Something for the Week(end) // Gunman Clive

Developer: Bertil Horberg | Platform: iOS, Android & 3DS (played) | Price: £1.99

 

Gunman Clive plays like Mega Man. There, we have that over and done with.

Actually, strip away the visual elements (which would be a shame, because the visuals are lovely) and the entire core design is ripped straight out of the blue bombers repertoire, which you can’t blame Bertil Horberg for; Capcom has been doing a similar thing for the past 25 years. But the Mega Man series is known for its clever and fair level design (for the most part), which is where Gunman Clive picks most of its influences.

The game runs as a typical 2D platformer/shooter; enemies turn up, with their difficulty progressing throughout, and are introduced in ways to ensure you understand their attack pattern before they have a chance to hit you first. So when you do get hit for the first time – it’s your fault.

With the game design specs removed – Gunman Clive is simply a fun – albeit short – experience. With the asking price of only £1.99 though, it’s hard to grumble about the length – particularly compared to the Nintendo eShop’s average price, which is an argument for another day.

Well this hardly seems fair.

The stereoscopic 3D design adds a unique layer on top of the notepad doodle-esque sketches. And with a constant 4-5-frame animation loop on everything (think like Dr Kats/Home Movies – but more in the detail and not the outlines) it brings the whole game to life – even with the basic visual aesthetic.

It also has a tightness that draws it closer to Mario than Mega Man in that aspect. You generally feel more in control of where your shots are going, and your mid-air movement has that ‘floaty’ feel, giving you an extra second or so to position your landing. It includes weapon upgrades which are dropped when you are hit, giving you a reason not to be hit – besides not dying. And it doesn’t bother with any of that extra lives business because it’s 2013.

The bosses are cleverly designed without being too frustrating, and thankfully there is a pre-boss checkpoint, as the game does bring a fair level of challenge, which is built in good design, and not cheap tricks.

There is an iOS version as well, but without playing, it I bet it’s not half as enjoyable as the 3DS version. Virtual buttons – they’re just not fun. Adding fuel to the fire is the recent news that it has currently outsold the iOS and Android versions. Keeping the price at £1.99 for the eShop port, I would wager, is a significant reason for this and leads itself onto the argument over how broken that system is – again, an argument for another day.

Just under an hour long, but hugely enjoyable. Gunman Clive is highly recommended for anyone with a 3DS who hasn’t touched it since Ocarina of Time 3D came out.