Gynoug

Gynoug hasn’t quite got that special extra spark that turns a great game into a spectacular one, but even so it’s still a unique and thoroughly enjoyable thirty-year-old shmup capable of standing proudly next to any other sold on the eShop, and yet another affordable retro re-release sitting in that perfect middle ground between modern convenience and hardcore authenticity.

In most respects, Gynoug is a rather plain horizontal shoot-em-up. The art design and music elevate it somewhat, but it’s hard to imagine a more meat-and-potatoes mechanical experience. For its part, Ratalaika Games has done a nice job of presenting the game with this offering. You’ve got all of the expected options, and a few more besides that. If you’re looking for a good way to play Gynoug/Wings of Wor, this will assuredly satisfy your needs. For those completely unfamiliar with the game, it’s a decent enough shooter, though I can’t say that it’s much more than that.

The rudimentary nature of the game underneath all the moody presentation mean Gynoug’s appeal is probably going to be limited to the most die-hard shoot-’em-up fanatics, historians, and those with a nostalgic connection to it. But that’s all the more reason to preserve it in a readily available, accessible way—and with the suite of conveniences layered over the top of , that’s exactly what Ratalaika Games have achieved.

The gameplay is faultless in what it does, but Gynoug doesn’t do anything to stand out. If you are nostalgic towards the game or those alike, you’ll get much more out of this than someone brand new to Gynoug. Unfortunately, I was the latter.