Gyruss

Gyruss

released on Mar 01, 1983

Gyruss

released on Mar 01, 1983

Gyruss is a shoot 'em up video arcade game developed by Konami, and released in 1983. It was designed by Yoshiki Okamoto, who had earlier created Time Pilot for Konami. Gyruss was licensed to Centuri in the United States, and was ported to numerous games consoles and home computers. It follows in the tradition of space war games such as Space Invaders and Galaga. Gyruss was the second and last game Yoshiki Okamoto designed for Konami, after Time Pilot. Due to pay disputes, he was fired after the release of this game, and soon joined Capcom, where he would write 1942 and the first Street Fighter game. The game's background music is an electronic, fast-paced arrangement of J. S. Bach's Toccata and Fugue in D minor, BWV 565; this particular arrangement is similar in sound to "Toccata", a rock arrangement by the UK-based instrumentalist group Sky. Gyruss is notable for using stereo sound, which according to the bonus material for Konami Arcade Classics, was achieved by utilizing discrete audio circuits. The game used three microprocessors: two Z80 microprocessors and one 6809, as well as an 8039 microcontroller. For the sound, five AY-3-8910 PSG sound chips and a DAC. Gyruss was released in both upright and cocktail cabinets. R.Hirst "KOO", M.Jones, "BOX" and the Elliott Brother's are arguably considered some of the best Gyruss players of the 1990's.


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The best looking shooter at the time of its release. The Tempest inspired cylindrical shooting doesn't really add much to the gameplay beyond adding a sense of speed. Solid audio effects and music as well.

“Gyruss” isn’t one of my favorite’s from the golden age of arcades. I always found the tube aspect and “Tempest” style of control with shimmying around the outer ring hard to control and confusing. I played the Xbox 360 version and it was pleasant unlocking achievements and hearing the little triumphant song that XBLA games of old would do. You already know if this game is for you. It’s not for me.

This one took some getting used to but was never too frustrating and I felt like I was doing better each time I played it. It's a tube shooter similar to Tempest but you can't really see the "tube" but you do rotate around a center point. The enemy ships can enter from any edge of the screen and swarm to the center and then start diving/shooting at the player. So similar to Galaga but you spin around the edges and shoot toward the middle instead of sticking to the bottom and shooting up. The biggest issue I had was being hit from enemy ships as that came onto the screen. I felt like they were constantly coming from behind me no matter which direction I faced. I think this was a good idea and maybe just an indicator of what's next like Tetrix has would have helped.

Sorry Gyruss, I just... couldn't get behind the tube view and movement controls. I only beat this with the Konami code, but I can't say I didn't try! Made it all the way to Venus without it.

Early tube shooter. Actually holds up pretty nicely, but goes on for a bit too long and doesn't have enough different music tracks to keep things interesting. Either way, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this. Feels a bit ahead of the time for sure.

Call it what it is, as anyone else has pointed out. Gyruss is what happens when Tempest has a baby with insert Space Invaders clone of the early 80s here


Does Gyruss do anything genuinely groundbreaking? No. But does it do its little thing incredibly well? Absolutely.