, stylized as Gal★Gun, is a Japanese bishōjo rail shooter game developed by Inti Creates and published by Alchemist. It was first released on Xbox 360 in 2011, followed by a PlayStation 3 port a year later. The game takes place in a fictional academy in Japan, where the player takes the role of a male student, Tenzou Motesugi. He must shoot his female classmates, who are running desperately after him, with "Pheromone Arrows" to prevent them from making their partner, while he finds one of the four lead girls before sunset.
A remastered version, titled , was released in Japan and Asia for Nintendo Switch on January 28, 2021, and in North America and Europe on February 12. A Windows version was also released worldwide on the same date.
Gameplay
Gal Gun is a rail shooter and bishōjo game. Player controls the protagonist, Tenzou, to shoot his female classmates with "Pheromone Arrow", while he moves automatically through predetermined route on each stage. The player may use the analogue stick or mouse to move the reticle on the screen. Girls runs towards the player trying to profess their love via notes or screams that must be prevented by shooting them. If player fails to do so, this results in damage to his HP. The girls who've been shot receive euphoria, subduing them in process. Each girl has their own weak point in their body that results in "Ecstasy Shot", subduing them immediately if shot. As the game progresses through each stage, the player may confront female teachers that must be shot multiple times, making them harder to subdue.
If the player subdues enough girls, the Heart Gauge fills up, which enables option to initiate "Doki Doki Mode", by aiming on a girl and pressing the button. During Doki Doki Mode, the player needs to fill in "Doki Doki Gauge" within time limit by zooming in and shooting at selected part on the girl. More sensitive part of the girl will fill the gauge faster, but the girl will block the part quickly. When the gauge is full, the player can give her euphoria, and "Doki Doki Bomb" will subdue all the other girls on the screen. Tenzou's stats also changes depending on the selected girl.
The game has dating sim-based Story Mode, where player might be asked to answer the questions from the main characters. Player's answer affects the main girl's love interest on Tenzou, which affects the story progression and the ending.
During Story Mode "Action Events" may occur, which can be either a mini-game or boss battle. Player's performance during such events will also affect the progression towards the ending.
The developer also added a panic button that switches the action for a retro-looking game, with authentic animations and sounds. This is referred to as a Mama kita gamen or "Mom arrived screen".
In the original Xbox 360 version, the player could control the camera below the hemline of the girl during Doki Doki Mode. However, Microsoft ordered the game publisher, Alchemist, to eliminate this feature by releasing "Panties Protect Patch" [sic] update on March 18, 2011. This change only affects the Xbox 360 version, and therefore doesn't affect subsequent releases on other platforms.
Synopsis
The game takes place in a fictional academy, named Sakurazaki Academy. The apprentice cupid angel, named Patako, must shoot an assigned person with a so-called "Pheromone Arrow" in order to graduate. Patako targets the protagonist Tenzou Motesugi, a second-year male student, with her crossbow, in hope of getting a girlfriend when shot with an arrow, as she claimed he has no experience with the girls. However, she accidentally shoots Tenzou with sixteen arrows instead of one, as it was somehow set to full-automatic "overkill" firing mode without her knowledge.
The aura effect created by multiple shots causes him to attract female students from the entire school, trying to confess their love of him, and they desperately run after him trying to make him their partner. This effect only lasts for a single day of his life. Patako refers him as "Way Too Freakin' Popular" ("WTFP").
An unintended major consequence he would face after being shot with multiple arrows is if he is unable to find a girlfriend before the sunset, he will be destined for a life of loneliness.
The player can choose one of four main "True Love" girls. Each has different route, and features different endings, as well depending on player's progression.
Release
Gal Gun was originally released on the Xbox 360 in Japan on January 27, 2011. A PlayStation 3 port with additional characters and PlayStation Move support was released on February 23, 2012.