Gunhound EX: PSP sidescrolling mecha game from G.Rev

[Skykid]

Well, I may not have the most discerning, educated tastes in video games, but I think this game is super fun. I haven't beat it. The final mission has you flying through a huge base, and I think I encountered a glitch and I just kept flying in infinity. I haven't gotten that far in the game yet again, but I imagine it's just some fluke. I think this game is pretty darn cool. G.Rev has yet to make a crappy game, I think. They make much better shmup games than Triangle. I never expected this game to surpass its predecessors, so it remains as a very fun game.

However, you stated earlier that you do not like Leynos 2, which I find baffling. The one thing I didn't like about Leynos 2 was not having the shield on the shoulder button for immediate access. If getting bogged down with choosing weapons and armor upgrades and such in Leynos 2 is what put you off, then not to worry; Gunhound is far more arcade-y.

I couldn't care less about the anime characters in this game. I'd rather have a protagonist like Jake from Valken as my main character, and as I said before, the protagonist in Gunhound dresses like an AKB48 flunky. that is certainly not the reason why I like this game. Gunhound is only 5 levels long, but it is very difficult. I wish it had a shield like the other games, but I think the gameplay is pretty solid. I wasn't sure what to expect when I bough the game, so that's why I only bought the basic version. It seems that Ed is the only one so far who doesn't like the game. Just play it for yourself and make your own decision. As for me, I'm happy to own it.

Yeah, gonna get my 3000 and give it a good going over. More arcadey than Leynos 2 is an instant improvement. I don't like Leynos 2 because it's not Valken, basically, more convoluted than Leynos 1, no character, really dull, don't find the format inspiring.

I want Gunhound to be more Valken than Wolf Fang, but I'd take either tbh (WF is still awesome.)

The character designs in Valken are all win. Such drama in that game, it's everything an action game should be imo. Multiple endings too (and the bad one is probably more awesome than the good.)

Challenging is fine as long as it's not unfair, which is kind of how Ed made it sound. I don't mind a game beating the hell out of me on fair terms, rather than making poor control implementation and frustrating stage design part of the challenge (like Uprising.)
For instance, Undeadline is an apex of gaming brutality, but I could play it all day because I know exactly where I stand and what I need to do. It's solid.

[Ed Oscuro]

It's time for a second take!

I just finished up serpent in mission mode and it was a striking lesson in a few different ways.

First, just as I suspected might be the case, I was playing it wrong. I previously thought that there must be some DPS advantage to using the strong shot + dual overhead missiles (the last one in the customization menu) - with the first boss it's about a wash as to what combination is best. It's not so here; the main cannon alone is far better than the other attacks. Doing that, and dodging his green energy balls by jumping, made it very hard to take off more but a sliver of health before he entered his second phase, especially the serpent's body is onscreen for too short a period to attack. It seemed as if it has some kind of resistance to the missiles.

This time I just tried using the main gun, and by accident I discovered that you can cancel the balls with a melee attack.

This did ameliorate the obvious awkwardness of trying to press buttons rapidly one after the other at different corners of the face button diamond. Even if they did not use the zero-gravity segments, this presents a good amount of variety in tactics.

I'm still left with a few gripes - one, I didn't move during this fight at all. I hope they expect more in later battles. It feels like I traded one problem (too much challenge and a very long boss fight - maybe using missiles only and jumping would be an entertaining way to play for somebody) for another (the boss fight was brain-dead simple when I figured it out).

Still, I am getting a slightly more positive view of the game as time goes on...baby steps, huh?

[greg]

YAY! I'm glad it's growing on you! Actually, you'll find that if you aren't pressing the shoot button, your mecha will automatically punch some projectiles out of the way automatically.

[Skykid]

Optimism just got a speed boost. Good thing you didn't flog it before learning to play it!

Keep us updated.

[Ed Oscuro]

I'm hopeful that the stage 2 boss is still part of "training mode" because it was way too simple. Here's to hope.

[greg]

Whaaaa? I die continuously in this game... Maybe I just suck. Valken was easier.

[boagman]

I still haven't opened mine yet, but I'm going to soon. I trust G.Rev to make me a happy man with their games, based on past experience. Even if I end up hating Gunhound EX (doubtful), it'd be the equivalent of Pixar releasing a crappy movie like "Cars". A swing-and-a-miss for absolute stinking sure, but it's such a rare thing that they get the slack to come back and try again without any penalty. Their track record is just that good.

There aren't many companies that I view this way, but G.Rev would be one, as would Treasure. Other than that, I'm honestly not sure I could say that about any other company.

[Jonathan Ingram]

It`s not a G.Rev game though. The original PC version was made by a developer called Dracue Software.

[boagman]

It`s not a G.Rev game though. The original PC version was made by a developer called Dracue Software.

I understood that before I made the purchase...and actually, that makes my point even that much the stronger. Yes, I could end up hating the game, but I highly doubt it based on their track record for quality, and, perhaps more importantly, games and a *style* of games that I enjoy.

