Fun sniping game and probably one of the only few sniping light gun games around outside the Silent Scope series. Golgo 13 puts the player as the titular character himself in a variety of levels based on the manga.
One of the most notable qualities right from the start is the presentation, making good use of actual manga panels and adding in sound effects, camera pans, and cuts to evoke a stylish way of delivering bite-sized pieces of the narrative.
Each level takes place in a unique environment with a different target, with each having varying conditions including non-lethal methods and non-human targets. Score is awarded based on how close the player is able to hit the target on the indicated spot. The levels are also short and quick, lasting only around 5-10 seconds, with most even only allowing the player a single shot to execute the target.
The game manages to create a good variety of challenges with its straightforward premise, if you're not just shooting heads, you're doing precise shots on stiletto heels to make something look like a falling accident, or shooting a noose to save someone from an execution.
Some levels feel like breathers in-between, being pretty straightforward before pushing the player into more intensive scenarios. The pacing overall is enjoyable, but I feel like the variety of the targets starts to fade halfway through, with a lot of stationary targets that are easy to pick off filling in almost half of the levels.
Despite that, Golgo 13 still does offer an intense and enjoyable sniping game experience. I'd even go as far as to say it manages to create a more interesting experience than the original Silent Scope, and all in all feels like a faithful and stylish adaptation of the manga it's based on.
I also just want to note something neat, the original machine's scope is an actual sniping scope rather than a separate screen inside the rifle's scope. With the game's main screen zooming in automatically based on a proximity sensor.
One of the most notable qualities right from the start is the presentation, making good use of actual manga panels and adding in sound effects, camera pans, and cuts to evoke a stylish way of delivering bite-sized pieces of the narrative.
Each level takes place in a unique environment with a different target, with each having varying conditions including non-lethal methods and non-human targets. Score is awarded based on how close the player is able to hit the target on the indicated spot. The levels are also short and quick, lasting only around 5-10 seconds, with most even only allowing the player a single shot to execute the target.
The game manages to create a good variety of challenges with its straightforward premise, if you're not just shooting heads, you're doing precise shots on stiletto heels to make something look like a falling accident, or shooting a noose to save someone from an execution.
Some levels feel like breathers in-between, being pretty straightforward before pushing the player into more intensive scenarios. The pacing overall is enjoyable, but I feel like the variety of the targets starts to fade halfway through, with a lot of stationary targets that are easy to pick off filling in almost half of the levels.
Despite that, Golgo 13 still does offer an intense and enjoyable sniping game experience. I'd even go as far as to say it manages to create a more interesting experience than the original Silent Scope, and all in all feels like a faithful and stylish adaptation of the manga it's based on.
I also just want to note something neat, the original machine's scope is an actual sniping scope rather than a separate screen inside the rifle's scope. With the game's main screen zooming in automatically based on a proximity sensor.