This Game Walked So Metal Slug Could Run
0🕹 Gun Force
📛 Alternate Names: Gunforce: Battle Fire Engulfed Terror Island
📅 Release Date: 1991
🔫 Genre: Run and Gun
👨 🏻 💻 Developers: Irem
👨 🏻 💻 Publishers: Irem
🔢 Max Players: 2
⁉ Cooperative: Yes
🕹 Game Introduction:
Gun Force delivers fast-paced, side-scrolling action with a military rescue mission twist that laid early groundwork for future run-and-gun arcade greats.
🕹 Game Description:
As part of an elite commando squad, your mission is to rescue hostages from a terrorist-infested island. You’ll fight through waves of armed enemies, man mechs, and obliterate tanks using heavy artillery.
🎴 Game Play:
👉 🏻 Horizontal run-and-gun with military themes
👉 🏻 Ride tanks, walkers, and hover vehicles
👉 🏻 Collect power-ups for machine guns, lasers, and spread shots
👉 🏻 Rescue hostages to increase score
👉 🏻 Use jump-and-shoot tactics to dodge enemy fire
📕 Background & History:
Gun Force marked Irem’s shift from pure shooters to action hybrids. Though sometimes overshadowed by its sequel, it established a strong arcade fan base with its brutal difficulty and unique enemy designs.
🐣 Cheats, Tricks, Bugs, and Easter Eggs:
👉 🏻 Hostage bonuses can stack up quickly if none are missed
👉 🏻 Vehicles can absorb multiple hits before destruction
👉 🏻 In some cabinets, holding jump and shoot resets weapon types
🐱 💻 Hacks:
👉 🏻 Bootleg versions offer max lives and faster weapon cycling
👉 🏻 Speed modifications for player movement exist in some ROMs
🎉 Trivia:
👉 🏻 Gun Force is widely considered the prototype for Gun Force II and Metal Slug
👉 🏻 Includes environmental destruction—a rarity in early 90s games
👉 🏻 Japanese title is almost never seen in Western arcade history
👓 Lonster's Review:
Gun Force blends grit, metal, and pixel firepower. It’s an old-school beast with no mercy and zero downtime. Those mech rides and hostage rescues keep the adrenaline high. This one hits hard and doesn’t let up.
🌟 Legacy:
The DNA of Gun Force runs deep in later arcade titles. It was Irem’s first big push into high-speed action combat, influencing not only Gun Force II but shaping the future of side-scrolling shooters entirely.
✨ Cultural Impact:
While not as well known as later Irem titles, it has gained cult status thanks to retro fans tracing the lineage of Metal Slug and rediscovering its aggressive pacing and design.
💭 Lonster's Final Thoughts:
Gun Force is a must-play for arcade warriors. With its powerful weapon variety, vehicle action, and endless enemies, this classic set the tone for what an action shooter should feel like.
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