Space Gun (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Cream
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1992

Space Gun is a light-gun game that uses either the Sega Light Phaser or a standard controller.

+ Easily the most fleshed out and content-rich light-gun game on the SMS, with heaps of enemy types and intricate locales.

+ Occasionally gives you a choice of two paths, and special weapons are frequently available to turn the odds in your favour.

+ Trying to save all hostages is addictive and not knowing whether they'll mutate into aliens during a rescue is unnerving!

+ Music evokes a seriously creepy tone that heightens the suspense, and the epic story and artwork is top-notch.

- Shooting action is the weak link due to the choppy frame-rate and plodding enemies that have predictable patterns.

- Despite being a lengthy game there's hardly any challenge, as enemies give you plenty of time before attacking.

- Final boss is ambiguous and it's easy to inadvertently deplete your own life bar, leading to an unsatisfactory bad ending.

Rescue Mission (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1988

Rescue Mission is a light-gun game that requires the Sega Light Phaser.

+ Light Phaser implementation is solid and the game provides three difficulty settings to encourage replayability.

+ Concept is uniquely appealing and although your job is to protect the handcart it isn't a lame duck as it can run over foes!

+ Proficient play can result in you gaining a Smart Bomb and using it to clear a screen full of enemies is satisfying.

+ Quickly identifying the most urgent threat is engrossing, especially as there's landmines that add further concern.

- As with most Sega Light Phaser games, there just isn't enough content and the five stages can be beaten in 15 minutes.

- Barely any difference between each stage and the game doesn't build to a crescendo, or ratchet up the intensity.

- Enemies can't be shot if they're only partially on-screen and your only option is to play defense when they fire a projectile.

Wanted (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sanritsu
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1989

Wanted is a light-gun shooter that requires the Sega Light Phaser.

+ Offers a refreshing take on the genre and having to wait for foes to draw before shooting adds serious tension.

+ Stages provide lots of scenic variety, with Scene 5 being a highlight due to its hectic multitasking as doors open and close.

+ Horse riding sections help to switch things up and the small background targets show off the Light Phaser's reliability.

+ Both mini-games are enormous amounts of fun and the bottle smashing tests your reflexes, patience and accuracy.

+ Gives you a choice of three difficulty settings and the awesome graphics / presentation pull you into the Western theme.

- Not much in the way of content and the mini-games could have been fleshed out to provide additional modes.

- Stages are incredibly brief and you'll likely see the end credits within 10-15 minutes with little reason to return.

Shooting Gallery (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.
Publisher: Sega of America
Released: 1987

Shooting Gallery is a light-gun game that requires the Sega Light Phaser.

+ Mini-games offer vastly different challenges, with some needing quick reactions and others demanding restraint.

+ For skilled players, reloading is faster if you hit a target, and blasting a perfect round nets you extra bonus points.

+ Stages take place on a cool projection background that pierces when hit, and the ascending balloon animation is impressive.

+ Light Phaser grants true precision, which is highlighted in the Tube stage where there's only narrow gaps for your bullets.

- While there's 24 rounds, there's only four mini-games that repeat with very little in the way of gameplay progression.

- Ideally needed a couple of extra mini-games to flesh out the content, as there's not enough here to maintain interest.

- Difficulty ramps up too quickly due to strict target quotas and rounds that require lightning fast reflexes to succeed.

Rambo III (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1988

Rambo III is a light-gun game that requires the Sega Light Phaser.

+ Light Phaser's accuracy is awesome, even for the smaller targets that sit toward the back of the playfield.

+ Stage 7 is a brilliant change of pace, as suddenly you're running away from the screen to battle tanks and helicopters.

+ Lots of strategy in using recovery pills at the best time, and killing foes before they fire recovers some of your life metre.

+ Skilled play is compensated through bonus points for unused bombs, recovery pills, ammo and remaining life.

+ Amazingly detailed character art of Sylvester Stallone, and the music strikes a defiant tone that accentuates the gameplay.

- There's only one boss battle, and Stages 1-6 don't build up to any dramatic set-pieces or memorable moments.

- Even with heavy memorisation, taking damage is inevitable due to bad guys that start firing before entering the screen.

Assault City (Sega Master System review)

Developer: Sanritsu
Publisher: Sega
Released: 1990

Assault City is a shooting game released in two cartridge types that either support the Light Phaser or standard controller.

+ The opening Challenge stage is a savvy idea that tests your accuracy and then automatically adjusts the game's difficulty.

+ Level design throws out a multitude of ideas from Stage 4 onwards and the Phaser's rapid fire ability helps to even the odds.

+ Outstanding bosses are the true highlight, as they have mild puzzle elements that require patience over continuous fire.

+ Backgrounds feature destructible scenery and watching bosses slowly break apart is a great visual reward for skilled play.

+ Gun accuracy is among the best on the system, and the standard controller fairs well thanks to a generous reticle size.

- Stages 1-3 are forgettable, as they excessively repeat the first wave of enemies that have predictable patterns.

- Story and cinematics dash by at ridiculous speed and there's literally no time to read the text or get invested in the plot!

Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters (Mega CD / Sega CD review)

Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami
Released: 1994

Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters is a light-gun game that was also released on the Sega Mega Drive / Genesis in 1994.

+ Light-gun accuracy is phenomenal and handily the calibration screen can be pulled up at any time by pressing Start.

+ Unlike the original game, accidentally shooting a civilian depletes your life bar rather than resulting in mission failure.

+ Interesting locales to battle in and the excellent two-player mode allows for a combination of light-guns and controllers.

+ Features cleaned-up audio with a terrific CD soundtrack, and there's even some fun mini-games to break things up.

- Does nothing to take advantage of the graphical capabilities of the hardware and comes across as a scant upgrade.

- Enemy voice clips are overused to a ridiculous degree and hearing the same phrases repeated ad nauseum is tiresome.

- Bosses are major bullet sponges and having to continually pull the trigger for minutes at a time is exhausting on the hand.