| Platform Reviewed | Sega Saturn |
| Genre | First Person Real-time Mech Combat Game |
| Number of Players | One |
| Multiplayer Value | None |
| Length | Moderate |
| Difficulty | Moderate |
| Skills Required | Manual Dexterity, Tactics |
| Interface Devices | Joypad |
| Interface Design | Excellent |
| Programming | Excellent |
| Game Design and Playability | Excellent. Best 3D Mech Game I have Played. |
| Type Of Fun | Mech Warfare |
| Replay Value | Moderate to High |
| Overall Value | Excellent |
| Quality | Excellent |
| The Best | Superlative design and control, believable missions, graphics |
| The Worst | They dropped most of the Voice in the American Version. |
| How much I'd Pay for This | 50 bucks |
Description:
GunGriffon is a 3D, first person Mech combat game. The player becomes the pilot of the 'GunGriffon', a fast attack humaniform Mecha. The GunGriffon not only resembles, but functions like the MADOX 01 of the Japanese Anime of the same name. Like the MADOX, the GunGriffon is built for speed, and with the use of powerful jets for both hovering AND skimming the earth at high velocity, this Mech is no 'Lazy Ivan' stumbling around with big feet. Possessed of an incredibly powerful single main cannon, as well as an arsenal of other weapons, and infrared sights to boot, the GunGriffon is well equipped for a fight in city streets at night, tundra in whiteout conditions, or green rolling hills. The missions are intelligent and diverse, from wholesale slaughter, protection of key installations and machines, to the destruction of specific targets, such as a speeding train. This is the closest I have seen to the feeling of piloting a true Japanese Anime Mech.
Story:
In the year 2005, global warming, lack of food, depleted energy sources, and a generally crappy economy have put most of the nations of the world at each other's throats. Although this is indeed likely to be the fact by 2005, please do not be put off by this realism. In short, everybody wants whatever is left of the world's dwindling resources, and all the nations of the earth are doing what is predictable for them to do.
The tool of choice to do the job, for those nations able to afford it, are deadly robotic Mecha, and it is the players duty to act as a badwill ambassador and unwelcome wagon at various strategic locations. Finally, diplomacy has become simple.
Of course, if everyone just worked together to implement long term solutions to energy and pollution problems without regard to national interest for the good of all mankind, then soon the world would be a bountiful and contented planet….. Nawwww, it's a LOT more fun to blow stuff up!
And in GunGriffon, it blows up REAL good.
Review:
The MDM HIGH-MACS Type 2 'GunGriffon' attack mech is a speedy, agile, and deadly weapon. In GunGriffon one does not pilot a slow, lumbering troll of a killer robot, but a true Japanese Anime Mech. Capable of jet assisted jumping and hovering, as well as high speed ground skimming, the GunGriffon is the Jaguar 220XJ of armored, walking guns. Rocketing along side by side with another Mech, exchanging fire, is just one of the pleasures of GunGriffon. Intelligent and diverse missions, training modes, and a large world map of the Earth of 2005 provide excellent value. It's my favorite Mech game.
If you like Mech combat, first person style, I recommend GunGriffon. Why lumber about when you can slice the air like a cat, then pounce for an explosive kill? GunGriffon: The sports car of combat vehicles.
Jennifer Diane Reitz is a Game Designer and Computer Artist, and one of the founders of Happy Puppy. She is the creator of numerous games and software products, including Boppin' , Shark Chums, Elsewhere, and many others. She has worked for such companies as Activision, Sculptured Software, Epyx, SRI, and Electronic Arts, and founded Accursed Toys. She has been active in the computer gaming industry since it's earliest days. She considers games to be works of artistic merit and achievement, and views computer entertainment as the most important media of our era.