The sequel to 1994’s “Gunbird“, Gunbird 2 is more of the same “tall-screen” vertically-scrolling, two-player cooperative, bullet hell action in a futuristic Steampunk setting. It was again developed by Psikyo and was first released into arcades in 1998.

Actually, that’s not fair – Gunbird 2 is definitely NOT “more of the same” because it’s actually a big improvement over the first Gunbird. In almost every department. Graphics, sound, gameplay and characters. Which makes it extra special, IMHO. 🙂

The graphics throughout are stunning. The first level, with the snow over the town… Wow, that is some seriously good pixel art in the backgrounds there! I’d say that this game has some of the best 2D graphics I think I’ve ever seen in a scrolling shooter… Honestly.

In both Gunbird games the artists have put in these little, titchy people, who populate the world in which you’re fighting, and they look great. They add detail and character to the landscape and even appear as key characters in dialogue scenes from time to time. This is a detail that I think elevates the two Gunbird games above many of their peers.

The gameplay, I think, is also better than the first Gunbird. There are seven stages, the first three of which are randomly-chosen from a pool of four, and seven playable characters in total.

Unlike in a lot of progressive weapons shooters, in both Gunbird games, you get a chance to pick up the power-ups and upgrades that you lost when you died. And if you’re quick enough (and lucky enough), you can get back to where you were before you died, in seconds.

There’s a lot of bullet hell ridiculousness in this, stuff that you wouldn’t normally expect to survive. But you have to remember that this is a game designed to make you put money in to keep continuing. That “ridiculousness” also translates into bullets spewing out in beautiful, spiral patterns, and in pulses. Which looks really impressive.

A lot of thought, and a lot of care and attention, has gone into Gunbird 2, and it shows. IMHO this is one of the very best arcade shooters I’ve played in a long time and it should not be missed by any self-respecting ‘bullet hell’ fan.

More: Gunbird 2 on Wikipedia