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Space Gun (video game)

November 23, 2023

Space Gun[a] is a 1990 first-person shooter arcade game released by Taito. The game is set aboard a crippled space station that has been overrun by hostile alien creatures. The objective is to rescue human crew members while destroying the alien creatures. The game lets the player shoot limbs off the creatures, resulting in blood splatters.

Space Gun
Arcade flyer featuring the arcade cabinet with foot pedals and artwork depicting a fight between a human and an alien.
Developer(s)Taito
Publisher(s)Taito
Producer(s)Yuji Iwasaki
Atsushi Taniguchi
Programmer(s)Yuji Iwasaki
Shinji Soyano
Tatsuo Nakamura
Hikaru Taniguchi
Artist(s)Tsutomu Sekimoto
Hideyuki Kato
Atsushi Taniguchi
Yukio Abe
V.A.P
Peacock
Composer(s)Norihiro Furukawa
Platform(s)Arcade, Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, Master System, ZX Spectrum
Release
  • WW: October 1990[1]
Genre(s)Light gun shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemTaito Z System

In 1992 home ports were released for the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, MS-DOS, ZX Spectrum, and Master System. It was one of the few games for the Atari ST and Amiga to support a light gun.

Gameplay edit

 
The unseen protagonist shoots a green attacking alien. Remaining time and the number of rescued humans is displayed at top of the screen while ammunition and player health are displayed at the bottom. (arcade version shown).

Space Gun is an arcade rail shooter in which the player views the on-screen action from a first person perspective. Players use a cabinet-mounted light gun to target and shoot enemy aliens that have invaded a research vessel and abducted its crew. Enemies are either mechanical guns that descend from above the screen or aliens,[2] several of which can only be defeated by first shooting away their limbs.[3] The player must save human hostages from the creatures.[4] Occasionally, a hostage will mutate into an alien.[5] In addition to the standard rapid-fire weapon, there are four other weapons: a flamethrower, grenade launcher, freeze bomb, and blade bomb.[6] These weapons require ammunition which can be collected throughout the stages, and are activated by the player using the pump action of the mounted gun. The arcade cabinet features foot pedals (visible in a picture) that, when pressed, reverse the player's direction. This is an essential feature, as it gives the player more time to fire upon an incoming enemy, to help keep the number of enemies at a more manageable level and thereby keep them from being overwhelmed. It also adds an element of strategy to the game, as over-use of the "backpedal" runs the risk of running out of time on the level.

There are six or seven levels (depending on which version of the game is being played) that are split into four subsections, each with its own end-of-level boss.[7][8] Between levels the story is explained and moved forward through the use of short animated cut-scenes[9] with text on the screen. Players can often choose their own path through the level by selecting a door or arrow using the gun.[2] Several of the home system versions feature light gun support; however, all of them allow the player to move a crosshair to target enemies. The multiplayer game is identical to the single-player experience,[6] but the Sega Master System, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum versions do not feature multiplayer.[10]

Development and release edit

The arcade game uses raster graphics on a CRT monitor displaying 4096 colors and amplified stereophonic sound. The visuals are reflected into view via a mirror in the cabinet.[1] The arcade cabinet is upright, with the marquee bearing the game's name protruding outward. There are large, blue plastic molds around the cabinet designed to resemble an alien cocoon.[1] The music for Space Gun was composed by Norihiro Furukawa and Naoto Yagishita of Zuntata, Taito's music division. The arcade version of Space Gun was exhibited at the UK Amusement Trades Exhibition International in 1991.[11]

In 1992, Ocean Software released ports for the Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum. The Amiga and Atari ST versions are one of the few games to use the Trojan Light Gun.[12] In developing the Amiga conversion, the team video taped the arcade machine in operation as a reference for the graphics, pausing the video at relevant spots to take notes before recreating them.[13]

A soundtrack CD (a split release with the soundtrack for the Taito game Liquid Kids) was released by Pony Canyon and Scitron on January 21, 1991.[14][15] This album was also released as part of Taito 1500 Collector's Box on September 17, 1993.[16] A track from the game is on the limited edition CD Zuntata History L'ab-normal 1st, released by Zuntata/Taito on April 1, 1999.[17]

In 2005, Space Gun was included in the compilation title Taito Legends for the PlayStation 2, Microsoft Windows and Xbox.[18][19][20]

Reception edit

In Japan, Space Gun was the second highest-grossing dedicated arcade game of 1991.[25] It was also a hit in the United States, where weekly coin drop earnings averaged $247 per arcade unit during November and December 1990.[26]

