A Capcom horizontal shooter with wildly inflated scoring and skyrocketing multipliers. Monumental bosses and asteroid absorption deliver real thrills. A manic gem.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
Ship pilots face bullet rain in this Capcom vertical shoot'em up with bullet-capture system. Published by Capcom, released in Japan in November 1999. Vertical shoot'em up with enemy bullet capture mechanic, medal fire system, projectile-covered bosses. Japanese version.
GigaWing review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
A vertical shooter by Takumi published by Capcom, GigaWing embraces a generous manic aesthetic, the screen blanketed with clouds of colorful projectiles reflected back in golden sprays. Detailed ships, imposing bosses and a deluge of effects make a dense yet readable spectacle amid the chaos. Explosions and varied backdrops turn every stage into a pyrotechnic party. A treat for scoring fans.
Japanese retail version of GigaWing, the closest to Takumi's original arcade board and the first marker of this mini-saga of frantic scoring. A local genre reference, it is valued for the purity of its conversion and the spectacular inflation of its counters. Its desirability lies in its rank as the series' matrix and the stable value of polished Japanese shooters on the machine.
Is GigaWing still worth playing in 2026?
Developed by Takumi for Capcom, this vertical manic shooter made its name with a reflect barrier that bounces enemy fire back and with score counters that climb into preposterous figures. Short and intense, it shines when chasing the perfect multiplier and trading scores in two player play. The 2D sprites stay readable and the pace has not aged on Dreamcast, a faithful port of the arcade board. A genre staple for shmup fans and a sought after item for collectors.
