Game:

SkyGunner (2001)

Duration: 13:41

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If you're a fan of Starfox 64, and Panzer Dragoon, then Skygunner will be right up your alley. While Skygunner isn't an on-rails shooter, it is a free flight game, with Rail Shooter mechanics. If you so choose, you can play each mission in free flight mode, however, the lock-on system is one of the primary gameplay mechanics you will need to master is you want to be successful. Your gunner has the ability to lock on to enemies, which changes the feel from being free-flight shooter, to feeling more like a rail shooter. Destroying chains of enemies also gives you special items that lock on to enemies, similar to the lock on system in games like Panzer Dragoon.

Graphically, I really enjoy the art direction in the game. I don't know if there's an official name for the style, but Skygunner's look reminds me a lot of games like Tail Concerto and even Mega Man Legends on the PS1. However, if there's one big flaw with the graphics, and with the game in general, it's there is a severe amount of slowdown in this game. The slowdown won't keep you from enjoying this unique shooter, however, the developers really should have spent more time trying to optimize the game to run better.

The controls are smooth, so long as you choose the easy control mode like I use. There is an expert mode, but it reminded me a lot of trying to play this game with Sky Odyssey's control scheme. I couldn't get the hang of it, but saw little reason to with the ease of using the easy setup. The music is upbeat and spectacular, and adds to the experience nicely. Anime purist types can even turn on Japanese voices with English subtitles in case the english voice acting doesn't do it for you.

Don't let the cutesy look of Skygunner throw you off, between the timed objectives, and even the ability to run out of fuel and fail the mission, there is a good degree of difficulty to be had in this fun little shooter. If you're into that niche anime style, and shooters like Star Fox and Panzer Dragoon, you'll enjoy Skygunner.

#skygunner #ps2games #atlusgames