Wild Guns (1994). Play online

Summary

Wild Guns on the SNES feels like an arcade light‑gun showdown wrapped in a western‑steampunk movie set. A three‑person core team at Natsume built it in just five months, borrowing the pacing of arcade hits such as Blood Bros. and Dynamite Duke while drawing art inspiration from western films and the sci‑fi manga Cobra. The game forces you to control Annie or Clint in the foreground, move the reticle with the D‑pad while the trigger is held, and hop, dive or roll when you holster your gun to dodge bullets – a pattern that makes simultaneous movement and shooting impossible and adds tension. Co‑op play doubles the fun, letting two players compete on target‑practice scores or team up through six two‑stage levels ending in bosses; occasional item boxes drop gold, bombs and weapon upgrades, and filling the bottom gauge rewards the invincible Vulcan gun. Though its North American launch slipped to 1995, the title earned strong reviews and today stands as a cult classic prized by collectors.

Storyline

In Wild Guns, Annie and the space‑faring bounty hunter Clint roll into Carson City just as a storm of bullets erupts. The town erupts into a chaotic shoot‑out, explosions lighting the streets while the duo cuts a path through wave after wave of outlaws. After the melee they storm the saloon, emptying every cowboy inside and even redecorating the interior with their gunfire. Climbing onto the roof to escape, they hear a metallic rumble—an enormous robot looms overhead.

The game blends classic Wild West motifs with steampunk and sci‑fi flair, framing Annie’s personal vendetta against the Kid family, who murdered her relatives. Determined to avenge her family, she convinces Clint—who claims he doesn’t need a partner—to join her hunt. Their partnership hinges on Annie’s sharp shooting skills and Clint’s reputation as a renowned space bounty hunter. Together they chase the Kid clan across deserts, towns, and even mechanized battlefields.