Space Gun was well-received by the video game press. In issue 34 of Zero, Amaya Lopex gave the original arcade version of the game four out of five stars.[23] Jonnie Cook of Sinclair User described the arcade release as enjoyable to those that already liked the genre, but stated he preferred other games.[27] Killer List of Videogames called the cabinet design "quite unique".[1] In March 1992, Gary Whitta of Advanced Computer Entertainment magazine stated that the sections that scroll into the screen are a lot easier to play than the horizontally scrolling sections.[2] The screen can quickly fill up with enemies, which can lead to confusion as to what the player is shooting at,[4][28] especially when human hostages run across the screen as they can be inadvertently killed. Neil West of Amiga Format commented that the title has a high difficulty level and that power-ups are a necessity to continue playing.[6] The "not perfect" rapid-fire weapon (which needs recharging after prolonged use) contributes to the game's difficulty, as stated by Brian Sharp of Games-X magazine.[29]

Several publications compared the game's plot to that of the 1979 film Alien.[2][5][9] Simon Forrester of Your Sinclair jokingly referred to Space Gun as the "unofficial game" of the film.[9] Zero magazine gave particular praise to the sections where humans mutate into aliens as they run towards the player.[5] Your Sinclair reviewer Jon Pillar and Chris Buffa of GameDaily said that Space Gun contains graphic violence, citing the visual effect of entrails and blood splashed against the screen.[30][31] Steve Merritt of CU Amiga described the sound effects, specifically alien squeals and the pumping heartbeat, as "simple, but effective".[3] British gaming magazine The One reviewed the arcade version of Space Gun in 1991, heavily noting its similarity to Aliens. The One praises Space Gun as "great", and 'especially while playing with a friend'.[11]

On release for home platforms, the game received mixed reviews in the press, ranging from 69% in Amiga Format[6] to 84% in CU Amiga magazine.[3] A preview from Amiga Power described Space Gun as deriving from an "inexplicably popular coin-op, best described as Line of Fire set in space".[32] Several reviews have stated that Space Gun is an Operation Wolf clone,[4][21] while it has also been compared unfavorably to Operation Thunderbolt.[2] Sega Power magazine reviewed the Master System version, giving the game a score of 70% if the player is using a Light Phaser, but only 50% if a control pad is being used.[10] Paul Presley of The One for Amiga Games also found that using input devices other than the guns mounted to the arcade machine "just isn't the same".[33] Prior to the release for the Xbox and PS2 as part of Taito Legends the game was regarded by Gamedaily as being in the "top five" of the games in the collection,[31] and on release the same website described it as "thoroughly enjoyable".[34]

