ''VideoGame/Strikers1945'' and its sequels
* ''VideoGame/SpyHunter''
** ''VideoGame/SpyHunter1983''
** ''VideoGame/SpyHunterII''
** ''VideoGame/SuperSpyHunter''
** ''VideoGame/SpyHunter2001''
* "[=StarCannon=]" from Website/FunOrb
* ''VideoGame/{{Sylphia}}''
* ''VideoGame/TheTaleOfAlltynex'' series:
** ''VideoGame/{{Kamui}}'' (1999)
** ''VideoGame/RefleX'' (2008)
** ''VideoGame/AlltynexSecond'' (2010)
* ''VideoGame/{{Tasac}}''
* ''VideoGame/TerraCresta'' (It's InNameOnly predecessor ''VideoGame/MoonCresta'')
** ''VideoGame/SolCresta''
* ''VideoGame/ThunderDragon''
* ''VideoGame/TigerHeli''
* ''Franchise/TouhouProject''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouFuumarokuTheStoryOfEasternWonderland''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouYumejikuuPhantasmagoriaOfDimDream''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouGensokyoLotusLandStory''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouKaikidanMysticSquare''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouKoumakyouTheEmbodimentOfScarletDevil''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouYouyoumuPerfectCherryBlossom''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouEiyashouImperishableNight''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouKaeidzukaPhantasmagoriaOfFlowerView''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouBunkachouShootTheBullet''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouFuujinrokuMountainOfFaith''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouChireidenSubterraneanAnimism''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouSeirensenUndefinedFantasticObject''
** ''VideoGame/DoubleSpoilerTouhouBunkachou''
** ''VideoGame/YouseiDaisensouTouhouSangetsusei''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouShinreibyouTenDesires''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouKishinjouDoubleDealingCharacter''
** ''VideoGame/DanmakuAmanojakuImpossibleSpellCard''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouKanjudenLegacyOfLunaticKingdom''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouTenkuushouHiddenStarInFourSeasons''
** ''VideoGame/HifuuNightmareDiaryVioletDetector''
** ''VideoGame/TouhouKikeijuuWilyBeastAndWeakestCreature''
* ''VideoGame/TriggerheartExelica''
* ''VideoGame/{{Truxton}}''
* The ''VideoGame/TwinBee'' series (for the most part), including the NES game known as "Stinger" in the U.S..
* ''VideoGame/TwinCobra'' and sequel
* The ''TWINS'' / ''TWAIN'' series
** ''TwilightInsanity''
** ''VideoGame/TwilightRefrain''
** ''AlternativeSphere''
* ''VideoGame/TwinkleTale''
* ''VideoGame/{{Tyrian}}''
* ''VideoGame/UFORobotDangar''
* ''VideoGame/UltraXWeapons'' - the Franchise/UltraSeries spinoff where the Defense Team pilots get the spotlight for once
* ''VideoGame/UndeadLine''
* ''VideoGame/UnderDefeat''
* ''VideoGame/{{Vasara}}''
* ''VideoGame/VaporTrail''
* ''VideoGane/{{Verytex}}''
* ''VideoGane/{{Vimana}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{Vulgus}}'', Capcom's very first video game
* ''VideoGame/WarningForever''
* ''VideoGame/XenoFighters''
* ''VideoGame/{{Xevious}}''
* ''VideoGame/{{XOP}}''
* ''VisualNovel/YurukillTheCalumniationGames''
* ''VideoGame/{{Zanac}} and It's spiritual sequel ''GUN*NAC''.
* ''VideoGame/ZeroRanger''
[[/index]]
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