Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters

Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters, known in Japan as Lethal Enforcers II: The Western (リーサルエンフォーサーズ２, Rīsaru Enfōsāzu Tsu), is a 1994 arcade game and prequel to the original Lethal Enforcers. In contrast with the first game's modern law enforcement theme, Lethal Enforcers II takes place in the American Old West.

Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters
Arcade flyer.
Developer(s)Konami
Publisher(s)Konami
Producer(s)Tom. K.
Composer(s)Tsuyoshi Sekito
Yuichi Sakakura
SeriesLethal Enforcers
Platform(s)Arcade, Sega Genesis, Sega CD, PlayStation (as Lethal Enforcers I & II)
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: March 1994
Genesis
  • NA: May 11, 1994
  • PAL: 1994
Sega CD
  • PAL: November 23, 1994
  • NA: November 24, 1994
  • JP: November 25, 1994
PlayStation
  • NA: November 17, 1997
  • PAL: November 1997
  • JP: November 20, 1997
Genre(s)Rail shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, Two-player simultaneous
Arcade systemKonami GX

Ports of the game were released for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive and the Sega CD. The game was bundled along with the first Lethal Enforcers game as part of the PlayStation compilation Lethal Enforcers I & II.

Years later, Konami released Lethal Enforcers 3.

Gameplay

In this game, the goal is to shoot outlaws in order to eradicate crime from a stereotypical town in the American West of the 1873. At the beginning of the game, three to five life units are available. In the arcade version, more can be purchased by inserting additional coins. Life units are also awarded based on how many points the player scores while playing the game. Every time the player, an innocent civilian or lawman is shot, one life unit will be lost. The game overs when all life units are gone, but continued play is available.

Lethal Enforcers 2 has five stages: "The Bank Robbery", "The Stage-Holdup", "Saloon Showdown", "The Train Robbery", and "The Hide-Out". During each stage, the player must shoot the armed outlaws without harming any innocent townsfolk or fellow lawmen. One shot is enough to kill most enemies. Each stage features a boss that must be killed in order to complete the stage (though a unique case happened in the third stage where the boss battle is in the form of a dueling mini-game). Just like the original game, a dip switch setting in the arcade version allows operators to let players progress through the stages in a linear fashion ("arcade mode") or select individual stages ("street mode"), including the between level target practice stages.

Weapons

The player's gun (a six-shooter) can carry up to six bullets. To reload, the player must aim the light gun away from the screen and pull the trigger. Additional weaponry can be found throughout the game that will give the player better firepower: .50 caliber Sharps, rifles, double rigs, shotguns, Gatling guns, and cannons. The Gatling guns and cannons can each be used only once but the other four weapons can be reloaded the same way as the basic service revolver. If a player is shot while in possession of one of those acquired weapons, the acquired weapon is lost and the player will return to the basic service revolcer.

Ranks

There are different ranks that the player can attain, depending on how well the player performs. The ranks are: Posse, Deputy, Sheriff, Deputy Marshal and U.S. Marshal. When the game begins, the player's rank is Posse, and after each stage the player will be promoted, provided they have not killed any innocents. If the player has killed innocents on any stage, they will either maintain their rank or will be demoted, although the ranks do not go below Posse. On Sega Genesis and Sega CD port, the accuracy for each stage corresponds to the given rank:

  • 59% or below: Posse
  • 60-69%: Deputy
  • 70-79%: Sheriff
  • 80-89%: Deputy Marshal
  • 90% or above: U.S. Marshal

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters on their November 15, 1994 issue as being the seventh most-successful upright arcade unit of the year.[1]

Electronic Gaming Monthly gave the Genesis version a 6.2 out of 10 average, commenting positively on the two-player mode and variety of weapons.[2] GamePro gave the Genesis version a perfect 5.0 out of 5 in all four categories (graphics, sound, control, and funfactor), citing the variety of weapons and their individually distinct firing patterns, sharp digitized sprites, realistic backgrounds, and the quality build and accuracy of the Justifier peripheral, which they felt worked better with Lethal Enforcers II than with the original game.[3]

GamePro gave the Sega CD version a positive review as well, saying that it is generally identical to the Genesis version but has more voices.[4] Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it a 6.6 out of 10, commenting that it has better music and sound effects than the Genesis version, but that the game is far more difficult than the first Lethal Enforcers.[5] Next Generation rated it three stars out of five, and stated that "The graphics aren't good [...] but it's more challenging, since many more of the targets move this time. If you liked it once, you'll like it again."[6]

References
  1. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 484. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 November 1994. p. 25.
  2. "Review Crew: Lethal Enforcers 2: Gunfighters". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 63. Sendai Publishing. October 1994. p. 38.
  3. Quick-Draw McGraw (November 1994). "ProReview: Lethal Enforcers II: Gun Fighters". GamePro. No. 74. IDG. p. 96.
  4. Slo Mo (December 1994). "ProReview: Lethal Enforcers II: GunFighters". GamePro. No. 75. IDG. p. 116.
  5. "Review Crew: Lethal Enforcers II". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 65. Sendai Publishing. December 1994. p. 44.
  6. "Finals". Next Generation. No. 1. Imagine Media. January 1995. p. 98.
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