"Shmups," short for "shoot 'em ups," are a genre of video games where players control a spacecraft or character that must shoot enemies while avoiding their attacks. These games often feature scrolling backgrounds and waves of enemies, requiring quick reflexes and strategic movement. Popular examples include titles like Gradius and Ikaruga. Typically, shmups can be categorized into two main types: vertical and horizontal scrolling. In vertical scrolling shmups, the action moves from the bottom of the screen to the top, while horizontal scrolling games move from one side to the other. Players often collect power-ups to enhance their weapons and abilities throughout the game.