Gamma Bros is a simple, yet addicting arcade game. It is very simple to play, and has multiple levels involving large numbers of ships attacking you with weird formations. There are many types of ships, from small, one-hit-kill ones to bigger and stronger ones that can take a couple shots. It’s great for killing time. You can relax playing it because only one percent of your brainpower is required.
Gameplay
The (small) story of this game is that everyday, when coming back from work, you are faced with countless alien ships and stuff like that. Your goal is to avoid being destroyed whiled you destroy as many enemies as possible. It is extremely simple to pick up and play. The funny part is that the game takes up only one megabyte, while the audio takes up four. This game is perfect for the workplace, with its small file size. There isn't much to say about the gameplay except that it’s original in several ways, one being that you can actually fire up, down, right and left. Unlike most arcade games of this type, in which enemies usually fly in from only one side, in Gamma Bros, enemies coming from all sides. The enemies will try to use various strategies to kill you, such as creating a circle or maybe surprising you with an attack from both sides.
Graphics and Audio
The graphics look old. Each pixel is the size of a whole bunch of modern ones. This was, however, the obvious intent of the makers, because it does add an extra simple vintage feel to the game. The music is amazing futuristic techno. It sounds really good and fits the game well.
Special Feature
The cool part of this game is the “life system”. Most other games like this give you three lives. Each one allows you to reappear when you die. However, the life system in this game is a lot more realistic. While flying in space, your ship may explode after consistent pounding, and you will pop out with a shield and a blaster. The shield can absorb two separate hits. It will then kill on the third hit. However, your partner will fly by your zone occasionally to check up on you. If you are in bad condition, he will protect you. You fly off the screen, and then you control his ship. Once his spaceship explodes, he pops out, with a shield. Then, after two shots, he dies. At that time, you come in and try to defend yourself. Of course your spaceship is about ten times as strong as your person. So try to hold on to it. It is impossible to calculate how many lives that equals because your spaceship’ lives will be quite a bit longer than your character’s lives.
Bottom Line
Try this game when you have time in hands but don’t know what to do with it! Of course fans of the neo-retro style games will also love this classic. This game is original in so many ways, yet it brings back feelings from the old games like Space Invaders. The music rocks. The gameplay is simple and can fun if you don’t its being simple. You can pass hours just fighting the little spaceships.
