History Main / RunAndGun

* ''VideoGame/Monolith''

It should not be confused with {{Metroidvania}}, a close cousin more focused on [[ActionAdventure adventure and exploration]] with light RPGElements and the opposite side of the Action Platformer genre. In Run-and-Gun, '''[[BigHeroicRun RUN]]''' is the key word. It implies moving forward and not looking back which can be enforced by a RatchetScrolling, and going for a more traditional [[NoSidepathsNoExplorationNoFreedom linear]] level structure with [[SingleUseShield one-hit-and-you-lose-it power-ups]] to emphasize the feelings of stress and urgency, where Metroidvanias offer an [[WideOpenSandbox open world]] filled with locks and permanents upgrades unlocking those locks. [[SlidingScaleOfLinearityVsOpenness It's not absolute though]], and some games are able to balance the two by borrowing some mechanics from the other side. But it should be clear: having a gun in a performer doesn't ''necessarily'' turns your game into a Run-and-Gun.

It is characterized by its [[EverythingTryingToKillYou hordes of vicious enemies]] who -- unlike most regular platformers -- cannot be harmed by {{Goomba Stomp}}ing them, a long-ranged weaponry (distinguishing it from [[BeatEmUp Beat 'em Ups]]) that can -- despite the name -- be something other than CoolGuns, BottomlessMagazines, and various PowerUps changing the weapon or its function. Close combat move are sometimes available, which could bring the game closer to the BeatEmUp genre, which is also about going forward and beating up bad guys.

Do not confuse with the game ''VideoGame/RunNGun'', nor with DoNotRunWithAGun (an advice that is ''largely'' ignored here).

It is characterized by its [[EverythingTryingToKillYou hordes of vicious enemies]] who -- unlike most regular platformers -- cannot be harmed by {{Goomba Stomp}}ing them, a long-ranged weaponry (distinguishing it from [[BeatEmUp Beat 'em Ups]]) that can -- despite the name -- be something other than CoolGuns, BottomlessMagazines, and various PowerUps changing the weapon or its function. Close combat move are sometimes available, which could bring the game closer to the BeatEmUp genre, which is also about going forward and beating up bad guys .

* ''VideoGame/{{Rosenkreuzstilette}}

* ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'' is a run-and-gun, despite its MedievalEuropeanFantasy aesthetic, as most of the weapons are long-ranged.

* ''VideoGame/PockyAndRocky''
* ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami''
** ''VideoGame/HotlineMiami2WrongNumber''

* ''VideoGame/KikiKaiKai''

* ''VideoGame/GuerillaWar''

* ''VideoGame/HardCorpsUprising''

Although it should be noted that Run-and-Gun is also a name given to ShootEmUp games with a top-down perspective where players can control a character or a grounded vehicle (contrasting the usual SpaceFighter, usually a {{tank|Goodness}}) with a 360 degrees liberty of movement, unlike traditional [[ShootEmUp Shoot 'em Ups]] which lock the facing of the shooter in a single direction. The TropeCodifier of this specific genre from UsefulNotes/TheGoldenAgeOfVideoGames should be ''VideoGame/{{Commando}}''.

Although previous examples existed before, it was mostly [[TropeCodifier codified]] during the [[UsefulNotes/The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames NES era]] where various popular titles like ''VideoGame/{{Mega Man|Classic}}'' and ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' generated [[FollowTheLeader tons of clones]] with various degrees of success. Because of this time period, games like this are expected to be NintendoHard. The genre is a staple of 2D video games as it never really successfully passed the VideoGame3DLeap, although one can argue that it stealthily evolved into the ThirdPersonShooter genre (thanks to games like ''VideoGame/{{Cabal}}'' and ''VideoGame/WildGuns'') and HackAndSlash (who is historically a cross between ThirdPersonShooter and BeatEmUp, but some also include platforming sections and firearms). Platformer subgenres like {{Platform Fighter}}s and {{Elimination Platformer}}s could also be considered run-and-gun games if they mostly focus on gunplay and/or range combat.

When a PlatformGame uses gameplay mechanics borrowed from the ShootEmUp genre. Or a ShootEmUp with plarformer elements, that works too. Also known as '''Action Platformer'''.

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%%* GunsAndGunplayTropes
%%* [[ImageSource/VideoGamesAToM ImageSource/Video Games A to M]]
%%** ''VideoGame/AlienHominid'' (bottom-right)
%%** ''VideoGame/{{Contra}} '' (top-right)
%%** ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'' (bottom-left)
%%** ''VideoGame/MegaManX1'' (middle-left)
%%** ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' (top-left)
%%* [[ImageSource/VideoGamesNToZ ImageSource/Video Games N to Z]]
%%** ''VideoGame/SmashTV'' (middle-right)
%%* VideogameGenres

Although previous examples existed before, it was mostly [[TropeCodifier codified]] during the [[UsefulNotes/The8bitEraOfConsoleVideoGames NES era]] where various popular titles like ''VideoGame/MegaMan'' and ''VideoGame/{{Contra}}'' generated [[FollowTheLeader tons of clones]] with various degrees of success. Because of this time period, games like this are expected to be NintendoHard. The genre is a staple of 2D video games as it never really successfully passed the VideoGame3DLeap, although one can argue that it stealthily evolved into the ThirdPersonShooter genre (thanks to games like ''VideoGame/{{Cabal}}'' and ''VideoGame/WildGuns'') and HackAndSlash (who is historically a cross between ThirdPersonShooter and BeatEmUp, but some also include platforming sections and firearms). Platformer subgenres like {{Platform Fighter}}s and {{Elimination Platformer}}s could also be considered run-and-gun games if they mostly focus on gunplay and/or range combat.

* GunsAndGunplayTropes
* [[ImageSource/VideoGamesAToM ImageSource/Video Games A to M]]
** ''VideoGame/AlienHominid'' (bottom-right)
** ''VideoGame/{{Contra}} '' (top-right)
** ''VideoGame/GhostsNGoblins'' (bottom-left)
** ''VideoGame/MegaManX1'' (middle-left)
** ''VideoGame/MetalSlug'' (top-left)
* [[ImageSource/VideoGamesNToZ ImageSource/Video Games N to Z]]
** ''VideoGame/SmashTV'' (middle-right)
* VideogameGenres