Gal*Gun: Double Peace asks players to save the world by aiming a gun at girls. That premise sounds absurd, and it mostly is. The game, out on PS4, PC and Vita, is a strange mix of dating sim, action shooter and pure nonsense, and it lands somewhere between charming and exhausting.
Trailer, via alchemistINFO.
Aim and Fire
The core loop is simple. Players move through a school setting, dodge enemy attacks, and fire a beam weapon at girls who are also enemies. Missiles home in on specific body parts, and the game tracks a “LOVE” meter tied to each character. Hit the right spots enough, and a girl turns into a playable ally.
It sounds like a pitch for trouble, and it is. The game is built around targeting girls’ bodies, and it does not pretend otherwise. Some players will find that funny. Others will find it off-putting. There is no middle ground here.
The shooting itself is serviceable. Enemies swarm, and the dodge mechanic rewards quick reflexes. Missiles can be aimed precisely, which adds a layer of strategy beyond just blasting everything. But the game is clearly designed to reward players who target the girls’ heads, not their bodies, which undercuts some of the tension the premise tries to sustain.
Girls and Allies
Each girl has her own stats and abilities, and she becomes a playable ally when recruited. The game spends time fleshing out their personalities, but the writing leans heavily on stereotypes about school life. The humor is broad, and it does not always land.
The visual design is detailed. Characters are rendered with care, and the game’s art direction is one of its stronger elements. But the game’s insistence on targeting girls’ bodies remains a sticking point, even when the mechanics try to push back against it.
A Look at the Sessions
Here is how a typical play session breaks down:
| Session | Activity |
|---|---|
| 1 | Learn the controls and dodge enemies |
| 2 | Target girls’ heads to recruit allies |
| 3 | Watch the story scenes between missions |
| 4 | Manage the roster and plan future missions |
Final Word
Gal*Gun: Double Peace is a game that knows exactly what it wants to be. It is not trying to be subtle. It is trying to be outrageous, and it succeeds at that. Whether that success translates to enjoyment depends heavily on the player’s tolerance for its central gimmick.
The game is a curiosity, not a masterpiece. Its ideas are bold, and its execution is uneven. It is a game that rewards patience and punishes anyone looking for a serious story or mature themes.
Gal*Gun: Double Peace scores 6.8 out of 10.
