Masterpieces such as "Time Crisis" and "Gun Bullet" can be played on modern LCD TVs in the G'AIM'E review. The "aiming and shooting asobi experience" revived by AI is still interesting even in Reiwa

 

Have you ever heard of the plug-and-play gun controller "G'AIM'E"? This playable machine was exhibited at the Tokyo Game Show 2024 (hereinafter referred to as "TGS2024") and became a hot topic in the Gunshoe community, and general pre-orders will be accepted on July 10, 2025. To commemorate the occasion, we will deliver a report of the four recorded titles that we tried out in advance.

Video games give players a variety of simulated experiences. If it's an RPG, it's like a fantasy movie. If it's a racing game, you can enjoy the speed of an F1 racer.

In such a situation, the game genre of gun shooting gives you the experience of "knocking down the bad guys with a gun in one hand" like a tough guy in a Hollywood movie. It's like shooting enemies with a gun-shaped controller in an arcade.

In the days of the original PlayStation (PS) and PlayStation 2 (PS2), there were many home ports that used the cathode ray tube mechanism (*), but many of them are not compatible with liquid crystals, and recently they are no longer seen.

"GunCon" compared the drawing timing of the screen with the light information received by the internal sensor to determine which position was targeted. This method assumes a cathode ray tube and is not supported by LCD monitors.

I'm sure you've seen this kind of aiming and shooting game at a arcade.

However, in 2025, as a result of the evolution of technology, a gun controller (hereinafter referred to as a gun-shaped controller) that can be used on almost any monitor will finally be released. Its name is G'AIM'E. The pronunciation is G-aim (note that it is not "Gaim " or "Gaim ". If you are interested, please check the reservation site.

There was an exhibit on the TGS2024 that was in the process of being made, and I was like, "Hey, can I play 'Time Crisis' at home Reiwa?!"It is a remarkable hardware that has been talked about quite a bit (in the author).

When I was paying attention, I visited the development company, Achievement Denki, and I was able to try it out in advance. Life is something you don't know.

I've played a lot of games while feeling the time paradox of playing the latest Gunshoe Hard in 2025, so I'd like to talk about some of the things I'm interested in, such as "How does it feel to use?"

I'm an editor who loves classic games, so I've been playing with it while playing with it.

For 10,000 yen, you can have an arcade-like facility at home! If you like gunshoe, you'll want to take the plunge and buy the ultimate version.

This G'AIM'E is a set of a game console and a gun-type controller, and you can play games just by connecting the main body, which is about the size of a CD case, directly to the TV. A special camera is attached to the tip of the gun-type con, and AI analyzes the image and determines the aiming position.

Thanks to this mechanism, there is no need to set up aiming markers or place sensor bars. One of the charms of G'AIM'E is that you can play in a very space-saving and easy setting.

This is the main body. It's really about the size of a CD case and not thick, so I think you can put it on a tabletop.

There is a basic version, a premium version, and an ultimate version, and the differences in content are as follows.

Basic version

Price: 13200 yen [tax included]

• G'AIM'E MAIN UNIT
• Gun Controller (Wired)
• Soft: Time Crisis

Premium Version

Price: 19,800 yen [tax included]

• G'AIM'E MAIN UNIT
• Gun Controller (Wired)
• Foot Pedal
• Soft: Time Crisis
• Soft: Gun Bullet
• Soft: Steel Gunner
• Soft: Steel Gunner 2
• Reward Pin Badge

Ultimate Edition

Price: 29700 yen [tax included]

• Gun Controller (Wired)
• Gun controller for 2P (wired)
• Foot Pedal
• Soft: Time Crisis
• Soft: Gun Bullet
• Soft: Steel Gunner
• Soft: Steel Gunner 2
• AC Adapter
• Reward Pin Badge
• Bonus Acrylic Stand

* The AC adapter is not included in the basic version and the premium version. To play, you need a commercially available AC adapter (5V//3A: 15W output).

I have a feeling that "'Time Crisis' is a foot pedal!", so I personally think of buying the premium version or the ultimate version. Although the price is close to 20,000 yen, I thought it was very reasonable considering that the game console itself, controller, and software are a set (I think it is a mini hardware like the PlayStation Classic).

Acrylic stand for benefits. It is a set of Kojo, the setting of "Time Crisis", the main character Richard, and the G'AIM'E controller.

My personal impression is that Gunshoe, which has not had many opportunities to be reprinted, is exceptionally cheap because it is in the 10,000 yen range with a gun-shaped controller attached to the game console itself. Personally, I'd like to play with two Gunbullets, so I'm thinking of taking the plunge and buying the ultimate version.

So, let's leave the overview introduction around here, and after actually playing the game, everyone is wondering "So, what is it actually?" I would like to talk about the part.

The GunCon-type design, created in cooperation with Bandai Namco Entertainment, is sure to make fans drool!

Let's start with the hardware. In the previous TGS test play, it was in the prototype stage, but this time it was a brushed-up version, so the design was changed.

As long-time fans may have noticed at first glance, the design is very close to the GunCon of the original PS. However, it is not exactly the same, and it gives the impression that it has become more stylish for modern times. It can be said that GunCon has been revived in modern times.

It seems that it was made with reference to various home gun controllers in development, and among them, this G'AIM'E controller was designed close to GunCon.

Speaking of maniacs, I was particularly nostalgic for the thumb rest at the top of the grip. The feeling of gripping it is exactly that feeling at that time. I involuntarily said to the staff, "No~The feel of this grip, the design of the hammer!" Maybe you've become a nasty fan......

Anyway, it's not too thick and it's just the right size, so I think it's easy to handle for both people with large and small hands.

