CAREFUL (CLICK, CLICK)
Zapper:
By Nintendo. For the Nintendo Entertainment System. Works with Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, Operation Wolf, and some other games I never heard of.
No bells or whistles here. Shit, there's not even a pause button. Things were so much different back then. Nowadays, lightguns are slicker; the buttons and trigger just slide into place with a quiet click. But not this bad boy. You get the satisfaction of firing a shot. This motherfucker is LOUD. Turn up the volume, because the audio is gonna be drowned out by the nonstop "KAPASHOW! KAPASHOW! KAPASHOW!" your gun is gonna be making. Very satisfying. However, anybody trying to get some sleep or concentration will absolutely hate you. Even with my door shut, my mom downstairs once came up to ask me what the hell I was doing. Just playing Duck Hunt ma!
By Nintendo. For the Nintendo Entertainment System. Works with Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, Operation Wolf, and some other games I never heard of.
No bells or whistles here. Shit, there's not even a pause button. Things were so much different back then. Nowadays, lightguns are slicker; the buttons and trigger just slide into place with a quiet click. But not this bad boy. You get the satisfaction of firing a shot. This motherfucker is LOUD. Turn up the volume, because the audio is gonna be drowned out by the nonstop "KAPASHOW! KAPASHOW! KAPASHOW!" your gun is gonna be making. Very satisfying. However, anybody trying to get some sleep or concentration will absolutely hate you. Even with my door shut, my mom downstairs once came up to ask me what the hell I was doing. Just playing Duck Hunt ma!
Justifier:
By Konami. For the Genesis and Sega CD (as it is essentially one big system) or for Super NES. Works with Lethal Enforcers 1&2, Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold, Crime Patrol, and Who Shot Johnny Rock? Also can be used with Snatcher, although not a proper lightgun game. But it is an awesome one. As for the Super Nintendo, the only shooters besides the Super Scope game I can think of is Konami's own Lethal Enforcers 1&2.
Ah, the gun all others would judged against. Okay, maybe other lightguns were made before, but this is the best. However, be aware that the guns are designed specifically for either 1st or 2nd player. Blue ones (with the regular cord) are for Player 1 while pink ones (which instead feature a cord like a phone's) are for Player 2. The pink one's cord plugs into the blue Justifier. I am not sure but I believe that pink Justifiers will work on the blue guns for either console. I saw a pink gun once at a store, so good luck finding one. I only bought the Genesis one, but I'm sure the SNES version is just as good.
By Konami. For the Genesis and Sega CD (as it is essentially one big system) or for Super NES. Works with Lethal Enforcers 1&2, Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold, Crime Patrol, and Who Shot Johnny Rock? Also can be used with Snatcher, although not a proper lightgun game. But it is an awesome one. As for the Super Nintendo, the only shooters besides the Super Scope game I can think of is Konami's own Lethal Enforcers 1&2.
Ah, the gun all others would judged against. Okay, maybe other lightguns were made before, but this is the best. However, be aware that the guns are designed specifically for either 1st or 2nd player. Blue ones (with the regular cord) are for Player 1 while pink ones (which instead feature a cord like a phone's) are for Player 2. The pink one's cord plugs into the blue Justifier. I am not sure but I believe that pink Justifiers will work on the blue guns for either console. I saw a pink gun once at a store, so good luck finding one. I only bought the Genesis one, but I'm sure the SNES version is just as good.
Game Gun:
By American Laser Games. For the Sega CD: 'Works' with Crime Patrol, Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold, and Who Shot Johnny Rock? Also exists in a 3DO version (which is the picture, but it looks identical to the Sega CD one anyway) which works with Crime Patrol, Drug Wars, Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold, Space Pirates, The Last Bounty Hunter, Who Shot Johnny Rock? and probably others; I don't know because I never bought the system.
The 'official' gun to go along with ALG's many lightgun games. This gun bucks the tradition of 'official' guns being great by... well, being shitty. The gun actually worked fine the first time, but I could never get it to work decently after that. I'm thus gonna have to give this one the thumbs down. Sometimes, first impressions disappoint. If I had a choice between butter or this gun, I'd chose the butter. I dunno if the 3DO one is any better.
By American Laser Games. For the Sega CD: 'Works' with Crime Patrol, Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold, and Who Shot Johnny Rock? Also exists in a 3DO version (which is the picture, but it looks identical to the Sega CD one anyway) which works with Crime Patrol, Drug Wars, Mad Dog McCree, Mad Dog 2: The Lost Gold, Space Pirates, The Last Bounty Hunter, Who Shot Johnny Rock? and probably others; I don't know because I never bought the system.
