Gunbird (1994). Play online

Summary

Gunbird drops you into a bright, anime‑styled vertical scrolling shooter where each character pilots a distinct craft—like the tiny wizard Marion or the robot warrior Barnas. The game rewards precise hits, because colliding with an enemy strips a shot power level, and at the lowest tier a bomb is lost instead of a life. You can tweak difficulty, lives, continues and even screen orientation, while “P” items boost firepower, “B” items deliver screen‑clearing bombs, and a charge shot adds extra bite.
Two players can team up, trading cheeky dialogue in the inter‑stage cutscenes, and the second loop cranks up bullet density and speed. After finishing the first loop solo, the pair of magic‑potion wishes determine a unique ending; cooperative play yields its own finale. Though it first lit up Japanese arcades in 1994, the title later appeared on US consoles via Jaleco, resurfaced in modern form on Steam with online leaderboards, and even landed in the 2022 Sega Astro City Mini V collection, cementing its retro‑shooter charm.

Storyline

Gunbird (aka Gunbird) is a comical arcade shooter where a magical mirror grants wishes. Between stages and before each boss, manga‑styled cutscenes show the heroes hunting mirror fragments. The dialogue shifts when you play with a partner, adding extra banter during intermissions and boss introductions.

The roster includes Ash, a 28‑year‑old German inventor with a jet pack, and Marion, a 13‑year‑old English witch who rides a broom with her talkative rabbit Pom‑Pom. Valnus is a newly built Russian robot longing to become human, while Yuan Nang draws inspiration from Sun Wukong, complete with a cloud‑somersault and a magical staff. Tetsu, a 60‑year‑old white‑haired man, pilots a man‑powered helicopter and is openly flamboyant.

Rival sky pirates known as The Trump—Ace, Claud and their leader Rouge—appear as non‑playable antagonists, constantly clashing with the player’s crew. The story’s light‑hearted tone and changing character lines make each playthrough feel fresh.