Rival Megagun is a competitive split-screen vertical shmup (or shoot 'em up, shooting game, STG) where you transform into a gigantic boss ship - your "Mega Gunship" - to invade your opponent's screen.
Rival Megagun may seem like other retro-themed shoot'em ups but its additional gameshow component makes sure to put that reading behind. While unusua,l this additional element works very well as an extra layer following the typical shooting sections and if the game's single player experience feels rather limited, the multiplayer component is very competent...
Seeing as how Versus STGs are incredibly uncommon, Rival Megagun could easily get some recognition just for being part of such a rare niche. Thankfully, Spacewave Software went above and beyond to create a fantastic shooter. It has gotten the basics down pat, and delivers an exceptionally realized meta. Players are rewarded for thinking three moves...
Rival Megagun plays like a shmup but has the soul of competitive puzzle games like Super Puzzle Fighter II. Undoubtedly fun to play with others, it loses its charm when played against the AI. It's a neat idea that's been imperfectly executed, but still manages to provide a few hours of head-to-head fun.
Part shmup with a light sprinkling of Puyo Puyo hijinks on the side, Rival Megagun is a competitive shoot-em-up that has two players battling on opposite sides to make life miserable for each other. The story and stage design could be improved and the lack of a large online community makes it tough to find folks to play with. Nice shooting mechanics...
In any case, the combination of melancholy, frustration, and joy Rival Megagun brings to players mustn't be underestimated. It's an almost perfect blend of genres that just might spawn some fantastic sequels.
