Rapid Reload
| Rapid Reload | |
|---|---|
 European cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Media.Vision |
| Publisher(s) | Sony Computer Entertainment |
| Producer(s) | Shigeo Maruyama Teruhisa Tokunaka |
| Designer(s) | Toshiyuki Miyata Akira Sato |
| Platform(s) | PlayStation, PlayStation Network |
| Release date(s) | PlayStation PlayStation Network |
| Genre(s) | Run and gun |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
| Distribution | 1 CD-ROM, download |
Rapid Reload, known in Japan as Gunners Heaven (ガンナーズヘヴン), is a run and gun video game developed by Media.Vision and published by Sony Computer Entertainment for the PlayStation in both Japan and Europe in 1995. The game was re-released on the PlayStation Network in Japan in 2007 and in Asia in 2010. The gameplay of Rapid Reload is often compared to the Treasure game Gunstar Heroes.[4][5][6]
Story
Upon hearing the legend of the treasure known as the Valkiry, treasure hunters Axel Sonics and Ruka Hetfield embark on an adventurous quest to find the legendary stone. However, unknown to Axel and Ruka at the start, there is also a terrorist organization known as the Pumpkin Heads searching for the Valkiry, determined to use the stone for World Domination.
In a race to reach the stone first, Axel and Ruka fight their way through the Pumpkin Heads' army of elite soldiers along several locations, destroying each of the three top captains and eventually reaching their hideout, where they confront the Master, who already has the Valkiry in his possession. Using the Valkiry to power himself, the Master engages Axel and Ruka in a decisive, final battle, but is eventually destroyed and the Valkiry is freed.
The ending differs for each character: if Axel defeats the Master, he is joined by Ruka, who in her excitement takes the Valkiry and runs off, with the weary Axel only barely managing to keep up with her; if Ruka defeats the Master, she accidentally drops the Valkiry and it shatters, and in her frustration, she vows never to hunt for treasure again, although a caption mentions that she eventually stayed in the business with Axel.
Gameplay
The player chooses to play as either Axel or Ruka through the game's six levels.
- Level 1: a Cargo Ship. Two Area Bosses, one Guardian.
- Level 2: a Jungle. Two Area Bosses, one Guardian.
- Level 3: a Military Train. One Area Boss, one Guardian.
- Level 4: an Arms Factory. Two Area Bosses, one Guardian.
- Level 5: the Airship. One Guardian.
- Level 6: the Pumpkin Heads Hideout. One Guardian.
Reception
On release, Famicom Tsūshin scored the PlayStation version of the game a 26 out of 40.[7] The same version received a 27 out of 40 from Famitsu PS on the same day.[8]
References
- ↑ Media.Vision staff. "ガンナーズヘヴン GUNNERS HEAVEN" (in Japanese). Media.Vision. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ Gantayat, Anoop (March 29, 2007). "Gunners Heaven Joins the Archive". IGN. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ Sony staff. "Gunners Heaven®". Sony Computer Entertainment. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ IGN staff (April 29, 2009). "Hidden Japanese Gems". IGN. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ Paris, Jeremy and Kennedy, Sam (June 27, 2007). "Retronauts Presents: Contra Retro Roundup". 1UP.com. Ziff Davis. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ Campbell, Stuart. "Hidden Treasures: The mysterious story of Gunner's Heaven". World of Stuart. Retrieved April 10, 2012.
- ↑ NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ガンナーズヘヴン. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.333. Pg.32. 5 May 1995.
- ↑ PlayStation New Games Cross Review: ガンナーズヘヴン. PlayStation Tsūshin. No.2. Pg.19. 5 May 1995.