Gunhound EX

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Gunhound EX is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up game where players control powerful mechs in a post-apocalyptic world. With various weapons and abilities, pilots must battle against enemy forces and colossal bosses to complete missions. The game features hand-drawn graphics and intense combat, testing the skills and strategies of even the most seasoned shoot 'em up veterans.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

66%

Audience ScoreBased on 248 reviews

graphics10 positive mentions

story8 negative mentions

Gunhound EX offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic mech games like Cybernator and Metal Warriors, providing enjoyable arcade-style action.
The game features solid mech customization options and a variety of weapons, enhancing replayability and allowing players to experiment with different loadouts.
Once players adapt to the controls, the gameplay becomes rewarding and engaging, with a fast-paced run-and-gun style that keeps the action exciting.

The controls are convoluted and can be frustrating, especially for those using a keyboard, making a controller almost necessary for an enjoyable experience.
The game is quite short, with only a few levels, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
There are issues with unskippable cutscenes and dialogue, which can disrupt the flow of gameplay, particularly after repeated deaths.

story
112 mentions
5 % positive mentions
88 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally considered weak and generic, serving primarily as a backdrop for gameplay rather than a compelling narrative. Many players find the dialogue tedious and poorly translated, leading to a lack of engagement with the characters and plot. While some appreciate the anime-style elements, the overall consensus is that the story is not a significant draw, and players are encouraged to skip it to focus on the action.
- “In the end, the story concludes appropriately and nothing feels amiss.”
- “There is also a simple but solid story element accompanied by sweet Japanese voice acting.”
- “As well, those of you just rolled out of the anime conventions like Otakon, and want to see an anime-type story unfold, this is a platformer shooter with a very anime-style background, and an unfolding story that you would expect from the likes.”
- “If you are here for the plot, you’ll be disappointed because it is very plain and quite generic.”
- “- The story is run-of-the-mill and an unsalvageable mess that never becomes remotely interesting.”
- “The plot is just there to give the game a sense of direction, but something the game doesn’t tell you is that you can skip the dialogue by holding down the dash button, which should come in handy because the game has moments where the dialogue can drag on.”
graphics
50 mentions
20 % positive mentions
74 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many noting that they are low-resolution and reminiscent of older consoles like the PlayStation and Sega Saturn. While some players appreciate the retro pixel-art style and find it visually appealing, others criticize the graphics as mediocre, blurry, and not optimized for modern systems. Overall, the visuals are seen as a nostalgic nod to classic gaming, but they may not satisfy those seeking high-definition graphics.
- “The graphics look pretty solid for what they are and some larger-than-life boss battles are definitely the highlights of the game.”
- “The game definitely feels like a successor to Assault Suits Leynos 2 in terms of aesthetics; visuals definitely feel like it came from the PlayStation or Sega Saturn era with its low-res but eye-pleasing pixel-art graphics along with some nice parallax scrolling backgrounds and sprite rotation, all while running at a slick frame-rate.”
- “Gunhound EX hits all the high points, with colorful graphics, countless enemies, frustrating boss fights, and even a countdown on the 'replay' screen similar to old NES games like Contra.”
- “Very low resolution graphics.”
- “The graphics are mediocre at best.”
- “Graphics were mediocre at best, extremely blurry and low res.”
gameplay
46 mentions
22 % positive mentions
72 % neutral mentions
7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of Gunhound EX is a fast-paced, challenging experience that combines elements of side-scrolling shooters and mecha piloting, reminiscent of classic titles like Metal Slug and Contra. Players can choose to engage in a time attack mode that encourages quick actions, while also having the option to eject armor for increased speed at the cost of vulnerability. Despite some criticisms regarding difficulty spikes and control issues, the game is generally praised for its responsive mechanics and nostalgic appeal, making it particularly enjoyable for old-school gamers.
- “The game does a fantastic job at making you feel like you’re piloting a tanky mech, but the game can be as fast-paced as you want it to be. It has a mechanic that allows you to eject your armor, making you faster but more susceptible to damage, which works with the game trying to be challenging.”
- “Contrast to the slower-paced and methodical gameplay of Astro Port's Gigantic Army, Gunhound EX's time attack-styled gameplay encourages you to act and shoot quickly throughout the game's 5+ stages. If the timer reaches zero, you won't be able to score points for the remainder of the stage; however, you can't be reckless unless you prefer seeing the game over screen.”
- “Sick sidescrolling shmup (think Metal Slug) that nails the anime/mecha feel with heavy mechanical controls and really cinematic, visceral arcade action scenes.”
- “Don't be fooled, this game has some of the worst gameplay I've ever experienced.”
- “Some parts are overly difficult and have unique mechanics that are never revisited, but otherwise, it's pretty fair.”
- “But as it stands, the control weirdness to gameplay ratio is not worth it.”
music
30 mentions
47 % positive mentions
43 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, featuring a rockin' and bombastic soundtrack that enhances the fast-paced gameplay and evokes a nostalgic 90s arcade feel. While some tracks are praised for their ability to energize players, others are described as decent but not particularly memorable. Overall, the composition by Hyakutaro Tsukimo adds a layer of excitement, though occasional audio issues are noted.
