Wild Guns Natsume 1994 Super NES

Wild Guns (Natsume, 1994) – English Review**  

*"A Cult Classic Blending Wild West Grit with Sci-Fi Mayhem"*  

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Overview

Developed by **Natsume** for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), *Wild Guns* (1994) is a genre-defying **shooting gallery** game that fuses **Wild West** aesthetics with **steampunk** and **sci-fi** elements. Set in a surreal alternate universe, players take on the roles of **Annie**, a vengeful sharpshooter, and **Clint**, a space bounty hunter, as they battle robotic outlaws and colossal mechanical bosses to avenge Annie’s family .  

**Release Dates**:  

- Japan: August 12, 1994  

- North America: July 1995  

- Europe: October 1995 (via Titus Software) .  

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### **Gameplay Mechanics**  

*Wild Guns* combines **third-person shooting** and **light-gun arcade action**, demanding precision and strategy:  

1. **Dual Control System**: Players maneuver characters in the foreground (using the D-pad) while aiming a reticle in the background to shoot enemies. Holding the fire button locks movement to aiming, creating a tense risk-reward dynamic .  

2. **Defensive Moves**: Dive rolls (invincible during animation), double jumps, and dynamite toss-backs keep players agile amid relentless enemy fire. A "Look Out!" warning bubble signals incoming attacks .  

3. **Weapon Variety**: Collect upgrades like shotguns, Gatling guns, and the screen-clearing **Vulcan Gun** (unlocked by shooting enemy bullets to fill a gauge) .  

4. **Co-op Mode**: Two-player simultaneous play adds chaotic fun, though characters share identical abilities, risking confusion in frantic moments .  

5. **Brutal Difficulty**: One-hit kills, limited lives, and screen-filling bosses (e.g., mechanical crabs, armored trains) demand mastery of mechanics. Unlimited continues soften the blow for newcomers .  

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### **Visuals & Sound**  

- **Art Direction**: A striking blend of **pixel art** and **steampunk** design. Environments range from dusty saloons with destructible whiskey bottles to sci-fi arsenals with towering mechas. Bullet holes and debris dynamically alter backdrops, adding immersion .  

- **Bosses**: Standouts include a bullet-spewing orb and a train boss that dominates the screen. Defeated enemies explode in vibrant pyrotechnics .  

- **Soundtrack**: Composed by Hiroyuki Iwatsuki and Haruo Ohashi, the music merges **Western twangs** with **rock adrenaline**. The Desolation Canyon theme and boss battle tracks are fan favorites .  

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### **Development Insights**  

- **Small Team, Big Vision**: A core team of three (designer Shunichi Taniguchi, programmer Toshiyasu Miyabe, composer Hiroyuki Iwatsuki) created the game in **five months** on a tight budget. Voice lines were recorded in an office bathroom due to constraints .  

- **Inspirations**: Arcade classics like *Blood Bros.* and manga *Cobra* influenced its hybrid setting. The reticle movement was reworked after initial clunkiness .  

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### **Reception & Legacy**  

- **Contemporary Praise**: Critics lauded its co-op mode, visuals, and depth, though its difficulty polarized players. *Electronic Gaming Monthly* called it "one of the best SNES shooters" .  

- **Retrospective Acclaim**: Modern reviewers hail it as a **cult classic**. *Nintendo Life* scored it 9/10, praising its "exhilarating pace" and "timeless design" .  

- **Remaster**: *Wild Guns Reloaded* (2016) added new characters (Doris, Bullet the dog), stages, and 4-player support on PS4/Switch/PC .  

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### **Final Verdict**  

*Wild Guns* is a masterclass in retro gaming—**chaotic, challenging, and endlessly

replayable**. Its fusion of genres, tight controls, and aesthetic daring make it a standout title in the SNES library. While its difficulty may deter casual players, its creativity and depth cement its status as a **must-play for retro enthusiasts** .  

**Score**: ★★★★☆ (9/10) – *"A relentless, genre-blending shooter that rewards perseverance."*