The Nintendo Switch has become a popular console for retro games. SNK putting classic King of Fighters, Samurai Showdown, and Metal Slug titles on the Nintendo Switch. Ikaruga released on the Nintendo Switch on May 29th, 2018. Now, both Gunbird 1 and 2 are playable on the Nintendo Switch. Gunbird was a Vertical Scrolling Shooter from Developer Psykyo and ported to the Nintendo Switch by Zerodiv. Gunbird released on the Nintendo Switch on December 7th, 2017, and now its sequel, Gunbird 2, just released on June 21st, 2018.
Gunbird is a franchise that is special in many ways. It has multiple characters, frantic stages, and a design like no other, like many shooters of its kind. However, where most shooters have you controlling a ship, Gunbird allows you to play as a Witch with magical powers. Truth be told, it is nothing special compared to many others games, but its personality make it stand out. The game is not very long, running around the hour mark, but its replay value is high.
Gunbird was released on the SEGA Saturn, and while there have been other ports, the Saturn was arguably one of the best ports and one of the best ways to play the original Gunbird. The first Gunbird never came out in the states by name, but it did come to the United States as Mobile Light Force. The Mobile Light Force series in the United States is a funny story because Mobile Light Force on the PS1 is Gunbird without the cutscenes, but Gunbird 2 would come to the states on the SEGA Dreamcast fully translated. Then when Mobile Light Force 2 came out on the PS2, it was not Gunbird 2, but rather a game called Shikigami no Shiro.
Gunbird 2 on the SEGA Dreamcast is where Gunbird truly gets its legacy from. Dreamcast fans are some of the most passionate fans in the video game community, and because Gunbird 2 was a Dreamcast Exclusive, it quickly became sought after and praised highly. It also helps that Gunbird 2 is a fantastic game, and one of the few Rail Shooters to come out in the United States fully translated. Morrigan from Darkstalkers is in Gunbird 2, but is sadly still exclusive to the Dreamcast Version. That is an important detail to know when purchasing the Nintendo Switch Version.
It is great to see Ikaruga, Gunbird, and Gunbird 2 on the Nintendo Switch for a new audience to play and appreciate them. With the track record, it seems the Nintendo Switch will be receiving more Rail Shooters in the future, and that is good news for everyone. The original Gunbird games are fantastic, and we encourage everyone here to go out and enjoy both of them.