Game:

Speed Power Gunbike (1998)

Duration: 2:13:56

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Originally recorded: May 25, 2023
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Well, since I finished Pepsiman as quickly as I did, there was a small part of me that wanted to see if I could wrap up Gunbike in a single session. I was dead-wrong, of course, but honestly, I never *actually* believed I could pull off anything like that. Gunbike is definitely a far more complex game than Pepsiman... and I've got more of a language barrier between it.

That being said, this game is absolutely bizarre... yet somehow completely captivating. I'd been curious about my beloved Inti Creates' debut title since I discovered its existence, and while it doesn't live up to the pedigree of classics like the MegaMan Zero series or the Gunvolt games, Gunbike definitely carries the same frenetic pace as Inti's modern releases. It's just clearly too ambitious for its own good. Switching between three forms, while navigating through labyrinthine stages that seem like they should be a bit more linear than they end up, all while a ticking clock that doubles as the player character's health meter constantly ticks down is stressful... but in a good way.

That being said, the controls feels like something out of an arcade racer from the time and trying to navigate some of the more complex levels without a reverse gear can be difficult. Sure, there's a brake, but it doesn't feel particularly good to use. Personally, I find it faster to just ram into a wall and hope it bumps me into the right direction to aim Gunbike in the exact direction I need to go. Still, it feels extremely satisfying when you get into a rhythm and can essentially shift from bike or rally mode to robot to tackle enemies to build a rush combo before shifting back to retain momentum. It doesn't hurt that the game also uses a anime-flavored low-poly aesthetic that absolutely scratches the part of my brain that itches for that look.

There isn't much in the way of English guides for the game and I didn't get far into the game's tutorial, so I've been relying on a YouTube video for assistance when I get lost... as well as gauging how much of the game I've got left. From what I can tell, I've only got two proper levels left, as well as a bunch of boss fights. So hopefully, I'll be able to wrap things up next time.