Tag: gaming

Gunhound – My Go-To PSP Mecha Game for Short Bursts

When I need a quick break in between tasks, Gunhound on PSP is the game I usually go to. It’s fast, it’s exciting, and it scratches that itch for a mecha action experience without needing hours of commitment. It’s not available on smaller retro handhelds like the Miyoo Mini since those can’t run PSP games, but if you’ve got a Miyoo Mini Plus, Flip, or any other handheld that supports PSP, it plays beautifully.

I actually just picked up the Anbernic RG28XX recently. I was looking for the Miyoo A30 but couldn’t find one locally, so this became my alternative. Luckily, it runs PSP titles smoothly, and Gunhound feels right at home on it.

A Bit of History

Gunhound EX (full title: Kisou Ryouhei Gunhound EX) came out in Japan back in 2013 for the PSP. It was developed by a small Osaka-based team called Dracue Software, a doujin (indie) studio known for loving mecha games. Later on, the game got a Windows PC port in 2014 with the title Armored Hunter Gunhound EX.

The reception was decent, especially from fans of old-school mecha shooters like Assault Suit Valken (Cybernator) and Assault Suit Leynos. Famitsu gave the PSP version a 29 out of 40, and Western reviews of the PC port hovered around 7 to 8 out of 10. Reviewers praised the fast-paced action and anime-style presentation, though some said it felt like the ideas could’ve gone even further.

As for sales, there’s no reliable number out there — it was a niche release, after all, and never really broke into the mainstream. That’s also one of the reasons it isn’t famous: it was a Japan-only release on PSP, with no official English localization. But honestly, who needs a full translation when your main job is to pilot a mech and fire at anything that moves?

Dracue didn’t become a big studio after this either. Gunhound EX remains their standout game — more of a cult classic than a widely recognized PSP hit.

The Story

The game’s setup is straight out of a 90s mecha anime. You pilot a heavy combat machine through different missions, fighting waves of enemies, giant bosses, and military hardware that just keeps coming. The story isn’t super detailed, but it’s enough to push you forward between battles and cutscenes. The real fun is in the action, not reading walls of text.

Game Mechanics

The mix of mechanics makes Gunhound really stand out. You get machine guns, missiles, and one of the coolest parts — a grappling hook. It’s not just for climbing but also for swinging and repositioning during fights. That little touch changes how you approach stages, giving it a different flavor compared to standard run-and-gun games.

The game captures that heavy mech feeling while still staying responsive. You’re not zipping around like a ninja; you’re piloting a powerful machine that has weight to it, and learning that rhythm is half the fun.

Controls

The controls feel surprisingly smooth for a PSP mecha game. Swapping weapons, firing, and using the grappling hook all click into place once you’ve played a couple of missions. On handhelds with good buttons and a d-pad, like the RG28XX or Miyoo Mini Plus, the game plays almost like it was built for these smaller devices.

Why It Fits on a Small Retro Handheld

This is where Gunhound really shines for me. The missions are short enough to pick up and play in between tasks, and the anime-inspired visuals scale perfectly to smaller screens. The intensity is still there, but it feels tighter and more personal when played on a handheld. For a game that’s all about quick bursts of action, portable is the way to go.

Every time I load this up, it gives me that mix of anime mecha excitement and arcade-style quick action. It doesn’t need hours of play, and the grappling hook always makes the combat feel fresh. I’ll tell myself “just one mission,” and then end up playing two or three because it’s so hard to put down once you’re in the zone.

Final Thoughts

Gunhound EX may not be a mainstream PSP classic, but it’s one of those hidden gems that deserves more attention. Between its anime-inspired mecha action, simple pick-up-and-play missions, and perfect fit for retro handhelds, it’s a game I recommend to anyone looking for something different on PSP. The lack of an English release probably held it back, but if you enjoy action that doesn’t waste your time, you’ll feel right at home with Gunhound.

14th Sep 2025
The Goonies on NES – A Childhood Treasure
Growing up, one of the most-played games of my childhood was The Goonies on the NES. At the time, I had no idea it was connected to a movie. To me, it was just this mysterious little game with unforgettable music and fun gameplay. Even now, whenever I hear that chiptune intro theme, I’m instantly brought back to being seven or eight years old, sitting in my living room with my cousins, taking turns until we finally beat it.

Konami developed and released the game in 1986, based on the 1985 movie. The strange part is that while the game came out on the Famicom in Japan, it never got a normal NES release in North America. Instead, many players only ever discovered the sequel, The Goonies II. But for me, this first game was the one that left a mark.

Controls and Objectives

The beauty of The Goonies is how simple it is to pick up and play. You move Mikey with the D-pad, jump with A, and attack or place bombs with B. Each level has a clear goal:
- Collect three keys to unlock the exit.
- Rescue a captured Goonie hidden somewhere in the stage.
- Survive enemies like bats, skeletons, rats, and of course the Fratellis.
That’s it — no long cutscenes, no walls of text, just pure action.

This is also why it feels perfect on the Miyoo Mini’s 2.8-inch screen. The game doesn’t rely on lots of text, so there’s nothing tedious to read. The NES’s simple A and B button layout matches the Miyoo Mini perfectly, making the game feel like it was made for handheld play.

The Nostalgia Factor

When I was a kid, I used to think the rats in this game were actually the size of children. They looked so huge and scary to me on the TV screen. Looking back, the graphics are pretty basic, but the way the game combined its music, enemies, and level design made it feel larger than life.

The difficulty also felt enormous at that age. What seems like a simple loop today — jump, bomb, collect, rescue — was one of the hardest games I had ever played as a kid. But that’s part of what made it so special.

And of course, what I remember most isn’t just the game itself but the feeling around it: the old TV buzzing in the living room, my cousins sitting beside me, all of us determined to beat the game together. That memory is what makes The Goonies stand out among all the other NES platformers.

Final Thoughts

Although there are many NES platformers that are just as good, or even better, The Goonies will always be one of my personal favorites. Not because it’s the most polished, but because it carries so many of my childhood memories.

I haven’t played The Goonies II, but for me, this first game feels just right. And playing it today on my Miyoo Mini is enough to keep that nostalgic spark alive. The Goonies is just one of many great platformers on the NES — but for me, it’s one of the most unforgettable.
12th Sep 2025