The 'official' gun to go along with ALG's many lightgun games. This gun bucks the tradition of 'official' guns being great by... well, being shitty. The gun actually worked fine the first time, but I could never get it to work decently after that. I'm thus gonna have to give this one the thumbs down. Sometimes, first impressions disappoint. If I had a choice between butter or this gun, I'd chose the butter. I dunno if the 3DO one is any better.
Stunner:
By SEGA. For the Saturn. Works with Virtua Cop 1 & 2, The House Of The Dead, Area 51, and Maximum Force.
Not really a whole lot to say about this one. It works great, so there ya go. I believe this gun is exactly the same as the Virtua Gun. Shouldn't it be called the Guardian though?
By SEGA. For the Saturn. Works with Virtua Cop 1 & 2, The House Of The Dead, Area 51, and Maximum Force.
Not really a whole lot to say about this one. It works great, so there ya go. I believe this gun is exactly the same as the Virtua Gun. Shouldn't it be called the Guardian though?
Guncon:
By Namco. For the Playstation (and thus also compatible with PS2.) Works with Time Crisis, Time Crisis: Project Titan, Time Crisis 2, Judge Dredd, Point Blank, and Die Hard Trilogy 2 (albeit not really a lightgun game.)
Unlike other lightguns, you also plug this one into your video input cable. Aside from the trigger, there are 2 buttons on the gun, to allow for the ducking feature of Namco's signature game. Strangely, I have experienced major hassle trying to get this gun to work properly on the original Time Crisis on one of my modest TV's even though it works perfectly fine with other compatible games. I would assume therefore that the problem is with the game itself but just informing y'all that you may encounter one. If so, trying messing with your brightness and/or contrast (less likely.) Oh yes, aside from plugging it into the console, you also have a double-ended yellow plug to connect to your console's yellow AV cord. It is connected to the controller port so you won't lose it.
Sadly, I don't believe you can use it with a PS3. There's no place to plug it in on the console itself. Even with one of those hard-to-find PS2 peripheral adapters, it doesn't work like it should. There's no PS button equivalent, but I was able to fool the machine by using a PS2 controller to activate the USB port and switched to the gun. However, the game (I tested TC2) is unplayable with the gun. The buttons all work, but gunshots do not register. I was able to select 1-player game and pause the game, but shooting never worked. Not even a flash when you pull the trigger. Maybe there is a way but I don't know.
By Namco. For the Playstation (and thus also compatible with PS2.) Works with Time Crisis, Time Crisis: Project Titan, Time Crisis 2, Judge Dredd, Point Blank, and Die Hard Trilogy 2 (albeit not really a lightgun game.)
Unlike other lightguns, you also plug this one into your video input cable. Aside from the trigger, there are 2 buttons on the gun, to allow for the ducking feature of Namco's signature game. Strangely, I have experienced major hassle trying to get this gun to work properly on the original Time Crisis on one of my modest TV's even though it works perfectly fine with other compatible games. I would assume therefore that the problem is with the game itself but just informing y'all that you may encounter one. If so, trying messing with your brightness and/or contrast (less likely.) Oh yes, aside from plugging it into the console, you also have a double-ended yellow plug to connect to your console's yellow AV cord. It is connected to the controller port so you won't lose it.
Sadly, I don't believe you can use it with a PS3. There's no place to plug it in on the console itself. Even with one of those hard-to-find PS2 peripheral adapters, it doesn't work like it should. There's no PS button equivalent, but I was able to fool the machine by using a PS2 controller to activate the USB port and switched to the gun. However, the game (I tested TC2) is unplayable with the gun. The buttons all work, but gunshots do not register. I was able to select 1-player game and pause the game, but shooting never worked. Not even a flash when you pull the trigger. Maybe there is a way but I don't know.
Starfire:
By Interact. For the Dreamcast. Works with The House Of The Dead 2, Confidential Mission, and Virtua Cop 2 (via SEGA Smash Pack.)
The most well-known lightgun for the system and thus the easiest to find. A very good 3rd party gun. I have no real complaints. It has 1 slot in the gun for either a VMU or a Jolt Pack. It has a selection of firing modes, including automatic fire and auto fire with automatic reload. It also features a D-pad, a 2nd trigger opposite the primary one which I have no clue what it does, an A button, a B button, and not one, but two start buttons. Why exactly, I don't know. The buttons do seem slightly fragile; case in point, one of the start buttons on my gun was ripped off. My dismay was soon dashed away by the discovery of the other one. Hooray for foresight! However, not long after I began typing this article, the trigger on my gun broke! IT JUST BROKE! So there might be a quality issue here. Works very well except that the instant reload mode is prone to going on the fritz at times but that's what you get for cheating.
By Interact. For the Dreamcast. Works with The House Of The Dead 2, Confidential Mission, and Virtua Cop 2 (via SEGA Smash Pack.)