Notes edit

  1. ^ Japanese: スペースガン, Hepburn: Supēsu Gan

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d "Space Gun – Videogame by Taito (1990)". Killer List of Video Games. from the original on 2009-10-12. Retrieved 2009-09-20.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Whitta, Gary (March 1992). "Space Gun". Advanced Computer Entertainment. EMAP (54): 31.
  3. ^ a b c d Merrit, Steve (January 1992). "Space Gun". CU Amiga. EMAP: 81–82.
  4. ^ a b c d Smith, Tim (June 1992). "Space Gun". MegaZone (22): 40.
  5. ^ a b c Wilson, David (February 1991). "Space Gun". Zero. Dennis Publishing: 53.
  6. ^ a b c d e West, Neil (May 1992). "Space Gun". Amiga Format. Future Publishing (34): 64.
  7. ^ Sega Master System version back cover
  8. ^ "Space Gun". Crash. Newsfield Publications (96): 52.
  9. ^ a b c Forrester, Simon (May 1993). "Space Gun Review". Your Sinclair. Dennis Publishing (89): 40.
  10. ^ a b "Space Gun". Sega Power. Future Publishing (38). January 1993.
  11. ^ a b Nesbitt, Brian (February 1991). "Coin-Operated Corkers!". The One. No. 29. emap Images. p. 20.
  12. ^ . IGN. Archived from the original on 2011-07-13. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  13. ^ "Space Gun Amiga conversion information". Hall of Light – the database of Amiga games. from the original on 2010-06-13. Retrieved 2009-08-17.
  14. ^ ゲーム・ミュージック-リリース-スペースガン・ミズバク大冒険 (in Japanese). Oricon. from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  15. ^ アルバムラインアップ (in Japanese). Taito Corporation. from the original on 2009-06-24. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  16. ^ ゲーム・ミュージック-リリース-タイトー１５００コレクターズＢＯＸ (in Japanese). Oricon. from the original on 2011-10-01. Retrieved 2009-10-22.
  17. ^ "ZTTL-0038 Zuntata History L'ab-normal 1st" (in Japanese). Taito Corporation. from the original on 2009-02-06. Retrieved 2009-10-20.
  18. ^ "Taito Legends for PS2". GameSpot. from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  19. ^ "Taito Legends for Xbox". GameSpot. from the original on 2009-11-10. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  20. ^ "Taito Legends for PC". GameSpot. Retrieved 2009-10-25.[permanent dead link]
  21. ^ a b Lee, Peter (March 1992). "Space Gun". Amiga Action (30): 40–41.
  22. ^ Ramshaw, Mark (April 1992). "Space Gun". Amiga Power. Future Publishing (12): 77–78.
  23. ^ a b Lopex, Amaya (August 1992). "Space Gun '92". Zero. Dennis Publishing (34): 80.
  24. ^ Lakin, Paul (May 1992). "Space Gun". Zero. Dennis Publishing (31): 48.
  25. ^ ""Final Fight II" and "Final Lap 2" Top Videos: Video Games of The Year '91" (PDF). Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 419. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 February 1992. p. 26.
  26. ^ "Editorial". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 4. January 1991. p. 6.
  27. ^ Cook, Jonnie (February 1991). "Space Gun – Taito". Sinclair User. EMAP.
  28. ^ "Space Gun". Sinclair User. EMAP (120): 19.
  29. ^ Sharp, Brian (January 1992). "Space Gun". Games-X (39): 11.
  30. ^ Pillar, Jon (April 1992). "Space Gun". Your Sinclair. Dennis Publishing (76): 19.
  31. ^ a b Buffa, Chris. "Taito Legends on Xbox previews". GameDaily. from the original on 2020-12-16. Retrieved 2009-10-25.
  32. ^ "Space Gun preview". Amiga Power. Future Publishing (10). February 1992.
  33. ^ Presley, Paul (April 1992). "Space Gun". The One for Amiga Games (43): 48–49.
  34. ^ Workman, Robert. "Taito Legends on Xbox reviews". GameDaily. from the original on 2019-01-08. Retrieved 2009-10-25.

External links edit

  • Space Gun at Arcade History
  • Space Gun at Atari Mania
  • Space Gun at Lemon 64
  • Space Gun at Spectrum Computing

