Gatling Gears

It's a simple enough concept, but the execution is top-notch. There are few games that hook me as fast as Gatling Gears did, and I have a feeling the same will hold true for you.

There are a few other dual-stick shooters on Xbox Live Arcade, but Gatling Gears is one of the best. It doesn't have much in the way of new ammunition -- this is essentially a 1985 arcade game with the modern conveniences provided by Xbox Live. But it is a joy to play.

The definition of an unexpected surprise. It's got a completely generic concept, but its execution is exceptional.

Gatling Gears is a well-done shoot'em up that is also accessible for those who don't have that much experience with the genre as well.

Otherwise, though, this breezy shoot-'em-up is five-plus hours of mindless fun. [Aug 2011, p.85]

Despite lacking some gameplay depth of its predecessor, Gatling Gears dishes out the kind of frenetic action any good dual-stick shooter should, and it does so with great flair.

Don't expect anything new with Gatling Gears: it's just a simple and fun downloadable game based on what we used to play on arcades in the eighties.

With its awesome gameplay mechanics and game design, beautiful graphics and original setting, Gatling Gears is likely to be one of the better downloadable titles you'll play this year.

Attention to detail in every level makes Vanguard Games initial entry in the XBLA seem like they have been around for a long time. Gatling Gears is a blast to play alone or with a friend as you trample you way through waves of the empire's forces in a universe that seems to be expanding upon itself. Fans of dual stick shooters will be pleased with the challenge the game presents and the overall presentation. If you're itching for something different then this is a perfect addition to your game library and will provide hours of enjoyment.

Gatling Gears is an excellent game regardless if you're playing alone or co-op. 1200 Microsoft points is a bit on the expensive side, but still worth your hard earned money.

Though Gatling Gears adheres unerringly to the dual-stick formula, it really nails the execution. This is a lengthy endeavor that you'll want to come back to again and again.

That said, I had a lot of fun with the first 75 percent of the game and the last bit is only a dip in enjoyment rather than a complete drop off.

Gatling Gears is simple, fun and visually appealing. It's not perfect or incredibly deep, but it serves its intended purpose of frivolous, non-stop action.

While imperfect, Gatling Gears sits comfortably at the upper range of twin-stick shooter quality on the consoles' digital platforms of today.

Gears is an excellent shoot em up for Xbox Live.

Gatling Gears is most definitely an entertaining arcade title. It's polished, action-packed and fun. But it is a limited experience, one unfortunately let down by a lack of narrative and variety.

Though some stages drag on far longer than they should, the game is overall an enjoyable experience.

Gatling Gears approaches a perfect basic concept for an XBLA/PSN game. It's not too short, and it doesn't feel slapped together, but it doesn't come across as a scaled-down disc-based game, either. In a market that often favors games less like movies and more like 19th century Russian novels, with lengthy mission-based campaigns or a couple hundred hours of competitive multiplayer excitement, the simple pleasure of an arcade shooter experience is easily overlooked. Without providing anything in the way of surprises or revolutionary design, Gatling Gears serves as an excellent reminder of why arcade-style titles remain relevant, even when they demand gaming sessions longer than 10 minutes.

Satisfying action and a fun cooperative experience make the game a blast to play, but a short lived campaign and frustrating difficulty hold the game back from being perfect.

Gatling Gears is all about shooting. It's very simple, but really straightforward. Gatling Gears is a fast action game and has good looks, however, it's disappointing to see that it doesn't add a single thing to the genre.

The game belongs to an almost extinct genre, and that makes it attractive for old school gamers looking for this kind of action.

Gatling Gears offers several hours of enjoyable carnage and it's doubly fun with a friend, but it settles into a routine early on and sticks to it.

Gatling Gears is a fun shooter that reminds you how much of a blast destruction can be.

A shame for the high price, the only obstacle between you and some old style shoot'em up classic fun.

A solid game that ticks off everything on the things-you-need-to-have-in-a-twin-stick-shooter list. Doesn't stand out from the crowd though. [October, p.80]

Hard not to love. [Issue#74, p.103]

Cracking twin stick mech attack. [Aug 2011, p.99]

Gatling Gears is a nice shooter with awesome graphics and an incredible mecha design. The main problem, here, is the lack of a real challenge due to the godly easy difficulty level. If you're looking for a nice shoot 'em up for casual gamers, this is your game.

As an unusually cute twin-stick shooter, Gatling Gears offers a lot of fun despite a general lack of originality. Co-op adds to the fun as always but there are enough smaller annoyances to make the 1200 point pricetag feel a bit high.

An enjoyable twin-stick isometric shooter with great visuals. Too easy and linear, surely recommended for unskilled players.

I don't think it expands much on the genre though, so if you've grown bored of twin stick shooters, this game will do little for you.

A great game becomes a good game due to its length and lack of innovation.

Too gentle for bullet hell fans and too rigid for the Geometry Wars crowd. [Aug 2011, p.91]

If you love chaotic gameplay and uneven odds, Gatling Gears will provide; titanic bosses with mutliple health bars, waves of varied enemies and a serious arsenal to destroy them all.

What Gatling Gears loses out on in originality it nearly makes up for in polish.

Simple but enjoyable co-operative fun, but despite its looks this 2D shooter lacks the pace and ingenuity to trouble the best in the genre.

I like you, Gatling Gears, you seem like a well intentioned fellow, and it's admirable that you're trying to build on the work established by your brother Greed Corp. But I'm afraid I can't just overlook some of these offences. The jury and I are sentencing you to six hours community service, which is about the time most players will spend completing you on medium difficulty.

Gatling Gears has many faults that contribute to several bland qualities from indiscernible visual changes between levels to battles that feel repetitive and mundane. Setting up your own boundaries for challenge is one of the few intriguing elements to playing the dual-stick arcade shooter. That, and the gratification of temporarily overpowered weapons when power-ups are picked up.