Out Zone

Omni (Walk-around) shooters is one of my favorite genre of games, and Out Zone is one the best.  The graphics are phenomenal and the play is finely tuned.  It is very challenging, but not because of complete chaos, just because the enemy programming is well done.  The game is very playable.  You can cycle thru two main weapon types for the first area of the game...  One with which you can face and shoot at any angle, and one that shoots a triple shot straight ahead only.  They are both useful depending on what section you are in.  Also, in addition to having to avoid getting killed by enemy fire, you have an energy gauge that decreases over time that can cause you do die if it goes empty.  You replenish your energy by finding the "E"s that are placed all around the area. If you are playing two players, the energy pods are color coded so that you can only get the energy for your guy and can't steal away the other guy's energy.  Certainly the basic game play is like many others of this genre, but if you play Out Zone, you'll see that it's just a cut above most other games.