Axelay SNES

Axelay is Konami's 1992 shoot 'em up for the Super NES. Piloting the D117B Axelay starfighter, you defend the Illis star system from an alien armada across stages that alternate between horizontal and vertical scrolling.

The vertical stages are what made it famous. Mode 7 bends the background away into the distance, creating a striking sense of depth that few other 16-bit shooters matched. You choose three weapons before each stage and switch between them during play. If a weapon is hit, you lose it, so the game rewards careful flying.