The first-person shooter is arguably the most popular form of shooter since the mid-1990s (as of 1999). Brought to the forefront by Castle Wolfenstein 3D, the first-person shooter has cemented itself as a lasting genre with games like DOOM, Quake, Duke Nukem 3D and Half-Life. The first-person shooter is so named because you are looking through the character's eyes while using various forms of projectile weapons. Most first-person shooters also feature multiplayer capabilities.
The fixed screen shooter represents the earliest form of shooter in gaming history. It involves shooting objects or characters within a single-screen playing area. There is no scrolling involved.
The Overhead Free-Roaming Shooter lets you move your character or ship through any number of screens to the left, right, up or down. Since you are not confined to one screen or direction, you can freely roam around the environment blasting away at various foes.
Shooters in this style (made popular in the ‘80s and early ‘90s) have players controlling a character (human, alien, robot or other character) as they shoot various enemies from a 2D perspective (usually moving from left to right). Nearly all of the games in this genre feature platform jumping and other action sequences, but the emphasis on shooting enemies from all directions is what distinguishes these titles from other styles.
Shooters with Weapon Peripherals support guns or similar add-ons to simulate real-life shooting. The majority of these titles usually debut as coin-op games and are later translated to home consoles or computers.
The Side Scrolling Shooter was prevalent during the ‘80s and early ‘90s. This style of shooter has players guiding a ship or object from left to right or right to left across multiple screens. This style also includes those games that feature 3D polygonal graphics. If the shooter features a 2D characterand jumping, then it should fall under the Platform style.
The squad-based shooter involves controlling a group of people rather than a single player or character. The emphasis in this style of game is placed on the tactical side of completing objectives rather than using brute force.
Shooters in this style have players controlling a character (human, alien, robot or other character) as they shoot various enemies from a 3D perspective. Most games in this style may also have action elements such as platform jumping and adventure elements such as searching for objects, but the emphasis on shooting is what makes these titles fall under this style. Third-person means the camera is set behind the character so that he/she/it is visible at all times.
Vehicle Shooters involve motor vehicles such as cars, tanks or boats (not aircraft) in an effort to combat other vehicles using an assortment of weapons. There is no racing involved, other than the relentless pursuit of the enemy. Games in this style are played from a first-person or a behind-the-vehicle perspective.
The Vertical Scrolling Shooter is similar to the Side Scrolling Shooter in every way except the direction of the action. This style has you moving up or down while shooting enemies instead of left or right. While the shooter may feature a top-down or overhead perspective, the fact that the screen only moves up or down is what makes it fall under this style. Both 3D and 2D graphics are included in this style.