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1990

Steel Gunner

Quick Overview

Steel Gunner is Namco's 1990 light gun arcade game in which you fight the STURM terrorist group as one of two Neo Arc police officers. The game runs through four levels, is controlled with a cabinet-mounted light gun, and two players can play at once. Critics often compared it to Operation Wolf.

Steel Gunner

Basics

  • Release1990 (Japan: October 3, 1990; wide release: March 1991)
  • Developer and publisherNamco
  • GenreLight gun shooter (rail shooter)
  • Players1–2 players, simultaneous
  • ControlsCabinet-mounted light gun with a trigger and a missile button
  • HardwareNamco System 2

Standout Features

A cabinet-mounted light gun with a trigger and a missile buttonTwo-player simultaneous modeFour levels, each ending in a bossGargoyle mecha suits and the fight against the STURM terrorist groupThe same cabinet also serves the sequel, Steel Gunner 2

Gameplay

Shooting with the light gun, with unlimited ammunitionA missile that clears the screenCareful: you must not shoot civiliansA boss at the end of every level

Play It Live!

Grab the light gun and stop STURM! Play Steel Gunner at Arcade Museum Budapest!

Get My Ticket!

Game Objective

As Neo Arc police officers Garcia and Cliff, you pilot Gargoyle mecha suits to destroy the STURM terrorist group, which has kidnapped scientists Dr. Ryan and Dr. Ellis. The game runs through four levels, each ending in a boss. You aim and fire with the light gun and have unlimited ammunition, while a limited number of missiles clears the enemies on screen. You also have to avoid shooting civilians.

Namco's Light Gun Machine

Steel Gunner is among Namco's early light gun games. The cabinet and light guns were built by Shigeki Toyama, a Namco engineer who worked on the game together with the designers. In Japan the machine had a limited release on October 3, 1990, and the wide release followed in March 1991.

Fun Facts

  • The game was produced by Kazunori Sawano, a former designer on Galaxian and King & Balloon.
  • The cabinet and light guns were built by Shigeki Toyama, a Namco engineer.
  • In Japan it had a limited release on October 3, 1990 and a wide release in March 1991.
  • The game has unlimited ammunition, so there is no reloading.
  • Steel Gunner 2 uses the same cabinet and can be converted with a ROM swap.

The Evolution of Arcade

Steel Gunner was a spectacular light gun game of the early nineties, and critics often compared it to Operation Wolf. The game was produced by Kazunori Sawano, who had earlier worked at Namco as a designer on Galaxian and King & Balloon. Its sequel, Steel Gunner 2, used the same cabinet, and the original machine could be converted to it with a ROM swap.

Who Is It For?

Fans of light gun games and early nineties arcade. If you like Operation Wolf-style shooting and are curious about a rarer, lesser-known Namco classic, Steel Gunner is for you.