- “The game also has a rockin' and bombastic soundtrack that adds to the game's fast-paced nature with some pretty good voice-overs for the dialogue that takes place before and during missions.”
- “The music is great, with some awesome tunes to get you pumped for the next stage or boss.”
- “Music is scored by Hyakutaro Tsukimo, famous for his works on the last games of the Thunder Force series by Technosoft, and the art is very 90's-like with gorgeous details.”
- “The OST is okay, nothing to write home about.”
- “The music's fitting enough and the graphics get the job done.”
- “When this game's music is composed by the same person behind Thunder Force V, it must be good.”
replayability
12 mentions
33 % positive mentions
42 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The game features a score-based unlock system that enhances replayability by allowing players to earn new weapons as they accumulate points, even after dying. While this mechanic can be grindy, it provides a rewarding experience for those who enjoy mastering the game. However, the overall replay value may be limited for players not deeply invested in achieving high scores or unlocking all content, as the game is primarily single-player and relatively short.
- “To add replay value, the game comes with an unlock system that is attached to your score; every single point you earn (even if you die) will be gradually added to a score meter, and you’ll unlock new weapons after you reach certain milestones.”
- “While it may be grindy (especially if you want to unlock all achievements), it is an interesting way to add replayability, and the game will reward you accordingly depending on how well you play.”
- “But once you get past all of that, you're left with an awesome arcade-style game with great-feeling controls, punchy music, and good replayability.”
- “While it's not as good as those classics, it's a really fun game despite being really short and, unless you're really into mastering these types of games, not very replayable.”
- “It's singleplayer-only with limited replay value (achieve high scores to unlock extra weapons).”
- “To add replay value, the game comes with an unlock system which is attached to your score; every single point you earn (even if you die) will be gradually added to a score meter and you’ll unlock new weapons after you reach certain milestones.”
grinding
10 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game features significant grinding, particularly for players aiming to unlock all achievements, which can lead to repetitive gameplay as they must accumulate millions of score points across a limited number of levels. While this grind can enhance replayability and offers rewards based on performance, it often becomes tedious due to the necessity of repeatedly attempting levels and the inability to skip certain segments. Overall, the grinding aspect is a double-edged sword, providing both challenge and frustration.
- “Considering the fact that you'll need millions upon millions of score points in order to unlock them all, you're in for a heck of a lot of grinding of the limited number of levels.”
- “Without spoiling the game, the unlock system requires blatant in-game grinding, and since the game is so short, you'll just be grinding one mission over and over again to rack up the points.”
- “While the story is one of the high points of the game, sometimes the levels will take a lot of dying and trying again... so it sometimes gets tedious hearing the same thing over and over without any ability to skip it.”
optimization
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
50 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization on PC is generally poor, with users reporting compatibility issues on Windows 10 and NVIDIA systems. While some have managed to improve performance by disabling the Steam overlay and fullscreen optimizations, the overall graphic modes remain unoptimized.
- “It definitely looks like a fun game, but the PC optimization is pretty bad.”
- “- Graphic modes are not optimized.”
- “Note: Windows 10/NVIDIA does seem to have compatibility issues, but I got it running with no problem by disabling the Steam overlay and fullscreen optimizations from the executable properties.”
stability
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
The game generally runs well and offers an enjoyable experience, though players have noted some glitches and unclear objectives. Despite these issues, it remains a fun and visually appealing title that can be completed in about four hours, depending on skill level.
- “Runs great, looks great, fun to play.”
- “Runs great, looks great, fun to play.”
- “Overall has some glitches and some objectives are not clear, but it's a fun time to just blast through in about 4 hours or so, depending on your skill level.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by the varied and challenging enemies, which are often positioned in amusingly frustrating locations, adding a comedic twist to the gameplay experience.
- “Enemies are varied and challenging, and sometimes placed in hilariously annoying but doable spots.”
atmosphere
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-50 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere is characterized by a tight and immersive environment, enhanced by challenging missions and robust mech customization options. Players appreciate the engaging controls, which become more intuitive with practice, particularly in managing the constant switching of weapon subsystems.
- “The atmosphere is tight, with challenging missions, excellent mech customization, and smooth controls once you get used to the constant switching of the weapon subsystems.”
- “The atmosphere is immersive, drawing you into the world with its detailed environments and engaging sound design.”
- “The game creates a captivating atmosphere that keeps you on the edge of your seat, making every mission feel intense and rewarding.”
character development
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
100 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Character development is generally viewed as decent, with praise for the character design and high-quality Japanese voice acting, which enhances the overall experience.