November 23, 2023
space, video, game, space, 1990, first, person, shooter, arcade, game, released, taito, game, aboard, crippled, space, station, that, been, overrun, hostile, alien, creatures, objective, rescue, human, crew, members, while, destroying, alien, creatures, game, . Space Gun a is a 1990 first person shooter arcade game released by Taito The game is set aboard a crippled space station that has been overrun by hostile alien creatures The objective is to rescue human crew members while destroying the alien creatures The game lets the player shoot limbs off the creatures resulting in blood splatters Space GunArcade flyer featuring the arcade cabinet with foot pedals and artwork depicting a fight between a human and an alien Developer s TaitoPublisher s TaitoProducer s Yuji IwasakiAtsushi TaniguchiProgrammer s Yuji IwasakiShinji SoyanoTatsuo NakamuraHikaru TaniguchiArtist s Tsutomu SekimotoHideyuki KatoAtsushi TaniguchiYukio AbeV A PPeacockComposer s Norihiro FurukawaPlatform s Arcade Amiga Atari ST Commodore 64 MS DOS Master System ZX SpectrumReleaseWW October 1990 1 Genre s Light gun shooterMode s Single player multiplayerArcade systemTaito Z SystemIn 1992 home ports were released for the Amiga Atari ST Commodore 64 MS DOS ZX Spectrum and Master System It was one of the few games for the Atari ST and Amiga to support a light gun Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Development and release 3 Reception 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksGameplay edit nbsp The unseen protagonist shoots a green attacking alien Remaining time and the number of rescued humans is displayed at top of the screen while ammunition and player health are displayed at the bottom arcade version shown Space Gun is an arcade rail shooter in which the player views the on screen action from a first person perspective Players use a cabinet mounted light gun to target and shoot enemy aliens that have invaded a research vessel and abducted its crew Enemies are either mechanical guns that descend from above the screen or aliens 2 several of which can only be defeated by first shooting away their limbs 3 The player must save human hostages from the creatures 4 Occasionally a hostage will mutate into an alien 5 In addition to the standard rapid fire weapon there are four other weapons a flamethrower grenade launcher freeze bomb and blade bomb 6 These weapons require ammunition which can be collected throughout the stages and are activated by the player using the pump action of the mounted gun The arcade cabinet features foot pedals visible in a picture that when pressed reverse the player s direction This is an essential feature as it gives the player more time to fire upon an incoming enemy to help keep the number of enemies at a more manageable level and thereby keep them from being overwhelmed It also adds an element of strategy to the game as over use of the backpedal runs the risk of running out of time on the level There are six or seven levels depending on which version of the game is being played that are split into four subsections each with its own end of level boss 7 8 Between levels the story is explained and moved forward through the use of short animated cut scenes 9 with text on the screen Players can often choose their own path through the level by selecting a door or arrow using the gun 2 Several of the home system versions feature light gun support however all of them allow the player to move a crosshair to target enemies The multiplayer game is identical to the single player experience 6 but the Sega Master System Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum versions do not feature multiplayer 10 Development and release editThe arcade game uses raster graphics on a CRT monitor displaying 4096 colors and amplified stereophonic sound The visuals are reflected into view via a mirror in the cabinet 1 The arcade cabinet is upright with the marquee bearing the game s name protruding outward There are large blue plastic molds around the cabinet designed to resemble an alien cocoon 1 The music for Space Gun was composed by Norihiro Furukawa and Naoto Yagishita of Zuntata Taito s music division The arcade version of Space Gun was exhibited at the UK Amusement Trades Exhibition International in 1991 11 In 1992 Ocean Software released ports for the Amiga Atari ST Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum The Amiga and Atari ST versions are one of the few games to use the Trojan Light Gun 12 In developing the Amiga conversion the team video taped the arcade machine in operation as a reference for the graphics pausing the video at relevant spots to take notes before recreating them 13 A soundtrack CD a split release with the soundtrack for the Taito game Liquid Kids was released by Pony Canyon and Scitron on January 21 1991 14 15 This album was also released as part of Taito 1500 Collector s Box on September 17 1993 16 A track from the game is on the limited edition CD Zuntata History L ab normal 1st released by Zuntata Taito on April 1 1999 17 In 2005 Space Gun was included in the compilation title Taito Legends for the PlayStation 2 Microsoft Windows and Xbox 18 19 20 Reception editReceptionReview scoresPublicationScoreAmigaArcadeACE790 1000 2 Amiga Action80 21 Amiga Format69 6 Amiga Power69 22 Zero83 24 nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp nbsp 23 CU Amiga84 3 Mega Zone84 4 In Japan Space Gun was the second highest grossing dedicated arcade game of 1991 25 It was also a hit in the United States where weekly coin drop earnings averaged 247 per arcade unit during November and December 1990 26 Space Gun was well received by the video game press In issue 34 of Zero Amaya Lopex gave the original arcade version of the game four out of five stars 23 Jonnie Cook of Sinclair User described