Gunbird 2

Gunbird 2 (ガンバード2) is a 2D scrolling shooter developed by Psikyo and published by Capcom as a sequel to the original Gunbird. It was originally released in Japanese arcades in 1998, and was later ported to the Dreamcast in 2000 and released worldwide. An Android version was released in Korean in 2014, it came out worldwide on both Android and iOS in 2016.[1] The arcade game was also included in Gunbird Special Edition for the PlayStation 2. A version was released on Nintendo Switch in June 2018.[2]

Gunbird 2
North American Dreamcast cover art
Developer(s)Psikyo
Kuusoukagaku, Mobirix, APX Soft, Google Play (Android)
Publisher(s)Capcom
Dreamcast
Producer(s)Shin. Nakamura
Designer(s)
  • Hiroshi Yamada
  • Hideyuki Oda
  • Norikazu Takemori
  • Yoko Tsukagoshi
  • Emi Taniguchi
  • Keizou Fujita
  • Kunio Asahara
  • Masashi Kajikawa
  • Shinji Nohara
  • Naozumi Yorichika
Programmer(s)
  • Shiori Saito
  • Kenichi Fujita
  • Kunihiko Nogomi
  • Katsuhiro Nishida
  • Katsuya Shikanouchi
Artist(s)Masato Natsumoto
Composer(s)
  • Masaki Izutani
  • Kensuke Sato
  • Toshiya Kobayashi
SeriesGunbird
Platform(s)Arcade, Dreamcast, PlayStation 2, Android, iOS
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: 1998-12
Dreamcast
  • JP: 2000-03-09
  • NA: 2000-11-17
  • PAL: 2001-02-02
Android
  • WW: 2016
iOS
  • WW: 2016
Genre(s)Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, two-player co-op
CabinetUpright
Arcade systemPsikyo SH2
SoundYamaha YMF278B
DisplayRaster, 224 x 320 pixels (vertical), 5120 colors

Gameplay
A screenshot of Tavia battling the Queen Pirates in the USA stage

There are seven stages in each game loop (two loops total). The first three stages are randomly chosen from possible four. At the second loop, enemies fire denser bullet patterns moving at faster speeds. Stage 2-1 takes place at the only stage not available in 1st loop, instead of the 1-1 counterpart. After completing the first loop with only one player, player can choose one of two choices for a wish with magic potion, with unique ending for each choice. If 1st loop is completed with two players, a combination-specific ending is played.

This was the first Psikyo shooter to feature medal-chaining:[1] picking up 2000 point medals (when they flash) repeatedly results in a slight point increase and a coin chain, recorded separately from the score. This was later featured in Strikers 1945 III/Strikers 1999.

The arcade game supports both English and Japanese languages, chosen via arcade board dip switch settings. The language setting is Japanese if dip switches are set to Japanese, English otherwise.

Two exclusive playable characters in the Sega Dreamcast port of Gunbird 2, released in 2000, includes Morrigan Aensland from the Darkstalkers series and Aine from the Samurai Aces series. Other new features include Internet ranking, gallery, and voices during intermission.[3]

Plot

Seven warriors are challenged to head on a quest to find three powerful elements of Sun, Moon and Stars. Whoever brings the elements to the Potion God will be rewarded the legendary Almighty Potion and all its magical powers.[4]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Gunbird 2 on their January 1, 1999 issue as being the fourth most-successful arcade game of the year.[5]

Jeff Lundrigan reviewed the Dreamcast version of the game for Next Generation, rating it three stars out of five, and stated that "If you want a ridiculously high level of pure twitch-response challenge, look no further. If you don't, well, move along."[6]

Gunbird 2 received mostly positive reviews. The Dreamcast version received scores of 8.5/10 from both Gaming Target and Planet Dreamcast,[7][8] while Game Revolution graded it a B-.[9] It also scored an 80% from French Consoles +[10] while the three reviewers from Dreamcast Magazine each gave it a 7/10.[11] IGN's Anthony Chau gave it an 8.4/10, stating: "I hope that most of you that decide to get Gunbird 2 are those that know the excitement of weaving between enemy fire, appreciate 2D artistry, and respect classic gameplay that never gets old. If that's you, you'll definitely be satisfied."[12] GameSpot's Steven Garrett, however, was much more critical of the game, rating it only a 5.8/10 and opining that "if a good 16-bit shooter is what you're looking for, you could do a lot better elsewhere."[13]

Legacy

Gunbird Special Edition
Main article: Gunbird Special Edition

The PlayStation 2 version of the game was based on the arcade version.

Cancelled PlayStation Portable remake

A enhanced remake, titled Gunbird 2 Remix was announced by PM Studios for the PlayStation Portable in 2009. It was slated for an early 2010 release exclusively in digital format.[14] However, no news has been heard since then, and it is considered vaporware.

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References
  1. "Psikyo's Shmup 'Gunbird 2' Blasts Onto iOS & Android". RetroCollect.com. 2014-04-16. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  2. "GUNBIRD2 for Nintendo Switch". www.nintendo.com. Retrieved 2018-09-15.
  3. "Gunbird 2 Dreamcast review | The Adrenaline Vault". Web.archive.org. Archived from the original on 2010-12-22. Retrieved 2016-07-29.CS1 maint: BOT: original-url status unknown (link)
  4. Gunbird 2 Dreamcast manual.
  5. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - TVゲーム機ーソフトウェア (Video Game Software)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 579. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 January 1999. p. 29.
  6. Lundrigan, Jeff (December 2000). "Finals". Next Generation. Vol. 3 no. 12. Imagine Media. p. 108.
  7. "Gunbird 2 Review @ Gaming Target". Gamingtarget.com. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  8. "PlanetDreamcast: Games - Reviews - Gunbird 2". Planetdc.segaretro.org. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  9. "Gunbird 2 Review". Gamerevolution.com. 2000-12-01. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  10. "File:ConsolesPlus FR 110.pdf". Sega Retro. 2015-12-11. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  11. "File:DCM JP 20000317 2000-09.pdf". Sega Retro. 2015-07-26. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  12. "GunBird 2". IGN.com. 2000-11-20. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  13. Garrett, Steven (2000-06-15). "Gunbird 2 Review". GameSpot.com. Retrieved 2016-07-29.
  14. "PM Studios Brings Gunbird 2 To The PSP". Kotaku.com. Retrieved 2014-02-04.
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