The most well-known lightgun for the system and thus the easiest to find. A very good 3rd party gun. I have no real complaints. It has 1 slot in the gun for either a VMU or a Jolt Pack. It has a selection of firing modes, including automatic fire and auto fire with automatic reload. It also features a D-pad, a 2nd trigger opposite the primary one which I have no clue what it does, an A button, a B button, and not one, but two start buttons. Why exactly, I don't know. The buttons do seem slightly fragile; case in point, one of the start buttons on my gun was ripped off. My dismay was soon dashed away by the discovery of the other one. Hooray for foresight! However, not long after I began typing this article, the trigger on my gun broke! IT JUST BROKE! So there might be a quality issue here. Works very well except that the instant reload mode is prone to going on the fritz at times but that's what you get for cheating.
Guncon 2:
By Namco. For the PS2 (and thus compatible with the PS3.) Works with Time Crisis 2 & 3, Crisis Zone, Endgame, and Vampire Night. Also works with Resident Evil: Dead Aim, Ninja Assault, and Gun Survivor: Dino Crisis, which are hybrid games.
The sequel to their Guncon is smaller, lighter, and even more accurate. It also features a D-pad and a bunch of buttons. Nothing more to say. Also has a yellow plug to stick into your console's yellow AV cord, except now it's a separate cord.
By Namco. For the PS2 (and thus compatible with the PS3.) Works with Time Crisis 2 & 3, Crisis Zone, Endgame, and Vampire Night. Also works with Resident Evil: Dead Aim, Ninja Assault, and Gun Survivor: Dino Crisis, which are hybrid games.
The sequel to their Guncon is smaller, lighter, and even more accurate. It also features a D-pad and a bunch of buttons. Nothing more to say. Also has a yellow plug to stick into your console's yellow AV cord, except now it's a separate cord.
Blaster:
By Madcatz. For the XBox. Works with The House Of The Dead 3 and Silent Scope Complete.
This is an unofficial official gun for The House Of The Dead 3. Although SEGA made no lightgun for their game, Madcatz was all over this, and there is an advertisement for the gun on the game's box. For the cheaters, this gun features an automatic fire and auto fire with automatic reloading mode. Aside from the now-standard slew of buttons and a joystick, it contains a slot for a memory device, although no lightgun game needs one. Also features vibration. Unfortunately, this gun is a notch below even the Interact Starfire (to me it seems) however it works perfectly fine with The House Of The Dead's shotgun setup anyway.
By Madcatz. For the XBox. Works with The House Of The Dead 3 and Silent Scope Complete.
This is an unofficial official gun for The House Of The Dead 3. Although SEGA made no lightgun for their game, Madcatz was all over this, and there is an advertisement for the gun on the game's box. For the cheaters, this gun features an automatic fire and auto fire with automatic reloading mode. Aside from the now-standard slew of buttons and a joystick, it contains a slot for a memory device, although no lightgun game needs one. Also features vibration. Unfortunately, this gun is a notch below even the Interact Starfire (to me it seems) however it works perfectly fine with The House Of The Dead's shotgun setup anyway.
Silent Scope Sniper Rifle:
By Pelican. For the XBox. Works with Silent Scope Complete (duh) and The House Of The Dead 3.
Wow, this is an ambitious setup. The rifle comes in 4 pieces, although only 1 is necessary. There's the lightgun proper, then there's a barrel, a stock, and a scope. You can assemble it for a replica weapon or you can simply omit a piece or 3 and still play. The gun has a built-in sensor for using the scope. In theory, when you look in the scope (or place your head where the scope should be), the sensor senses that you are looking through the scope and activates the scope view. In theory, communism works too. Yeah, so the sensor generally doesn't actually fucking work and thus scope view doesn't activate. However, there are a couple alternate ways to activate it as well so it's no big deal. Also has vibration and a slot for a memory card, not that one is necessary.
But it ain't just a sniper rifle! The gun also has a sliding pump like a shotgun, so you can leave off the barrel and scope, and you can replicate the shotgun part of The House Of The Dead 3 like the arcade. Like the Blaster, I'm not sure if the calibration is all that good.
By Pelican. For the XBox. Works with Silent Scope Complete (duh) and The House Of The Dead 3.
Wow, this is an ambitious setup. The rifle comes in 4 pieces, although only 1 is necessary. There's the lightgun proper, then there's a barrel, a stock, and a scope. You can assemble it for a replica weapon or you can simply omit a piece or 3 and still play. The gun has a built-in sensor for using the scope. In theory, when you look in the scope (or place your head where the scope should be), the sensor senses that you are looking through the scope and activates the scope view. In theory, communism works too. Yeah, so the sensor generally doesn't actually fucking work and thus scope view doesn't activate. However, there are a couple alternate ways to activate it as well so it's no big deal. Also has vibration and a slot for a memory card, not that one is necessary.
