Summary
- Release Year: 1983
- Genres: Arcade, Shooter
- Platforms: Arcade, Xbox 360
- Developers: Konami
- Publishers: Centuri, Konami
Gyruss (1983): A Space Shooter Classic from Konami
Released in arcades in 1983, Gyruss is a vertically-scrolling shoot ’em up game developed by Konami. It was designed by Yoshiki Okamoto, who had earlier created Time Pilot for Konami. Gyruss was licensed to Centuri in the United States, and was ported to numerous games consoles and home computers.
The game’s objective is to destroy waves of enemy spaceships while avoiding their fire and obstacles. The player controls a spaceship that can move left, right, and up, and can fire shots in eight directions. The game is notable for its use of a rotating background, which gives the illusion of the player’s ship flying through a three-dimensional space.
Gyruss was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the classic shoot ’em up games of the early 1980s. It was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and innovative use of 3D graphics.
Gameplay
Gyruss is a vertically-scrolling shoot ’em up game in which the player controls a spaceship that can move left, right, and up. The player’s ship can fire shots in eight directions, and must destroy waves of enemy spaceships while avoiding their fire and obstacles.
The game is divided into four stages, each with its own unique set of enemies and obstacles. The first stage takes place in a starry space background, while the second stage takes place in a asteroid field. The third stage takes place in a space station, and the fourth and final stage takes place in a boss battle against a giant alien spaceship.
Each stage is filled with a variety of enemies, including small fighters, large bombers, and fast-moving kamikaze ships. The player must destroy all of the enemies in each stage in order to progress to the next stage.
In addition to the regular enemies, each stage also contains a number of obstacles, such as asteroids, mines, and lasers. The player must avoid these obstacles in order to survive.
The player’s ship has a limited number of lives, and if the player is hit by enemy fire or an obstacle, they will lose a life. The player can earn extra lives by collecting power-ups that appear throughout the game.
Development
Gyruss was designed by Yoshiki Okamoto, who had earlier created Time Pilot for Konami. Okamoto was inspired to create Gyruss after playing the arcade game Space Harrier, which was released in 1983.
Okamoto wanted to create a shoot ’em up game that was more challenging than Space Harrier, and he also wanted to use the latest arcade technology to create a more immersive experience.
Gyruss was developed using Konami’s GX400 arcade system board, which was also used in Time Pilot. The GX400 system board was one of the most powerful arcade system boards of its time, and it allowed Okamoto to create a game with fast-paced gameplay and impressive graphics.
Release
Gyruss was released in arcades in Japan in 1983. It was later released in the United States by Centuri, and in Europe by Konami.
The game was a critical and commercial success, and it was ported to numerous games consoles and home computers, including the NES, Commodore 64, and ZX Spectrum.
Legacy
Gyruss is considered to be one of the classic shoot ’em up games of the early 1980s. It was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and innovative use of 3D graphics.
Gyruss has been cited as an influence on a number of later shoot ’em up games, including Gradius, R-Type, and Thunder Force.
The game is still enjoyed by retro gamers today, and it is considered to be one of the essential arcade games of the 1980s.
Trivia
- The name “Gyruss” is derived from the Greek word “gyrus,” which means “circle.” This is a reference to the game’s rotating background.
- The game’s background music is an electronic, fast-paced arrangement of J. S. Bach’s Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565. This particular arrangement is similar in sound to “Toccata,” a rock arrangement by the UK-based instrumentalist group Sky.
- Gyruss was the second and last game Yoshiki Okamoto designed for Konami, after Time Pilot. Due to pay disputes, he was fired after the release of this game, and soon joined Capcom, where he would write 1942 and the first Street Fighter game.
- R.Hirst “KOO”, M.Jones, “BOX” and the Elliott Brother’s are arguably considered some of the best Gyruss players of the 1990’s.
Review Score
9/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