I could be wrong, but then again, G.Rev's earned a swing-and-a-miss more than most. If I wasted the money I paid for this game, I'll live with it in this case and not complain. I'll call the game as I see it, but if they've released a loser, to my way of thinking, it'd be entirely forgivable. If they release multiple losers in a row, then there'll be an issue. I'll buy their next release, too, even if this one isn't as great as Border Down, Under Defeat, Senko...you get the idea.

[KAI]

I think you guys are asking too much from a doujin game.

BTW their next game will be a Senko no Ronde for Vita.

[Ed Oscuro]

I think you guys are asking too much from a doujin game.

Well, I won't blame anybody, but it was highly hyped. Rather disappointed that I didn't find a copy of the PC version to, ahem, try before a possible buy.

I wonder if some of the issues I was having are related to it being a port (i.e. enemies offscreen, although the second boss seems to be designed so that it isn't seen a good deal of the time).

[greg]

Well, I still think some of your disappointment directly correlates to the price you paid for the LE. I can't even remember what the last LE game I bought was... I bet it was for the Dreamcast. I wouldn't buy the LE for a game unless I'd already played it and I knew I'd really love that extra soundtrack and such.

So about the enemies offscreen, you do know that there's a radar at the bottom of the screen, right? There's one level where you need to protect a dropship from bombers. You can either fire up into the air with the gatling with your teammate and shoot them down as they approach, or fire your AA rockets at them. That part is pretty easy if you pay attention to the radar. Otherwise, you'll be reloading your weapons while the enemy comes and bombs your dropship.

Actually, the last few LEs I bought were some DS games by Atlus (Ys, SRT OG Saga, Luminous Arc). I gave up on those, however, because I never even got around to listening to the soundtracks. I figured that it's not worth my dwindling shelf space for such LEs.

[Ed Oscuro]

Took you a while to gather up enough discontent to try a response

Well, I still think some of your disappointment directly correlates to the price you paid for the LE

Nope. Lazy response to valid criticisms, not worth a response.

So about the enemies offscreen, you do know that there's a radar at the bottom of the screen, right?

Being able to see what's happening is awesome. I'm not even talking about situations where the radar is meant to come in handy; we're talking basic stage segments in the first stage.

[greg]

Wow, dude. You're pretty confrontational, aren't you? We're just talking shit about video games here; it's no big deal. I seem to remember a reply from you like this before. I'm not clutching this game, claiming that it's the greatest I've played in forever or something. I just said that it is a definite work of love for fans of old Masaya-style games. I actually haven't played this game in a few weeks since I bought it because I've been busy, although reading your complaints is making me want to try it out again because I think you have some valid concerns about the gameplay that I may have overlooked. I still think it's a fun, decent tribute to the '90s era mecha platform shooting games and it's worth the 2,500 yen I paid for it. Like I already said, I acknowledge your gripes as being legitimate. I think they could have made the action a bit more zoomed out so as to fit more on the screen, and the jump thrusters are way too heavy.

I'm heading up to the in-laws' place this weekend, so maybe I'll spend some time with the game again then. From what I played of it the first couple of weeks after getting it around the end of January, it really kicked in the nostalgia factor and I had some fun with it. I personally wouldn't sell the a game unless it is crap, and I have a couple of DS RPGs that are crap that I want to get rid of (Lunar: Dragon Song and Hoshigami Remix). If I really wanted to bicker with you, I'd say that wanting to get rid of a game you just bought the LE of seems to be a bit impulsive, but I really don't know what your money situation is, nor do I really care. I'd say just spend some more time with it. My main gripe is that it needs to have more levels (although I admit I have not yet beat the game). The levels in Valken and Leynos 2 were fairly expansive, as was Metal Warriors and some others.

[Skykid]

Gotta say Ed, pretty snippy there all of a sudden. Don't think greg was doing anything except responding to your impressions.

Boys: more emoticons.

[Ed Oscuro]

I finally got around to finishing stage 2.

Stage 3 opener:

Let's go slalom! In the mud, with inertia. With deadly barriers in the way, which your craft auto-punches...sometimes. But they give points! What a mess.

I don't mind a bit of a slow craft but it's like they've designed the game to show off every situation that hobbles a mech.

Gotta say Ed, pretty snippy there all of a sudden. Don't think greg was doing anything except responding to your impressions.

No way. Now that I think about it, though, greg has called me out before for being just decently honest, too. He has a rather skewed sense of what's polite, I'm afraid, because then he turns around and turns it into a direct character attack.

Wow, dude. You're pretty confrontational, aren't you? [blah blah blah]

You seem to have a recurring problem with it when I dare to disagree with you (and actually, all I'm doing here is defending my opinion). I was being polite, too, just pointed. So hopefully you can understand why it might seem hypocritical when your attempts to defend the game go to rather out of bounds topics like "you are having a hissy fit because the game is expensive" (LOL, laughing over a pile of PCBs) or "you are a mean person because you just won't agree with me." Like you just said, it's just a game; nobody is going to get hurt if I'm just honest about what I feel. If that's a rule, it doesn't apply to just me.

