Dreamcast

Zero Gunner 2

The smooth, polished 3D graphics show no sign of frame-rate stutters or slow-down, with the exception of the some of the larger, more jarring explosions. The techno soundtrack is decent, but tends to get lost in the frantic action. Another pleasant surprise is the reasonable difficulty level. The normal setting is relatively easy so you'll get to see a lot of the game without having to use continues. And the bosses never overstay their welcome. Two people can play at once, high scores are saved automatically, and as icing on the cake, you can save your best game to VMU and replay it later! Zero Gunner 2 is not a cheap import, but if you're a real Dreamcast fanatic this one might just be worth breaking your piggy bank for (just be sure your machine can play imports first).

An amazing shooter with nice replay value, Zero Gunner II is a worthy import for any shooter fan and probably the first 3D shooter that I can respect (while Cannon Spike DID come out before ZG2, it is more of a beat-em-up/shooter).

Overall, the gameplay feels comfortable after only a few levels, and definitely serves to breathe new life into what some call a tired genre. This game is only available as an import, but if you have the capability to play foreign games, and the chunk of change to actually buy the mutha, this is a fabulous addition to any shooter fan's library. You will definitely see the genre from many new perspectives, so to hell with all who ignore the awesome power of the 2-D shooter!

Like any 2D shooter, the biggest obstacle to overcome is longterm playability. Zero Gunner 2 is pretty lackluster in this department; with only a ranking mode as the only extra, ZG2 isn't recommended for those looking for a longterm investment in terms of gameplay hours filled with unlocking new secrets and levels. Zero Gunner 2 is for that hardy import Dreamcast gamer that still enjoys 2D shooters but needs a little "twist".