Official Score
Overall - 80%
80%
Gunkid 99 is a fast, frantic arena shooter with an interesting hook. Putting the focus on the weapons rather than the enemies is an interesting proposition, and its tight platforming mechanics seal the deal.
Despite all of life’s uncertainties, most shooter aficionados can agree that happiness is a warm gun. Yongjustyong certainly feels so, and has shared his love with the world in his new title Gunkid 99. Tasking players with finding weaponry above all other objectives, should this arena-based shooter be added to your collection?
Gunkid 99 Review
One would typically expect the objective of a game would be to take down all enemies or get a high score, but Gunkid 99 does things just a little bit differently. Rather, the key to victory is to net a set amount of guns each go around. Each stage, players are thrown into a world that has both rapidly spawning weapons and enemies. Each new weapon provides a new style of play, and the next one that warps in might be completely different. Grab the set amount of guns, and come out victorious.
It’s a unique concept, as it prevents players from getting complacent. Going from a shotgun to a uzi to a gun that shoots freakin’ laser beams is a treat, and though each has their own benefits and drawbacks, making the most of what you’ve got leads to a compelling premise. The game certainly does not make it easy on you – not only do enemies spawn at a rapid rate, a number of traps have also made their way to many of the different stages. There is a dodge-roll that comes with i-frames, but simply having a good weapon isn’t enough – you need the skills to know how to use them.
This is both a blessing and a curse. It is easy to lock on to the enemy of your choosing with a press of the X button, but sometimes enemies come at you from all sides, making it a losing proposition. It is never cheap, but the odds are most certainly stacked against the player. Sometimes the speediest player comes out on top as well, as one can grab all weapons before too many enemies spawn.
To make things a bit easier, there is a store that features both items and weapons that can be earned from currency. There is a fair amount to choose from here, greatly changing the style of play. The prices are a bit on the high side, but the way they change the state of play is worth it in the long run.
Each of the five different worlds the game has to offer provides a decent amount of variety, and those that complete each level can also try out “Equipped Mode,” which only spawns weapons that are equipped in the loadout for a more customized run. The amount of variety on display here means that players can play the game on their own terms, and can learn it like the back of their hand before too long.
Gunkid 99 is a fast, frantic arena shooter with an interesting hook. Putting the focus on the weapons rather than the enemies is an interesting proposition, and its tight platforming mechanics seal the deal.
