Glossary Entry: Twin Stick Shooter

Also known as a "multidirectional shooter", these games allow the player to move and shoot in different directions. The name comes from how the original arcade games used two joysticks - one to move the player, and one to aim. Thus, the player could fire on an enemy while freely moving around the level.

Robotron: 2084 is the defining game in this genre, and its unique controls are something of a legend. One of the developers had been in a car accident, injuring his right hand. Temporarily unable to play traditional arcade games, as they used buttons to fire, he developed a game that used a second joystick instead.

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