Hey Guys! Let's Revisit: Gynoug (Megadrive)

[Duddyroar]

The second in my zany 'Let's Revisit' series, I've decided to do things a little different this time. The game is Gynoug (also known as Wings of Wor) and because it poses a considerably sterner challenge than Dynamite Duke (which is about as hard as punching your way out of a wet paper bag), I'm going to tackle this one level-by-level. So not only do you get more screens for your money, but it means I can keep adding to the thread over a period of days/weeks/years.

Although I'm hoping that my gaming skillz haven't aged so badly that it will take years, obviously.

So, here goes.



That's your dude there. He looks a lot less impressive when you actually start playing.



See what I mean? Also, some of the enemies in this game are completely bonkers. I mean, what are these things supposed to be?



And these? Deadly mushrooms that fall on your head? You can tell this is by the same team that did the PCE weird-fest that is Cho Aniki, can't you?



Ok, things are settling down now. A dog appears to be emerging from the ground and these little red baddies only take one shot to kill - trouble is, they swarm you like so. The bastards.



Ok, mid-boss time. If there's one thing that Gynoug does really well, it's boss battles. This dude doesn't take much to kill, but he sure looks cool.



The big issue with this game is that when you're not fighting bosses, it's actually a bit on the dull side...****! Spider and snail double team!



The weapon system is pretty terrible, TBH. You only have one shot, but can collect icons that change which direction it flies in. Whoopie. This is one of your 'magic shots', which although it sounds like some kind of porn reference, is actually a spinny death thing.



I have no idea what this is. Looks a bit like a cock spurting liquid, if you're prone to thinking along those kind of lines.



Ok, end of level boss...this guy looks seriously evil and I still remember the first time I saw him gracing the pages of Mean Machines. He takes up the entire screen, limiting your movement, which isn't too much of a problem as he dies pretty quickly.



THWACK! As you can see I've taken his head clean off. TBH the first level isn't great, but it does get better.



Tune in next time for level 2!

[Team Andromeda]

I simply adore this game, Its games like this that got me hooked and into shooters (My fav genre of games).
After being more or less talked into getting the game (after reading the coverage in Mean Machines) The 1st level is one of the best levels in any shooter , the music is some of the best I’ve ever heard from the MD, and the GFX effects were pretty mind blowing at the time .

And the little death cry when you die , still to this cracks me up .

[honeymustard]

I got this game with my Megadrive which I bought from Gamestation about a year ago. I couldn't really make out the label, and I thought it was going to be Phelios (a game I grew up with and wanted to get). Unfortunately it was Gynoug, but it's a pretty fun game anyway!

[ShadowDancer]

I love this game too...The music is brilliant.

Impressive layout duddy.

[Leon Retro]

I really like Gynoug. The small sprites are very well done- giving the game a distinctive look. It's not very colourful - or in-ya-face, but it has so many nice touches - that I think it's one of the MDs best titles.

The music is very effective - as well as the cool effects. I have two copies in my collection - it's a very common game. Buy it now - for a quid.

[Smii]

Gynoug's one of my favourite MD shmups - hence my nerdily having 3 different copies of it (Eur, Japan, & "Wings of Wor"). It doesn't get the attention it deserves, imo.

Oh, and that red, possibly cock-like thing? One of the later bosses is much more definite. Won't spoil it, but... yeah

[moonwhistle]

Gynoug was one of the very first shooters I ever played and I love it to this day. It's just so slick and it's one of the many reasons why I much prefer the Megadrive catalogue over the SNES one.

The small main sprite gives plently of ability for dodging the hail of bullets thrown at you, quite alot for such an early shooter. The music is probably my favourate feature of the game, particularly the first level. NCS Masaya really knew how too make the Megadrive sound chip sing. Gleylancer really should have got a PAL release too, maybe the lack of success for Gynoug was the deciding factor.

My only gripe about the game is that the levels are perhaps a bit too long, I remember the 2nd level really dragging during the underwater section. The great boss battles certainly help though.

[Goemon]

I had a huge nightmare getting this game when it first came out.

