What a pity games like this sometimes get reviewed by people who clearly know little of the genre. I can't blame people like that who give a game like this a low score I suppose - but if you aren't a fan of the genre then don't review this type of game - you certainly wouldn't see me review the latest WWII FPS.
Gunbird 2 is one of the finest examples of the 2D shooter (aka shmup or STG) around. Even today, 14 years after it appeared on the Dreamcast, it proves to be an extremely popular game by fans of the genre and it does well in the regular poll held at www.shmups.com. STGs are a smart genre. They require the player to master the game initially from the point of view of survival - that is getting to the end without continuing - but with great STGs that is only the start. Great STGs have interesting score systems to master that can make differences in scores registering in multiples of 100s of thousands or even in the millions - even more in modern examples. So once a game can be completed the challenge of the high score opens up and in many cases challenges the player to enter into high risk situations in order to score well. This risk reward system is what makes STGs so compelling.
This is an older game and doesn't have the complex scoring rules of modern games, but it has a high level of challenge for survival and some compulsive features that reward skilled players who chase high scores.
The Dreamcast port is excellent. It supports 3 display modes including the wonderful TATE mode that more dedicated STG fans use (to use it involves rotating your TV or monitor) which recreates the arcade original experience.
This version also supports (I would say requires) the lovely DC arcade stick which features a nice and responsive and clicky joystick and 6 beautifully responsive buttons. Control is excellent - the four ways of attacking and character movement are responsive and intuitive and is far better than using the default controller which is just OK for this type of game (such a pity Sega didn't migrate the excellent Saturn d-pad to the DC pad).
It also has several difficulty settings that tame the game for beginners or STG fans with lesser levels of skill, and each skill setting within each of the 3 display modes has its own high score table. You can even crank the difficulty up so that it starts at a harder level than the murderous default arcade skill setting.
There are 8 levels in the game - the first three are selected at random from a pool of 4 and then you proceed to the next 4 levels. So in any one game you only see 7 of the 8 the game has and it also means it varies the play as levels are slightly different depending on when they appear in the random pick.
Completing the 7 levels at easy difficulty level or higher without continuing unlocks the 2nd loop - you play through the game again at a higher level of difficulty to achieve the proper ending when extra bonus points are awarded. You will play the level that was left out in the first loop during the first three levels of the 2nd loop.
For score chasers there is coin chaining. Pick up a coin at the right time (when it is glinting at its brightest) to get a higher score bonus which climbs as you build combos of coins. A bonus based on the longest chain you create in the game is awarded if you reach the end of the game without continuing. In addition to this there is a hidden "gem head" in each level which when found spits out large gems for higher scores.
To boost replay value there are seven characters to try; each one having different weapons and their own strengths and weaknesses making the game play differently with each one. The DC version has an extra character not found in the arcade game, and sports a tag team mode that lets you pick two characters that alternative between each life loss. This mode gives you an extra life to start with and it lets a solo player enjoy the 2 player story lines. Stories are unique to each character and pair of characters - they are brief and nonsensical but some people like this kind of thing.
To round gameplay features off, there is a 2 player mode included, allowing two players to tackle the game at the same time - and it is here that the different characters on offer allow for tactical choices to create a balanced fighting force.
Many uninformed reviewers complain about the length of STGs. STGs are supposed to be short - their intensity dictates this to be so - but they are designed to have a high replay factor. The aim is to complete the game without continuing which is a tough challenge but is achievable. Despite what many think the game doesn't have sections that are impossible to bypass without a life loss - STGs are games of skill - unlike many modern games where all you need is time and tolerance to reach the end. Once you can complete the game you can then see if you can repeat it at higher difficulty levels OR tackle the high score targets. Gunbird 2 is a splendid example of the genre, with a high level of challenge and replay. If you like STGs then you will love this.
Graphically and sonically this is a very good example of the genre. There are prettier games and others with better soundtracks but this is a solid game in those departments and not without some degree of charm albeit in that odd Japanese way which can put Western gamers off. The only downside with this game visually is that it does not support the Dreamcast VGA cable which is a bit of a shame but it still looks great played with the RGB SCART cable. It is also pleasing to see that the PAL version of the game has a 60Hz mode.
Highly recommended for those who like the classic arcade game experience.