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Cover art of Beast Busters

3.8 / 5

13 votes

Platform
Arcade
Genres
Shooter
Player Perspective
First person
Developers
SNK
Publishers
Activision · SNK
Release date
November 1, 1989

Summary

Beast Busters drops you into a nightmarish city overrun by Dr. Spektor’s twisted creations, where every alley could be your last. The arcade cabinet feels like a mini‑gun turret, letting up to three friends grab the mounted machine‑guns and blast through waves of zombies, mutants and vermin.

You choose between Johnny Justice, Paul Patriot or Sammy Stately, each a mercenary with a no‑nonsense attitude. The rail‑shooter format forces you to react fast, while a steady stream of power‑ups—rockets, grenades, armor, health packs and extra ammo—keeps the chaos manageable.

The game is split into seven frantic sections, each punctuated by comic‑book‑style cutscenes that explain the bizarre outbreak. Every stage throws a sub‑boss and a final boss at you, each with two distinct forms; think a punk‑zombie that mutates into a snarling dog or a military jeep that comes to life. One memorable encounter even has the trio rescuing a female CIA agent from a towering foe.

What makes Beast Busters stand out is its blend of horror and over‑the‑top action, all wrapped in a light‑gun experience that was a first for three‑player arcades. It’s a chaotic, adrenaline‑pumping ride that still feels fresh when you hear those gun‑clicks echo through the cabinet.

Storyline

Beast Busters takes place in the early 1990s, when a bizarre outbreak turns dead people—referred to as "Beasts"—into hostile revenants that roam the streets. The city’s mayor, desperate to stop the chaos, promises a huge reward to anyone who can uncover the cause and contain the menace. Three heavily armed bounty hunters—Johnny Justice, Paul Patriot, and Sammy Stately—answer the call and venture into the Beast‑infested metropolis. Their mission is to survive the onslaught, investigate the strange phenomenon, and bring the city back to safety.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Videos

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Beast Busters
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  • Screenshot 3 of Beast Busters
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  • Screenshot 5 of Beast Busters
  • Screenshot 6 of Beast Busters
  • Screenshot 7 of Beast Busters

Arcade Machine

Developers
SNK
Machine Style
Upright
Control Panel
Multi-player
Input Devices
Gun
Screen Orientation
Landscape
Sound
Stereo

Multiplayer

Game modes
Cooperative