PixlBit

Light gun games have a come a long way since they were introduced many years ago. One of the first I can remember playing as a kid was Gunblade NY from Sega. The cabinet featured two mounted machineguns and the gameplay encouraged constant gripping of the trigger. There were no alternative goals to the gameplay, it was simply point and shoot at anything that moved. As the years have gone by, players have experienced far deeper missions, a variety of guns, and some more complicated cabinets to do simple pointing and shooting. With the latest release from Sega, players have the ability to step back in time and enjoy two classics of the genre, Gunblade NY and L.A. Machineguns.

L.A. Machineguns is clearly the standout feature of this package, as it took the core gameplay and concept of Gunblade NY and made it much better. Furthermore, L.A. Machineguns worked in an additional two levels as opposed to the simple, Normal and Hard levels featured in Gunblade NY. The levels in L.A. Machineguns have no associated challenge, and like most modern light gun shooters, simply progress the story and offer new enemies and scenery to shoot in.

Though we've seen many different types of light gun games over the years, the simple gameplay offered in both of these titles still remains extremely enjoyable. Players don't need to worry about ammo, changing weapons, or precision aiming: simply target your reticle and unload. Also a bit different, players are flying in helicopters over the action, which allows the screen to whip around rapidly in order to target and kill many, many enemies. The combination of the style of shooting and attacking from the air, create a light gun experience that is unlike any other titles on the market.

For the most part, both titles are arcade-perfect ports, but a couple new elements have been added to spruce up the gameplay for home release. There is a new Chain Combo System, that enables players to get even higher scores by consecutively eliminating enemies before running out of time. Additionally, players can unlock new weapons to change up the gameplay from the machinegun driven style presented initially. Mimicking the old arcades, there are still a variety of leaderboards, except these have been expanded to the whole world, giving players a goal to work towards while blasting baddies.

While both games are enjoyable for what they are, they are also extremely short. Don't be surprised if you make it through both games in far less than an hour. Because the games are so quick and easy to get through, their appeal will likely be shortlived, especially if you aren't into achieving high scores.

Gunblade NY and L.A. Machineguns: Arcade Hits Pack is a solid title that provides for some great fun while it lasts, especially for those who have fond memories of playing either of the games as a kid. Unfortunately, that fun is fairly shortlived due to the short length of both of the titles. For those who understand what they are in for and are looking for a little piece of history, this is a great title to add to the collection. Everyone else on the other hand should likely wait for a price drop and grab the game when it hits the price of your typical downloadable games.