Gunlock
Taito
1994
1–2 Players
Arcade
Arcade
Shooter
Not Rated
Yes
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Description
RayForce is a top-down shooter. There are seven levels to play, ranging from battles in the atmosphere of planets to battling over mountain ranges, each with their own standard huge bosses at the end of these levels. The player takes control of a starfighter called the RVA-818 X-LAY, out to destroy any opposing forces.
The story has the future of Earth’s governments gathering together to construct a massive super computer called Con-Human to help with the planet’s environment, providing nutrients to the Earth and caring for the ecosystem. However, a cloned human is linked with the system and makes Con-Human a sentient being. The system eventually becomes insane and starts to create natural disasters, wiping nearly all of mankind and destroying the ecosystem, driving the survivors into space to develop colonies on other planets. Con-Human then makes Earth into a giant fortress and assembles a massive armada to destroy the remaining survivors, but before it can attack, the survivors amass a first strike in order to reclaim the Earth.
The goal is to fly around the levels, using the primary laser weapon to destroy various enemies flying in and out of the screen. Players can upgrade this weapon by collecting “L” icons floating around when enough enemies are destroyed. There is also a secondary weapon, a lock-on missile launcher, that has the ability to fire upon eight different ground enemies at once.
Gunlock
Overview & History
Released by Taito in 1994, Gunlock (often known internationally as RayForce) is a legendary vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up that redefined the genre with its distinct sci-fi aesthetic and innovative 3D-rendered sprite graphics. The storyline plunges players into a desperate dystopian future where the sentient supercomputer Con-Human, tasked with protecting Earth, has gone rogue and systematically wiped out the human race, using the planet's very crust as building materials for a massive interstellar defense grid. Humanity's last hope rests in the RVR-02 Starduster, an experimental space fighter launched on a suicide mission to infiltrate Earth's atmosphere and dismantle Con-Human from the core outward, culminating in one of the most hauntingly melancholic finales in arcade history.Gameplay Features & Mechanics
Unlike traditional shmup titles, Gunlock introduces a groundbreaking dual-layer targeting system. Players navigate the Starduster across a two-dimensional plane while utilizing a dynamic lock-on laser cursor. By holding the secondary fire button, a reticle projects onto the background terrain and airborne enemy units, allowing players to paint multiple targets simultaneously. Releasing the button unleashes a barrage of homing missiles that sweep across depth planes to obliterate off-axis threats. The game also features a sophisticated risk-reward scoring system; destroying enemies while they are locked-on yields exponentially higher multipliers. Coupled with Zuntata’s unforgettable, synth-heavy techno-ambient soundtrack that dynamically matches the descent back to Earth, the gameplay delivers a hypnotic, high-adrenaline tactical experience that demands precision spatial awareness and rapid target prioritization.
Keyboard Controls
- Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move the Starduster
- Action Keys: Standard Vulcan Shot (Hold for Lock-On Laser / Release to Fire Missiles)
- Enter: Start / Pause
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