Summary
Zero Gunner (1997)
Zero Gunner is a vertical-scrolling shoot-’em-up arcade game developed by Psikyo and released in 1997. The game is set in a futuristic world where a terrorist organization has taken control of the world’s military forces. A group of ace helicopter pilots are secretly amassed in a special forces squadron called ZERO to travel around the world and destroy the occupied terrorist forces.
Zero Gunner is a fast-paced and challenging shoot-’em-up with a variety of enemies and bosses to defeat. The game features a unique weapon system that allows players to equip their helicopter with a variety of different weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. Players can also collect power-ups to increase their firepower and speed.
Zero Gunner was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-ups of all time. The game has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Gameplay
Zero Gunner is a vertical-scrolling shoot-’em-up in which the player controls a helicopter that flies through a variety of levels, destroying enemies and bosses. The game features a unique weapon system that allows players to equip their helicopter with a variety of different weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. Players can also collect power-ups to increase their firepower and speed.
The game is divided into six stages, each with a different setting and boss. The stages are:
- Stage 1: A city
- Stage 2: A forest
- Stage 3: A desert
- Stage 4: A mountain range
- Stage 5: A factory
- Stage 6: A space station
Each stage is filled with a variety of enemies, including ground troops, air units, and tanks. The player must destroy all of the enemies in order to progress to the next stage.
The bosses in Zero Gunner are large and powerful, and each one has its own unique attack patterns. The player must learn the attack patterns of each boss in order to defeat them.
Weapons
Zero Gunner features a unique weapon system that allows players to equip their helicopter with a variety of different weapons. The player can choose from three different types of weapons:
- Lasers: Lasers are the weakest weapon in the game, but they have a long range and can be fired rapidly.
- Missiles: Missiles are more powerful than lasers, but they have a shorter range and can only be fired slowly.
- Bombs: Bombs are the most powerful weapon in the game, but they have a very short range and can only be fired once per stage.
The player can also collect power-ups to increase their firepower and speed. The power-ups are:
- Speed Up: Increases the speed of the player’s helicopter.
- Power Up: Increases the firepower of the player’s helicopter.
- Bomb Up: Gives the player an extra bomb.
Enemies
Zero Gunner features a variety of enemies, including ground troops, air units, and tanks. The ground troops are the weakest enemies in the game, and they can be easily destroyed with a few shots. The air units are more powerful than the ground troops, and they can fire projectiles at the player. The tanks are the most powerful enemies in the game, and they can take a lot of punishment before they are destroyed.
Bosses
The bosses in Zero Gunner are large and powerful, and each one has its own unique attack patterns. The player must learn the attack patterns of each boss in order to defeat them.
The bosses in Zero Gunner are:
- Stage 1: A giant robot
- Stage 2: A giant spider
- Stage 3: A giant worm
- Stage 4: A giant dragon
- Stage 5: A giant spaceship
- Stage 6: The final boss
Legacy
Zero Gunner was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-ups of all time. The game has been ported to a variety of platforms, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch.
Zero Gunner has been praised for its fast-paced action, challenging levels, and over-the-top bosses. The game is also known for its excellent graphics and sound.
Zero Gunner is a classic shoot-’em-up that is still enjoyed by fans of the genre today. The game is a must-play for anyone who is a fan of shoot-’em-ups or arcade games in general.
Review Score
8.5/10
