Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Arcade, Platform, Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade, Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developers: Nintendo R&D1
- Publishers: Nintendo
Gumshoe (1986)
Gumshoe is a light gun shooter game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). It was released in Japan in 1986 and in North America and Europe in 1987. The game is notable for being one of the first light gun shooters for the NES, and for its use of the Zapper light gun peripheral.
Gameplay
The player controls a private detective who must rescue Jennifer, the daughter of a wealthy businessman, from a group of kidnappers. The player must travel through a variety of different environments, including a forest, a desert, and a city, in order to find the five diamonds that will pay Jennifer’s ransom.
The player uses the Zapper light gun to shoot at enemies and obstacles. The player can also use the Zapper to collect power-ups, such as extra lives and ammo. The game features a variety of different enemies, including monsters, robots, and airplanes. The player must also avoid being hit by obstacles, such as falling rocks and spikes.
The game is played against a time limit. The player has 24 hours to find the five diamonds and rescue Jennifer. If the player fails to do so, the game is over.
Development
Gumshoe was developed by Nintendo’s Research & Development 1 (R&D1) team, which was also responsible for developing the NES console and other early NES games such as Super Mario Bros. and Metroid. The game was designed by Gunpei Yokoi, who is also credited with creating the Game & Watch handheld game system and the Virtual Boy console.
Gumshoe was one of the first light gun shooters for the NES. The game’s use of the Zapper light gun peripheral was innovative at the time, and it helped to popularize the light gun genre on home consoles.
Reception
Gumshoe was a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide. The game was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and use of the Zapper light gun. However, the game was also criticized for its difficulty and its short length.
Overall, Gumshoe is a fun and challenging light gun shooter that is still enjoyable today. The game’s graphics are impressive for its time, and the gameplay is addicting. If you’re a fan of light gun shooters, then you need to check out Gumshoe!
Legacy
Gumshoe has been ported to a variety of different platforms, including the Nintendo Wii, Nintendo 3DS, and Nintendo Switch. The game has also been included in several Nintendo compilation games, such as Nintendo Puzzle Collection and NES Remix.
Gumshoe is considered to be one of the classic light gun shooters for the NES. The game’s innovative use of the Zapper light gun peripheral helped to popularize the light gun genre on home consoles. Gumshoe is still enjoyed by gamers today, and it remains a testament to the creativity and innovation of Nintendo’s early developers.
Trivia
- Gumshoe is the first light gun shooter game developed by Nintendo.
- The game was originally released in Japan under the title Meitantei Holmes: Kiri no London Satsujin Jiken (名探偵ホームズ 霧のロンドン殺人事件, lit. “Detective Holmes: The London Fog Murder Case”).
- The game’s protagonist is named after the famous detective Sherlock Holmes.
- The game’s soundtrack was composed by Hirokazu Tanaka, who also composed the soundtracks for Super Mario Bros. and Metroid.
- Gumshoe was one of the first NES games to use the Zapper light gun peripheral.
- The game was ported to the Nintendo Wii in 2007 as part of the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console service.
- The game was ported to the Nintendo 3DS in 2012 as part of the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console service.
- The game was ported to the Nintendo Switch in 2018 as part of the Nintendo Switch Online service.
Review Score
7.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
