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Wild Guns is a space Western shooting game made by Natsume (Japanese video game developer and publisher known for developing licensed titles and mobile games) in 1994 for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom.

I'm not the kind of player who enjoys repeating the same level until I memorize everything, but this game really rewards practice. The more you play, the better you get. If you have ever wanted to try classic retro action games but found them too damn hard, this is a great place to start. Well, it is challenging but fair, and very satisfying once you get the hang of it.

Japan only box cover art (Image source)

The Story

Annie, a brave young woman whose family was killed by the notorious Kid gang. She seeks out Clint, a famous space bounty hunter, for help. At first, Clint is cocky and says he does not need anyone’s help, but Annie insists. She wants revenge and believes she can fight just as well as he can. Clint agrees, and together they set out to take down the gang in the name of justice.

Box, manual and cartridge of the game. (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

Wild Guns has great visual style. The characters, especially Clint and Annie, are designed to look cool and stylish that you will actually want to try playing as both, which is not always the case in older games. The animations are smooth, the enemies and huge robot bosses are full of personality, and the backgrounds are detailed and even destructible, which adds to the fun. Explosions look great, and the whole game has a flashy, arcade feel. If there is any small complaint, it is that there could have been even more special effects.

The sound gets the job done, especially with solid effects like gunshots, explosions, and even some voice grunts. They’re nothing special, but they fit the action. The real standout, though, is the music. It is a great blend of Mega Man X-style music and wild west, with fast, intense tracks that really keep the action feeling exciting. Some songs even include catchy western-style whistling, which adds a unique touch.

https://youtu.be/uavyYWK0tyE?si=dxd_W8Qh6oiD_nFs Gameplay video sample of Wild Guns. Watch in 360p for near TV resolution of that time.

The Gameplay

Wild Guns plays exactly how you would expect from a shooting gallery-style game and it plays really well. You move your character along the bottom of the screen to dodge incoming enemy fire, while also aiming a cursor to shoot enemies all over the screen. The controls are smooth, the action is fast, and there is no slowdown to crap things up. Everything feels tight and responsive, making the gameplay both fun and fair. If you have played games like this before, you'll feel right at home. This one stands among the best.

The game does have a few downsides. The biggest one is its short length; there are only six levels total. You can finish the game fairly quickly once you get the hang of it. Also, while you can choose between two characters, Clint and Annie, they play identically, which limits variety. That, combined with the game's straightforward nature, means the replay value is decent only. That said, it's still a lot of fun to replay thanks to the tight gameplay, cool visuals, and two-player mode.

My Verdict

Wild Guns really feels like a hidden gem on the SNES. It is damn short and simple, but delivers intense, arcade-style shooting action with a unique and great blend of Wild West and science fiction. The tight gameplay, great visuals, and fast-paced music make it a must-try for fans of retro shooters or arcade games. If you have ever wanted to shoot robots in a cowboy setting, this game wonderfully delivers.

Play it on the mighty Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a highly regarded gaming emulator.

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