I ordered from a advert in Mean Machines (can't remember the name of the company now) and waited and waited for it to turn up. After hounding them for weeks, having already paid for it, they said they were still waiting on stock and in the mean time could they send me something else (from a limited selection) until it arrived, and they would contact me.

I agreed and picked Arrow Flash (the choices were limited!)

Anyway, received that, played it, finished it. Contacted them again when, after another couple of weeks of waiting nothing happened. They told me to send the game back and they would look to get Gynoug sent straight out to me. So I sent Arrow Flash back and waited for another couple of weeks - nothing!

I contacted them again and they told me that the transaction had been settled because I had received Arrow Flash as an 'alternative' to Gynoug. I was like WTF!? no way! It was never an alternative and the last time I rang, they had told me to send Arrow Flash back! Which I had done.

They then told me that the business had now changed hands and that they were no longer responsible for this order!!

I was absolutely fuming at this point, I can't remember what I said but for a kid of about 12-13 it was some hellish stick and threats! LOL

A few days later the game arrived. I vowed never to use them again.

Awesome game BTW, never managed to finish it. Got to the 2nd last level

->Open Spoiler<-

The level that looked like it was inside something living

I'll never forget the 4th boss, it was that picture in MM that totally sold it for me - looked totally amazing...What I wasn't ready for was seeing it moving!!

->Open Spoiler<-

Watching the spinal cord wiggling around as the boss moved, I was like Whoa! WTF!! LOL

Good stuff! Looking forward to the other levels broken down!

[Duddyroar]

Sounds like you had a right nightmare! Just makes you recall how hard it was to get things sorted in the days before the internet!

The review in Mean Machines (along with Gary Harrod's excellent artwork in the tips section of the same issue) made me want this game soooo badly. I never actually got around to picking it up until the middle of the '90s.

I'll tackle level 2 when I get the chance.

[JazzFunk]

^I look forward to the Level 2 screens, and hope this retrospective craziness continues! It's nice how some games seem to look more appealing with age. I remember quite liking it at the time but for some crazy reason was going nuts over Thunderforce 2, so didn't give it a lot of play. Why does the organic/robotic thing never seem to get old? Long live gynaecological baddies in games!

Also, Goemon's story reminds me of 'PC Engine Services', who used to advertise in the back of C&VG and still owe me a copy of Chan & Chan that my mum ordered 18 years ago.

[Duddyroar]

Glad you guys are liking these retrospective threads. I'll keep doing them as long as you keep reading them.

[Fastware]

I want these to be regular, but stick to the Megadrive as it gets overlooked for the SNES far too much!

[Duddyroar]

Oh don't worry, I'm a Sega fanboi at heart. The Megadrive will be getting the lion's share of these, with maybe a few PC Engine titles thrown in for good measure.

[Duddyroar]

Ok, time for level two.



I always liked the start of this level. The moody backdrop is pretty impressive, and how can you fail to like a stage that features instructable clouds that cry pink vomit on you, as well as seaguls that **** plasma death?



These guys are complete arseholes, they get me every time. Note the neat spray effect as you skim the water, nice.



I'm forever blowing bubbles.



This guy is a bit gross, what's with all the pink stuff? Yuck! He's just a taste of things to come, though...



This is another of the 'magic shot' sub-weapons. Here, an angel rains lazer death down on unsuspecting enemies, just like all good angels should. Sweet!



Remember that weird looking thing with the pink bits from earier? Here's his dad, who represents the mid-boss of level 2.



How the hell does the main character breathe underwater?



No time to worry about that now, here's the end of level boss. In keeping with the tone of the game, which is basically having bloody brilliant end of level encounters, this chap is a seriously cool sunken ship.



He spews a few fireballs out of his gob, fairly standard stuff. Just dodge the shots and keep firing, piece of piss, right?



Haha! Toddle off to Davy Jones' locker, why dontcha.



Ah. Erm...



Bugger.



****, ****, ****...ah! Phew!

Tune in next time for some third-level goodness.

[k0pp0]

Gynoug is one of my favourite shooters evah! Nice review, more screens please.