Gunstar Heroes (1993)

Mega Drive/Genesis: combine weapon types instead of simply replacing a weak gun with a stronger one. Homing shots, fire and other properties invite experimentation, while throws and lively bosses keep combat from becoming a single shooting routine. The lasting pleasure is finding a combination that changes how you approach an encounter. This is Treasure's 1993 console original; later handheld versions have their own additional modes and rules.