| Gunbird | |
| Developer: | Psikyo |
| Publisher: | Arcade Psikyo Jaleco (USA) Saturn Atlus PlayStation XS Games Yahoo Mobile Cave Windows (Steam)[1] Console Classics (expired), City Connection[2] PS4, Xbox One, Switch City Connection |
| Series: | Gunbird |
| Producer: | Junichi Niwa Shinsuke Nakamura |
| Released: | Arcade Saturn PlayStation Yahoo Mobile 2002 PlayStation Network Steam[3] Switch PS4, Xbox One |
| Genre: | Scrolling shooter |
| Modes: | Single-player, two-player co-op |
| Platforms: | Arcade, PlayStation, Saturn, Yahoo Mobile, PlayStation Network, Nintendo Switch, Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One |
| Designer: | Emi Taniguchi Wataru Yamazaki Hyoue Ogawa Hideyuki Oda Yoko Tsukagoshi Ikuya Yoshida Norikazu Takemori Hidenori Kamioka |
| Director: | Naozumi Yorichika |
| Programmer: | Toshinori Sugita Seiki "SSS" Sato Shiori Saito Keisuke Takagi |
| Artist: | Hirofumi Nakamura |
| Composer: | Masaki Izutani |
| Arcade System: | Psikyo 1st Generation[4] |
is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by Psikyo and released as an arcade video game in 1994. In the US, it was published by Jaleco. It has been re-released multiple times, including on the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. When originally localized outside Japan by XS Games, Gunbird was retitled Mobile Light Force. The game was followed by Gunbird 2 in 1998 and was included in Gunbird Special Edition for PlayStation 2.
When a player collides with the body of an enemy unit, the player loses a shot power level, and a power up flies around the screen and disappears as soon as it reaches the edge. If a player is at the lowest level of shot, the player loses a bomb instead.
There are seven stages in each of the game's two loops. The first three stages are randomly chosen from possible four. In the second loop enemies fire denser bullet patterns moving at faster speeds. Stage 2-1 takes place at the only stage not available on the first loop, instead of the 1-1 counterpart. The remaining two stages are chosen at random, but does not include the replaced stage. After completing first loop with only one player, the player can choose one of two choices for a wish with a magic potion, with unique endings for each choice. If the first loop is completed with two players, a combination-specific ending is played. Each game (on default settings) begins with three lives, and an extra life is earned at 400,000 (or 600,000).
The cutscenes between the battles with two players fighting cooperatively are frequently packed with hilarious dialogue and situations. This is often a recurring theme with Psikyo games, the Gunbird games being no exception. There are no cutscenes when playing second loop stages. The Korean arcade version contains English dialog but some sound samples are missing during play.
Gunbird uses manga-styled character as the player's chosen craft. A story plays out in between levels and before boss fights, telling a tale of how the protagonists are trying to collect pieces of a magic mirror to make a wish.
The game was displayed at the PlayStation Expo '96 in Tokyo. There it was shown off alongside another vertically scrolling shooting game, Stahlfeder by developer Santos.[5]
The game was released in Japan for the PlayStation and Sega Saturn on December 15, 1995.[6] [7]
The game was released in North America as Mobile Light Force for the PlayStation. All in-game plot in this version, including the game's ending, was removed and character names were changed to those of XS Games employees. The game featured a Charlie's Angels-style cover picture, completely unrelated to the original characters or the game's theme. The original's fan art gallery was also removed from the game, although the directories are still intact on the disc if inserted into a PC.
Gunbird Special Edition was a version of the game was based on an arcade version, and included the sequel, Gunbird 2. It was released only for the PlayStation 2 in 2004–2005.[8]
Gunbird was included in Psikyo Collection Vol. 1 for Nintendo Switch along with Strikers 1945, Samurai Aces and Sol Divide in 2018.[9]
In 2022, the original arcade version was included as part of the Sega Astro City Mini V, a vertically-oriented variant of the Sega Astro City mini console.[10]
In Japan, Game Machine listed Gunbird on their November 15, 1994 issue as being the ninth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.[11]
Gunbird received mostly positive reviews. Weekly Famitsu gave the PlayStation version a 29 out of 40 score. An import version for the Sega Saturn earned good scores of 82% from and 80% from French magazines Consoles + and Mega Force.[12] [13] The three reviewers from the Japanese Sega Saturn Magazine rated it 6, 8 and 9 out of 10.[14]
