Introduction
This originally received 93%positive votes from 424 when it was first given away as the original Jets and Guns over a year ago back in May 07, then again in Oct 07 it received a positive 91% of 337 votes. As arcade games go it’s quite large at around 92Mb (my copy is 92.7Mb which I got when it was first released. You can read all the comments written about the original Jets and Guns by following the links below. The difference between Jets and Guns and Jets and Guns Gold is that the Gold version is the original game with double the number of levels, loads more power ups, lots more ships and more weapons to choose from. When the Gold version was released it offered previous buyers of Jets and Guns a generous discount when they bought the updated version (they only had to pay just under $10). Unusually, Jets and Guns Gold costs more than the average arcade game at nearly $30, but in my opinion it is well worth it. For those who have the original giveaways, this is not the same game, so be sure to download it now.
You can see the previous comments by following the links below:
http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/jetsnguns/#comments
http://game.giveawayoftheday.com/guns-n-jets/#comments
In particular see comment # by Seby, #4 by LOC, #6 by Matt, #10 by Laura sierra, #11 by dpoint, #12 by dpoint who gives you a link to fifteen fantastic screen shots I’ve duplicated dpoint’s link below (thanks dpoint), #21 by rizal in answer to a negative comment by #15 DVD536 (regarding …you’ve guessed it, resolution), #46 by David and comment #48 by LDahl.
http://jng.rakeingrass.com/screenshots.php
The Game
Compared to most space shooters, both side and vertical scrolling, this has everything but the kitchen sink. It even has small space suited figures, some of which abandon the ships that you have just about destroyed, and yes you gain some points by shooting them as well, every trooper or paratrooper hit will see a tiny blotch of red appear, but the ones in space don’t scream because as we all know, sound doesn’t travel in space…. Okay, so the exploding ships and sound of weapon fire can be heard, lol. Some sound effects are needed. (Although the game is not gory, honestly). The game isn’t specifically centered on space, but a whole host of environments, which for me is what makes this a cut above the rest of this genre. Changing from one environment to a new one whenever you start a new level makes for a much more interesting game than say for example Star Defender 4, which is also a great space shooter, but despite it’s great pyrotechnics and glorious graphics, the fact that every level is based in a similar space orientated environment makes for a little tediousness after a while. I’m sure you know what I mean. :)
Once you’ve created a profile and chosen an image from the 35 that are given and also chosen the level of difficulty of which there are three, using the sliding scale, you can click on go to the bottom right of the screen. This brings up a cartoon image with a brief story and several game tips. It’s important that you read these because they tell you how to equip your ship with weapons and how to upgrade them. Once you’ve read these clicking anywhere on the page will take you to the game set up page where you are able to buy new guns and bombs as well as new ships as and when they become available and when you’ve earned enough cash to buy them. You start the game with 80000Z (possibly Polish currency) You can buy new equipment to supplement the one you start with, though your first ship is limited to two guns and one bomb load out. You’ll find later ships will carry more of each. You’ll find weapons with names like Daisycutter MkIII, the Autotrack mini gum, Lafontaine that shoots plasma balls, the Pink Panther Mk II a scatter gun that dispenses with having to aim your weapon and the Scorpio plasma gun. There’s also a selection of bombs that you can afford at the start of the game which includes Baker bombs a type of napalm, discothèque bombs which are ground targeted cluster bombs and incubus a non guided stinger missile system. There’s also one new ship available for purchase at the beginning of the game called the Wanderwurst W-1 (at a cost of 65000Z.
To load up your ship you must first purchase the items you want then to activate then click on the appropriate box for either guns or bombs. As the game progresses you can pick up items while in game or continue to purchase new weapons and missiles plus upgrades, though the early levels are limited by the number of weapon slots you have initially. Besides the guns, missiles and ships, you can purchase special devices such as hull integrity power ups (not available at the start of the game), cooling systems, remote controller, boss detector, mission meter, carnage TV transmission module, bounty hunter license and a computer called Atarix. Each one having its own special use. Virtually everything is upgradeable, but you will need to earn enough cash to purchase these items.