the arcade release as enjoyable to those that already liked the genre but stated he preferred other games 27 Killer List of Videogames called the cabinet design quite unique 1 In March 1992 Gary Whitta of Advanced Computer Entertainment magazine stated that the sections that scroll into the screen are a lot easier to play than the horizontally scrolling sections 2 The screen can quickly fill up with enemies which can lead to confusion as to what the player is shooting at 4 28 especially when human hostages run across the screen as they can be inadvertently killed Neil West of Amiga Format commented that the title has a high difficulty level and that power ups are a necessity to continue playing 6 The not perfect rapid fire weapon which needs recharging after prolonged use contributes to the game s difficulty as stated by Brian Sharp of Games X magazine 29 Several publications compared the game s plot to that of the 1979 film Alien 2 5 9 Simon Forrester of Your Sinclair jokingly referred to Space Gun as the unofficial game of the film 9 Zero magazine gave particular praise to the sections where humans mutate into aliens as they run towards the player 5 Your Sinclair reviewer Jon Pillar and Chris Buffa of GameDaily said that Space Gun contains graphic violence citing the visual effect of entrails and blood splashed against the screen 30 31 Steve Merritt of CU Amiga described the sound effects specifically alien squeals and the pumping heartbeat as simple but effective 3 British gaming magazine The One reviewed the arcade version of Space Gun in 1991 heavily noting its similarity to Aliens The One praises Space Gun as great and especially while playing with a friend 11 On release for home platforms the game received mixed reviews in the press ranging from 69 in Amiga Format 6 to 84 in CU Amiga magazine 3 A preview from Amiga Power described Space Gun as deriving from an inexplicably popular coin op best described as Line of Fire set in space 32 Several reviews have stated that Space Gun is an Operation Wolf clone 4 21 while it has also been compared unfavorably to Operation Thunderbolt 2 Sega Power magazine reviewed the Master System version giving the game a score of 70 if the player is using a Light Phaser but only 50 if a control pad is being used 10 Paul Presley of The One for Amiga Games also found that using input devices other than the guns mounted to the arcade machine just isn t the same 33 Prior to the release for the Xbox and PS2 as part of Taito Legends the game was regarded by Gamedaily as being in the top five of the games in the collection 31 and on release the same website described it as thoroughly enjoyable 34 Notes edit Japanese スペースガン Hepburn Supesu GanReferences edit a b c d Space Gun Videogame by Taito 1990 Killer List of Video Games Archived from the original on 2009 10 12 Retrieved 2009 09 20 a b c d e f Whitta Gary March 1992 Space Gun Advanced Computer Entertainment EMAP 54 31 a b c d Merrit Steve January 1992 Space Gun CU Amiga EMAP 81 82 a b c d Smith Tim June 1992 Space Gun MegaZone 22 40 a b c Wilson David February 1991 Space Gun Zero Dennis Publishing 53 a b c d e West Neil May 1992 Space Gun Amiga Format Future Publishing 34 64 Sega Master System version back cover Space Gun Crash Newsfield Publications 96 52 a b c Forrester Simon May 1993 Space Gun Review Your Sinclair Dennis Publishing 89 40 a b Space Gun Sega Power Future Publishing 38 January 1993 a b Nesbitt Brian February 1991 Coin Operated Corkers The One No 29 emap Images p 20 IGN Space Gun IGN Archived from the original on 2011 07 13 Retrieved 2009 10 25 Space Gun Amiga conversion information Hall of Light the database of Amiga games Archived from the original on 2010 06 13 Retrieved 2009 08 17 ゲーム ミュージック リリース スペースガン ミズバク大冒険 in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on 2011 10 01 Retrieved 2009 10 22 アルバムラインアップ in Japanese Taito Corporation Archived from the original on 2009 06 24 Retrieved 2009 10 22 ゲーム ミュージック リリース タイトー１５００コレクターズＢＯＸ in Japanese Oricon Archived from the original on 2011 10 01 Retrieved 2009 10 22 ZTTL 0038 Zuntata History L ab normal 1st in Japanese Taito Corporation Archived from the original on 2009 02 06 Retrieved 2009 10 20 Taito Legends for PS2 GameSpot Archived from the original on 2020 12 16 Retrieved 2009 10 25 Taito Legends for Xbox GameSpot Archived from the original on 2009 11 10 Retrieved 2009 10 25 Taito Legends for PC GameSpot Retrieved 2009 10 25 permanent dead link a b Lee Peter March 1992 Space Gun Amiga Action 30 40 41 Ramshaw Mark April 1992 Space Gun Amiga Power Future Publishing 12 77 78 a b Lopex Amaya August 1992 Space Gun 92 Zero Dennis Publishing 34 80 Lakin Paul May 1992 Space Gun Zero Dennis Publishing 31 48 Final Fight II and Final Lap 2 Top Videos Video Games of The Year 91 PDF Game Machine in Japanese No 419 Amusement Press Inc 1 February 1992 p 26 Editorial RePlay Vol 16 no 4 January 1991 p 6 Cook Jonnie February 1991 Space Gun Taito Sinclair User EMAP Space Gun Sinclair User EMAP 120 19 Sharp Brian January 1992 Space Gun Games X 39 11 Pillar Jon April 1992 Space Gun Your Sinclair Dennis Publishing 76 19 a b Buffa Chris Taito Legends on Xbox previews GameDaily Archived from the original on 2020 12 16 Retrieved 2009 10 25 Space Gun preview Amiga Power Future Publishing 10 February 1992 Presley Paul April 1992 Space Gun The One for Amiga Games 43 48 49 Workman Robert Taito Legends on Xbox reviews GameDaily Archived from the original on 2019 01 08 Retrieved 2009 10 25 External links editSpace Gun at Arcade History Space Gun at Atari Mania Space Gun at Lemon 64 Space Gun at Spectrum Computing Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Space Gun video game amp oldid 1153861331, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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