Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

SkyGunner delivers a tightly tuned third-person aerial combat experience that caters to both newcomers and veterans of flight games. Players select from three agile pilots—Ciel, Copain, or Femme—each boasting their own storyline, special abilities, and unique aircraft handling. The controls are intuitive: tilt your plane up, down, left, or right, execute barrel rolls, engage afterburners for brief bursts of speed, or hit the brakes to avoid incoming fire. This flexibility keeps dogfights feeling dynamic and responsive.

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Combat hinges on a nuanced targeting system with two modes: “Look Targeting” and “Weapon Lock.” Look Targeting anchors your view to a chosen enemy, but still requires precision flying to line up shots. Weapon Lock, on the other hand, automatically guides secondary weapons onto designated targets, allowing you to unleash Fireworks Missiles, Dog Missiles or Cross Missiles with deadly accuracy. Learning to switch between these systems on-the-fly adds a rewarding layer of skill and mastery.

Secondary weapon management and combo chains inject strategy into high-octane battles. Destroying enemies in quick succession replenishes your arsenal, and chaining takedowns activates score multipliers that boost mission earnings. Between missions, you’ll feel the friendly rivalry among Ciel, Copain and Femme as they compete for bonuses—whether it’s a speed upgrade or extra firepower—making each run feel fresh and compelling.

Graphics

For a game centered on aerial dogfights, SkyGunner’s visuals excel at conveying scale and motion. The skyboxes are richly detailed, from wispy cirrus clouds to sprawling blue horizons, while ground environments—towns, deserts, and floating fortresses—are rendered with vibrant textures. The animation of contrails and explosions pops with color, making each missile strike and barrel roll truly eye-catching.

Character models and cockpit views maintain a crisp, anime-inspired aesthetic that suits the lighthearted tone of the game. While not pushing the limits of next-gen hardware, the art design remains consistent and charming, with each pilot’s plane sporting distinct liveries and decals. Enemy units range from nimble single-seaters to hulking airships, offering visual variety and scale that emphasize the player’s speed and maneuverability.

Performance is solid, with stable frame rates even during intense dogfights involving dozens of Poulet doll-henchmen or sprawling fortress sieges. Occasional pop-in of distant objects is rare and never detracts from the fast-paced action. Overall, the blend of colorful artwork and smooth animations makes SkyGunner’s world a pleasure to explore at full speed.

Story

SkyGunner’s narrative unfurls like a serialized adventure anime, combining light comedy, daring heists, and larger-than-life villains. You step into the roles of Ciel and Copain, laid-back mercenary gunners relaxing in the town of Rive, when police chief Kasim suddenly ropes you into guarding a scientific expo. Alongside agent Femme, the trio’s easy banter disguises just how perilous their mission will become.

When the nefarious Dr. Ventre appears with his army of mechanical Poulet dolls and absconds with the Eternal Engine—a perpetual motion device with unlimited power—the story shifts into high gear. Each pilot’s campaign offers different perspectives on the escalating threat, complete with distinct mission objectives and boss encounters. This multi-angle storytelling encourages you to replay levels, uncover hidden details, and witness interactions unique to each character.

Though the plot doesn’t shatter narrative ground, it moves briskly and injects humor in all the right places. Dialogue exchanges are snappy, and the emergence of outlandish gadgets and flying contraptions keeps the stakes entertaining. You’ll find yourself invested in thwarting Ventre’s schemes, not only for the adrenaline-pumping showdowns but also to see how the ragtag Skygunners outsmart their relentless foe.

Overall Experience

SkyGunner strikes a rare balance between accessibility and depth. Beginner pilots can dive straight into the action thanks to straightforward controls, while completionists and competitive flyers will appreciate mastering advanced targeting techniques and combo systems. The trio of distinct campaigns boosts replay value, and bonus missions reward those who chase high-score runs.

The progression loop is gratifying: earn money through spectacular combos, upgrade your plane’s speed and weapons, then take on more challenging contracts. This sense of growth keeps you hooked throughout the roughly dozen main missions per character. Additionally, secret levels and bonus objectives beckon you to scour each map, extending playtime for those seeking 100% completion.

With its charismatic cast, polished aerial mechanics, and vibrant visual style, SkyGunner offers a breezy yet substantial flight combat package. Whether you’re in it for quick dogfight thrills or in-depth score-chasing, this game proves that aerial mercenary life is as exhilarating as it sounds. For fans of action-oriented flight games, SkyGunner remains a soaring highlight worth considering.

Retro Replay Score

7.2/10