But it ain't just a sniper rifle! The gun also has a sliding pump like a shotgun, so you can leave off the barrel and scope, and you can replicate the shotgun part of The House Of The Dead 3 like the arcade. Like the Blaster, I'm not sure if the calibration is all that good.
Guncon 3:
By Namco. For the PS3. Works with Time Crisis 4 and... well, that's it for now.
Now with HDTV compatibility. The gun is much like the Guncon 2 except with an analog stick instead of a D-pad and a nunchuk attachment for extra buttons and a 2nd stick. A pretty ugly sight to never let us forget TC4's FPS mode (thus I fear Namco will try again.) Thankfully, it doesn't make the gun heavy or negatively affect the gun. However, this design is totally meant for right-handed people. Left-handers need to either switch it up or cross your hands under the gun, which isn't exactly comfortable. This gun has a more complicated setup than others: it has a pair of sensors you have to mount on the TV first. Oh yeah, the gun works fine. I dunno what's with the symbol in the corner, because I got most of these pictures from E-Bay items.
By Namco. For the PS3. Works with Time Crisis 4 and... well, that's it for now.
Now with HDTV compatibility. The gun is much like the Guncon 2 except with an analog stick instead of a D-pad and a nunchuk attachment for extra buttons and a 2nd stick. A pretty ugly sight to never let us forget TC4's FPS mode (thus I fear Namco will try again.) Thankfully, it doesn't make the gun heavy or negatively affect the gun. However, this design is totally meant for right-handed people. Left-handers need to either switch it up or cross your hands under the gun, which isn't exactly comfortable. This gun has a more complicated setup than others: it has a pair of sensors you have to mount on the TV first. Oh yeah, the gun works fine. I dunno what's with the symbol in the corner, because I got most of these pictures from E-Bay items.
Wii Zapper:
By Nintendo.
Psyche! This is not actually a lightgun! But as us gunstars are undoubtedly going to buy one of these I guess I can classify this as 'lightgun paraphernalia'. To repeat: THIS IS NOT A LIGHTGUN. This is a SHELL that you lock your Wiimote into to make it like a lightgun. You will need a Wiimote (not included like the picture shows.) Sounds lame eh? Well to its credit the Wiimote doesn't do such a bad job on its own. However, this shell of a gun isn't very ergonomic and using both the Wiimote and the nunchuk is horrendous. The design does feel somewhat like playing Ghost Squad with a SMG (but not quite.) If you can play a game with only 1 hand I recommend the Nyko Perfect Shot but this performs well with GS. Works with any Wii game you morons, this is just a shell.
By Nintendo.
Psyche! This is not actually a lightgun! But as us gunstars are undoubtedly going to buy one of these I guess I can classify this as 'lightgun paraphernalia'. To repeat: THIS IS NOT A LIGHTGUN. This is a SHELL that you lock your Wiimote into to make it like a lightgun. You will need a Wiimote (not included like the picture shows.) Sounds lame eh? Well to its credit the Wiimote doesn't do such a bad job on its own. However, this shell of a gun isn't very ergonomic and using both the Wiimote and the nunchuk is horrendous. The design does feel somewhat like playing Ghost Squad with a SMG (but not quite.) If you can play a game with only 1 hand I recommend the Nyko Perfect Shot but this performs well with GS. Works with any Wii game you morons, this is just a shell.
Perfect Shot:
By Nyko.
Yep, this is also just a shell like the Zapper. You will need a Wiimote to use this, which despite the image is NOT included. A much better handgun design then the Wii Blaster. Plus, they didn't feel the need to make it bright syphilis orange (one thing I've learned; orange feces will probably give you syphilis.) The nunchuk actually plugs into the bottom of the handgun, and the jack in the Wiimote slides into position on the barrel so it doesn't get in the way. It features its own trigger unlike the Zapper's somewhat flimsy one. A much better handgun for games that you can play one-handed. Works with any Wii game because it is just a shell.
By Nyko.
Yep, this is also just a shell like the Zapper. You will need a Wiimote to use this, which despite the image is NOT included. A much better handgun design then the Wii Blaster. Plus, they didn't feel the need to make it bright syphilis orange (one thing I've learned; orange feces will probably give you syphilis.) The nunchuk actually plugs into the bottom of the handgun, and the jack in the Wiimote slides into position on the barrel so it doesn't get in the way. It features its own trigger unlike the Zapper's somewhat flimsy one. A much better handgun for games that you can play one-handed. Works with any Wii game because it is just a shell.