Once you’ve made your selection of goods and set up the ship to return to the play screen you have to click on the Jets and Guns symbol that’s at the top of the upgrade equipment pane. Clicking on this takes you to a second cartoon like image with a short story and your mission objectives as well as a game tip. The first mission is to destroy 50 enemy habitation cells of the Chemical Brothers colony and earn as much money as possible, which is accomplished by destroying everything that you can.
It took me ages to figure out that to make it to the end of a level you don’t need to make full frontal attacks on the enemy and risk being hit, especially if you own the autotrack minigun, which enables you to hit enemy ships from all angles
One of the many differences this game offers apart from a comprehensive weapons upgrade system and an extensive weapons choice is that you also get tiny space suited figures, or in land based levels paratroopers. Killing these also adds to your overall money count. At the end of a level you are given the level statistics that include the amount of money you have earned, and number of enemies destroyed, which are sub decided into ships, ground based targets and bodies. You are also given the best level scores, the number of shots fired and any medals you’ve been awarded.
At the start of a level you’ll get a short story and some game tips as well as some illustrated cartoon figures. The first mission is entirely space orientated but later levels are of a whole variety of scenarios covering most environmental types. The second mission is an air to ground mission so it is advisable to purchase some bombs. You can test your weapons by pressing T. When purchasing weapons you can also upgrade the ones you already have by clicking on the + symbol to the right of the weapon symbol. Anything you can pick up on the way such as upgrades, weapons, secrets and medals can be sold, though the medals contribute very little. You can even sell your mission log.
Completing the first level unlocks new content in the weapons load out. The first of these is Rodeo rockets which when fired act as a defensive shield. You can pause the game and bring up the cargo bay at any time throughout game to change your weapons load out, but only with items already purchased. Losing a stage doesn’t mean you lose everything; all you lose is the progress within that last level. The game is fully mouse controllable, though you will have to re-map the fire buttons if you like using the mouse.
The early 90’s screen resolution does nothing to dull this game on my monitor, which although not significant in today’s technological age (I have a 22” LCD monitor by AMW, a budget monitor costing around $300 here in the UK; but it serves its purpose well)
Reviews:
http://www.gametunnel.com/gamespace.php?id=385&tab=3
http://www.reflexive.com/JetsNGunsGOLD.html
Images:
http://s109.photobucket.com/albums/n61/Whiterabbit_01/gaotd/Jets%20n%20Guns%20Gold/
http://images.google.co.uk/images?hl=en&q=Jets+and+guns+gold&btnG=Search+Images&gbv=2
Video:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=sxZ5WSUju04&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=D-hymx8hW-g&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=4pRH86i3caM&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=2zOqfP3lBl4&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=NjWaKT_uSMI&feature=related
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=FrjrLFqKNo0
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WPvYd9bezyQ
secret level:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BW-_mDb_Y9M&feature=related
last level of the original:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=62MZU919loY&feature=related
Features:
• Over 40 levels
• Almost 300 unique enemies, including 16 boss monsters
• Upgrade your ship with 20 special devices and 70 different weapons
• Decent looking graphic and particle effects
• More than an hour of a breathtaking original soundtrack (by Machinae Supremacy)
• New scenario in every level (deep space, jungle, undersea, lava planet etc )
• Pilot 12 different vessels, including a boss ship
• Combine weapons for hundreds of shooting possibilities
Minimum System Requirements: (from Garage game tests)
Pentium III, 32MB RAM, Plenty of hard disk space, DirectX 9.0b 16-Bit color, Sound Card, CDROM, Mouse, Windows® 95 98, ME, NT, 2000 or XP.
Conclusion:
I can highly recommend it. It has a great retro feel, but despite the low resolution graphics, which was about the only gripe I could see voiced in the comments section from the first time this was given away, this is a superb looking eye candy fest. If you’re into colorful pyrotechnics you’ll love this.
I give this game 9 out of 10. How many times I’ve scored that is negligible. I think it’s worth it
Go get it folks and have an enjoyable weekend.
Thanks Rake In Grass and the game giveaway team for yet again surprising us with your
Alternatives:
Check out the space shoot ‘em ups link in the forums for loads of links to free games of this type: