New Idea: Auto-Scroll Zone

Just thought of a new idea when I woke up this morning. Actually it's not new, but just an idea that I can incorporate some of the classic shoot-them-up (Gradius, 1942) gameplay into the mix. The current design is to let the player have total control on where to go, and if the player don't move, the robot will stay stationary. However within a level I could include strips of area, in which the robot has to constantly move in 1 direction as if in a "current." In this zone the gameplay will be like Gradius or 1942, except that the player can still decide to shoot in any direction they want. In another words, when the player enter the zone, the gameplay change to Gradius, where the player has to dodge bullets and obstacles while moving (scrolling) through the area automatically. When the player exits the zone, the gameplay returns to normal.

So what's the point and fun factor of this? I think those shoot-them-up has some different challenge factor like forcing the player to be "on a track," and limiting player dodging area etc. On the visual side, it can give the player a sense of speed and "rush." It has a very different tempo from games like Contra. Yet their game mechanisms have many similarities. So if I can put them together, it might be nice.

Again though I can't be too overly ambitious. I think I should finish the game first then add in this feature later. Now...where did I get this inspiration...I think it might come from Prince of Persia, which I played recently.