4/5 ★ – RawMetal's review of Steel Gunner 2.

System: Arcade Started: April 13, 2023 Ended: April 13, 2023 Free Play Arcade Session - April 13, 2023: 7/12 The Steel Gunner games deserve better, and Namco should bring back this IP into this day and age since it feels like it's been locked away in their IP vault. It could even be a third sequel, remake, spin-off or even a genre change as a mech action game for home consoles. Steel Gunner 2 was my next game just after finishing the first game. This entry is a great improvement from the original, and I played this before but couldn’t get the Good Ending. So, I had to play it next time until recently. Definitely I preferred this over the first game for sure, but there are small takeaways that I would give it a solid score and not higher. Almost a similar story as you stop another terrorist group except this time: new mech upgrades and its name called Gargoyle Mk. II and as you play this game, you will notice a different interface layout from the first game and added features such as Night Vision and Civilian Detection which means not shooting bystanders is much easier now. The terrorist has a masked armored mech guy as their right-hand man and you do get to fight him at the end. The Story is honestly not fully fleshed out but its simple. The level design is better as every level in the game feels continuous as you go from location to location and would go to a fueling Aircraft piloted to recharge your health and missile. It’s a good addition and keeps it well paced. I was impressed with its Graphics, Music and Gameplay altogether. The Attract Intro looks pretty cool for a mech game and its perfect for you to be hooked into playing this. The Graphics look more colorful than the first game and the music gets you pumped like Stage 3 as you fend off enemies in the middle of the ocean. Gameplay-wise, This game cranked up on the violence as you mow down those terrorists and dismember them with your machine gun. Even the number ‘2’ for the title is actually blood. And you do leave off destruction even in mech form. Just like the first game, this one has a Bad Ending and If you screw up the final objective, you have to restart the game all over and what’s worse: this one is tougher to get the good ending since it actually tests your accuracy. I still had trouble with it and had to play through it twice that day. At least this game is short but slightly longer than the first game. What is also annoying is the low health beep noise as it can be annoying but it's a way to tell players to get your quarters ready before they are at the Continue phase in the early 90’s. Both Steel Gunner games are great and I consider the second one to be the best one. I wanted to give this game a 5, but it has drawbacks that can be annoying. Still a great light gun game and Namco should bring this back. Emulate this or find this at an arcade or convention if no one is currently using it. Just be prepared to get the bad ending though unless you have some spare missiles which you need to get the good ending easier.