Developer: Takumi Publisher: Capcom Release: 07/2000 Genre: Shooter
As with all genres by the year 2000 the shooter had long since had its time in the sun. While Westerners subsisted on scraps the genre was going through a transformation in Japan with bullet hell taking over. Bullet hell is not my favorite shooter sub-genre but I can appreciate an accessible one. Giga Wing is just that, a less strenuous danmaku with a brilliant mechanic that adds nuance to its gameplay. Heavily misunderstood at release Giga Wing is a great game.
Throughout history numerous wars have been fought for possession of the Medallion, a mysterious artifact that can bring prosperity or destruction based on its wielder. In the year 2050 war has started again over the Medallion with advanced weaponry. Four individuals have taken it upon themselves to destroy the Medallion, each with their own reasons.
Giga Wing offers a choice of four pilots: Sinnosuke, Ruby, Isha, and Stuck. Each ship differs in terms of speed and firepower although the game does not implicitly show it. Even though Sinnosuke appears to be the default character he is actually the worst. His movement speed is average and his wide shots lack power. By comparison Ruby is the overwhelming favorite. Not only is her ship the fastest but her fiery shots are ridiculously powerful. Stuck and Isha require more finesse to use. Short range cluster bombs and homing missiles are strong on their own but are not as straightforward as a regular shot and in some cases result in an easy death.
There is no real weapon system to speak of in Giga Wing. Your standard shot can power up three times which will occur within the first few minutes of any level. Force bombs differ per character and grant temporary invincibility for the duration. The best weapon is the reflect force. By holding the attack button for a few seconds you create a shield that reflects all bullets that touch it. It also makes you invincible while it lasts. The reflect force is governed by a meter that refills between uses to prevent spamming. Generally it takes about five seconds which is fair. But in those five seconds you will shit bricks at the onscreen chaos.
Every level in Giga Wing is dense with enemies and bullets. While it is fun to practice your maneuvering skills the game encourages using the reflect force to gain medals for more points. For every enemy hit and reflected bullet that destroys something a medal is released. The medals vary in size but cause a multiplier that tallies up at the end of every stage. Points do not grant extra lives so they are for bragging rights. But beyond that reflecting a swarm of bullets that destroys half the screen is so incredibly satisfying I guarantee you will use it at every opportunity. There is a rhythm to the onscreen action that I can’t properly describe. All that I can say is that every moment feels like it was immaculately planned out which is why the game feels so great to play.
It goes without saying that Giga Wing is a challenging game. It lives up to the title of bullet hell but does never descends to the level of the more extreme titles in the genre. This is one of the more accessible of this type in my opinion. Every enemy type has a specific bullet pattern and never deviates. While it may look chaotic at first with observation it is navigable without relying on the reflect force. Using force bombs for the temporary invincibility rather than as a last resort is a viable strategy as well. The game does a good job providing more for this specific reason. Depending on the character your journey will differ as the level order changes as well. To see all of the game’s content will require a lot of work but at least it is enjoyable doing so.
At its release Giga Wing was heavily criticized for its length. If you play normally there are only six levels and with unlimited credits you can brute force your way to its conclusion. You will also only receive the bad ending in which your character essentially suicide bombs their way to victory. However there is more to the game than that. By completing the first six stages without continuing you unlock the game’s true final level and the good ending. Earning this will require a lot of practice as this one is not easy at all. Speaking of endings, each character has their own individual story and ending incentivizing multiple runs. You can also play for high scores but I will be completely honest. The scoring system in this game is so ridiculous that I find it hard to give a damn about points.
In Closing
Giga Wing is a great game with fun mechanics and a tall but manageable challenge. It will not be everyone’s cup of tea but those that give it a chance will find a game like no other. The Dreamcast has a respectable shooter library and Giga Wing is one of its best.