This doesn't mean that I resent your attempts to show me things that I didn't consider about the game. I tried focusing more on the radar for the second stage, and it just made me more annoyed, because the homing missiles are so slow to chase after helicopters.

[BIL]

Boys: more emoticons.

^______________^;;

[KAI]

Just give the game some time, I didn't like it at first too.

[Friendly]

Very enjoyable game, don't let Ed tell you otherwise.
Can do no wrong with the 2,500 JPY regular edition. I could see this one becoming hard to find later on, considering how late in PSP's lifespan it was released.

[Ed Oscuro]

Beware the PSP Illuminati!

[Friendly]

While it's not perfect (my main gripe is the short length), you make it sound like it's a turd, and nothing could be further from the truth.

[Ed Oscuro]

And yet everything I've said is actually true.



Sum and the parts and all that. I don't know; I'll stop having problems with it when it quits the inertia and making me fight offscreen enemies or watch my missiles chase slowly after attack choppers and all that business.

[Skykid]

Gotta say Ed, pretty snippy there all of a sudden. Don't think greg was doing anything except responding to your impressions.

No way.

Well I didn't get the impression he was taking offence your comments, that's all.
I always considered greg to be a pretty happy go lucky, yes I'm geeky so sue me type of anime loving guy, than a confrontational type... Unless you're talking shit about our lord Jesus.C or the right to own AK-47's do defend yourself from door to door salesmen - but we're all here because we have an opinion.

Actually regarding greg's comment, I'm starting to feel the burn buying the LE (it was fucking expensive, especially after I got TAXED SHIPPING FROM HONG KONG TO MAINLAND CHINA just thought I'd vent that quick)

Why am I feeling the burn seeing as I haven't even played it yet?

Because Ed, your criticisms sound valid: as in, they sound like you've measured it up fairly and it smacks of poor design. I can't translate it any other way.

[greg]

Let's go slalom! In the mud, with inertia. With deadly barriers in the way, which your craft auto-punches...sometimes. But they give points! What a mess.

Try going around the barriers, or blast them with your cannon when it looks like you won't make it around them.

I tried focusing more on the radar for the second stage, and it just made me more annoyed, because the homing missiles are so slow to chase after helicopters.

Try firing the rockets in the direction the helicopters are coming from right before they arrive on screen. They will acquire the target and lock on just as fast as they appear on screen. You just need to get used to the radar screen.

I haven't played this game in weeks, but just now I played it and got through most of the way through the 3rd level without dying. Now that I'm used to the game, there are no real glaring gameplay issues, in my opinion. Perhaps you were expecting the game to be too similar to the familiar, and it's let you down. Beyond that, I promise I won't try again to second guess why you don't like the game, since it apparently offended you. And I'm not attacking your character. I was just pointing out that you were being snippy with me, out of the blue, and I don't think I was being antagonistic to you at all. If you and I have ever had an argument on this forum before and you resent me, I really do not remember as I am on several other forums. Hell, Siren2011 was practically screaming bloody murder at me once upon a time, but I didn't give a crap and in the end, through PMs, we got along fine.

I've told you that you have valid points about this game, but I'm also saying that you just need to get used to the nuances of the game. I've never really taken a warming to Milestone shmups myself, so if Gunhound isn't your cup of tea, I perfectly understand. I just don't see why you would think that this game is such a piece of crap that you want to get rid of it so suddenly. I'm just saying that you could spend some time with it and get to like it.

Because Ed, your criticisms sound valid: as in, they sound like you've measured it up fairly and it smacks of poor design. I can't translate it any other way.

Well, I wouldn't worry about it. Just note that everyone else here seems to like the game. This is also why I try not to read and watch much commentary on a new movie I have yet to see. (Although I am VERY glad to have watched people bash the Prometheus movie before I had a chance to see it. I think I'll wait for the Rifftrax commentary before I ever get around to watching that crappy movie.)

[Skykid]

Well it will get a fair run from me. Only game I've looked forward to in about a year (seriously. )

[CID]

So how are you guys liking this game. I'm looking to pick it up this month.

[KAI]

There's a trial version for PC if you want to try it.

[Ed Oscuro]

Let's go slalom! In the mud, with inertia. With deadly barriers in the way, which your craft auto-punches...sometimes. But they give points! What a mess.

Try going around the barriers, or blast them with your cannon when it looks like you won't make it around them.

Well, yes, obviously. Maybe this area isn't the best target of criticism because it is quick and taking damage isn't mandatory. Still it seemed rather strange. With more screen space (and a tighter controlling ship) it would have felt more acceptable from the start.

[greg]

That part of the game is the shmuppiest part, I think. It doesn't really feel like a platformer at that part, when you're sliding down the mountain.

[Ed Oscuro]

Actually I find it rather interesting that I thought it was a bad segment...guess I was in a bit of a mood already. It's interesting how inertia is seen as tolerable in some games but not others. So long as you can start moving on a dime it's reasonable.