Gunbird 2 (Sega Dreamcast)
This felt like such a fine line between just being a kids game and being a hardcore shooter that ‘dudes’ looking for the next cutting edge, hardcore game would be interested in. What won it a review was how fun it is; Gunbird 2 is a blast.
As mentioned in the review, it’s hyper-colourful, the characters are totally over the top and the Sega Dreamcast feels like the perfect home for it. The Dreamcast is a great place to find arcade perfect ports and to be honest, Capcom has done some really great work on the Dreamcast platform.
The arcade shooter genre has had a bit of life since the transition to virtual consoles and the ‘$1.00 app gamers’, but it is a genre that’s thrived in the underground off the sweat and money of a more dedicated, hardcore audience. I’m no professional, and Gunbird 2 beat me senseless on any difficulty above Easy. I’m awful at remembering patterns, but Raiden on the Jaguar took me three or so games to reach the final stage, this game isn’t as forgiving.
Gameplay wise, shooters tend to be very straight forward, shoot button and a special attack button. Gunbird 2 has a regular shot charge that gets built up by destroying enemies, so if you can hold off using it or dying, you can unleash some really devastating shots without resorting to your limited bombs/special attacks.
Each character has a different special attack; some short range (like Aine the samurai), some deal lots of damage with a spread of firepower (like the robot with detachable arms), so it really does make a difference which character you prefer. Try them all out and see which you feel most comfortable with.
The inclusion of difficulty settings really makes this game accessible for any skill level, which is a really nice feature you won’t always find on shooters. Overall, Gunbird 2 is a delight for the senses, the sounds, the colours, the graphics, it has a really distinct artwork and isn’t afraid to be genuinely off-the-wall funny. I’d recommend this game to anyone, but the serious shooter crowd might find it a little ‘distracting’.