If you wanted to shoot things on the NES, you had options. My action-and-shooter shelf runs deep:

• 1942 & 1943: The Battle of Midway — Capcom's WWII plane shooters, all loops and power-ups.
• Super C — the sequel to Contra, every bit as run-and-gun glorious (and a two-player staple).
• Ikari Warriors, Guerrilla War, Heavy Barrel, P.O.W. — overhead commando run-and-guns by the truckload.
• Rush'n Attack — Cold War knife-and-rescue side-scrolling.
• Operation Wolf & Smash T.V. — on-rails and twin-stick mayhem.
• Xevious, Galaga, Gyruss, Tiger-Heli, Twin Cobra — the classic shmup pantheon.
• Bad Dudes — "Are you a bad enough dude to rescue the President?" Yes. Yes I am.

Add Cabal, NARC, Rampage, Rolling Thunder, Section-Z, Burai Fighter, Image Fight, and Abadox, and you've got a whole evening of trigger fingers. The NES could bring the noise.