The sight (sight) looks like this. It's simple, but it's easy to see and aim.

In addition, in the G'AIM'E controller, there was a vibration function that was linked to shooting. This can be turned on and off with the switch on the left side of the controller.

Some arcade cabinets were sometimes equipped with a gimmick such as a slide that retracts to reproduce the recoil of shooting. This vibration function is part of this, and it enhances the realism of the shooting experience. This is a good thing.

Personally, I would like you to experience the "Steel Gunner" series, which allows you to fire continuously by pulling the trigger, because the vibration is particularly pleasant in your hands. The very idea of installing these functions is a point that makes me feel that people who like gunshou are making them. The author was also very excited and chewed on the vibrations.

The original "Steel Gunner" is a game that shoots while holding the trigger, which is common in recent game center guns. The vibration tastes pretty good.

As for the overall hardware finish, the guncon itself is not too heavy, so it does not get tired even if you shoot for a long time. It's surprisingly light for having a camera.

The pedals and triggers are also light to press, so I had the impression that the fatigue peculiar to gun shoes was not so irresistible.

…… There may be a theory that he just didn't feel fatigued from the joy of being able to do gunshoe in Reiwa? Jokes aside, the overall "ease of play" part is made with a lot of attention to it, so I think it's designed to be used by anyone, from children to adults!

This is the foot pedal that can be used in "Time Crisis". Just the action of stepping on it and aiming brings tears to my eyes.

Capture camera images with AI and aim! …… Is it okay with rugs?

As mentioned earlier, G'AIM'E uses AI and a camera to calculate the position of the crosshairs. It's a very innovative mechanic, but gunshoe game fans will be wondering if the lag and aiming accuracy are guaranteed.

In conclusion, my opinion is that although there is some lag, it does not detract from the gaming experience. I would like to elaborate on this, so let me tell you a little about it.

You may feel a little lag when aiming at moving objects. Details will be described later.

Although it is said in one word, it is important to know "which operation" has lag = delay in actual operation. In the case of G'AIM'E, I felt a slight delay in following the aiming. As for the feeling, when you change the direction of the muzzle, it feels like the aiming judgment follows a little later. I think it was a delay of about 0.1~0.2 seconds in the experience time.

However, on the contrary, there were no other drawbacks, and the response from the time the trigger was pulled to the judgment was very sharp, and the feeling of shooting was quite good. It also responds to rapid fire quite accurately.

As long as you don't shoot like "flick aim" in FPS, I don't think it's a level that bothers you at all.

I'm sorry that the screen is small in the photo, but it is a scene where the gun is moved to the right. I wonder if you can see that the aiming is coming late to the position you are aiming at (sight/front sight).

We talked about the disadvantages earlier, but there are also solid advantages of this AI sighting system. There are several, but the most important point I would like to emphasize is "aiming accuracy".

I've played Gunshoe on various hardware such as Wii and PS2, and the aiming was accurate compared to them. Moreover, it was a good feeling that it was stable.

I played for about 2 hours during this test play, and even though I was playing through after calibrating the first time, I was able to aim steadily until the end. It is a very good feeling that you do not have to calibrate every time. When I was doing it with a cathode ray tube, I remember that it was out of sync for some reason, so it's good to have a sense of stability.

This is a mission that appears in "Gun Bullet" where you have to shoot 38 targets without missing a single shot, but you can complete it without difficulty. It flies quite as intended.

In addition, since it is detected by a camera, if the outline of the monitor is recognized, the calibration will not be out of place even if the monitor is slightly obstructed. We actually conducted an experiment in which we had the monitor cross in front of the monitor, but there were no problems such as misaligned aiming.

No more mom crossing in front of the TV and ruining a boss fight. Even if you can't see it, if you can shoot it with your mind's eye, that is!

I asked Mr. Andrew, President and CEO, to pass in front of the monitor, and I was able to continue without any problems.

In addition, unlike the sensor bar format, it is also a good point that it is possible to aim absolutely, not relatively.

In the case of the sensor bar format, there are cases where the sensitivity of the left and right sides differs depending on the distance from the bar, but with this AI aim, it is possible to aim regardless of the position of the monitor and other positions. I was able to play with a feeling close to the aiming of the cathode ray tube era.

Like the author (left), you can aim without any problem even if you tilt the gun. It is also possible to pretend to be the recently popular CAR system (if you don't know, search for John Wook's shooting method) or the "acrobatic shooting" that you often see at arcades.

As an overall evaluation, although there is a slight delay in aiming, I have the impression that it is a hard that stands out in terms of aiming stability and good trigger response.

When I heard that the camera would recognize the monitor, I was worried about misalignment, but I didn't think I would be able to enjoy shooting so accurately.

Since it is still under development, the rug we talked about this time will also be improved for release. In the end, I hope that this technology will give us hope that the gunshoe will be exciting.

How did G'AIM'E come about? We asked Mr. Andrew, the president, to talk about it

In order to play this test, we were able to talk to Mr. Andrew, the president of Achievement Electric, and I would like to introduce the contents of that story here.

The reason why G'AIM'E was born was the expectation and enthusiasm that Andrew felt for the game industry.

Andrew Steel

President and CEO of Achievement Electric. I like Japan games and culture. He moved to Japan to fulfill his childhood dream, and as an engineer and inventor at heart, he has worked on many prototypes and concepts.

――How did this project come about in the first place?

Andrew

: 

First of all, we have a company called Dashine Electronics in China as our parent company, and what we specialize in is licensed third-party controllers.

However, among the various controllers that have come out, only the gun controller for gun shooting has not come out. I don't think this is due to the lack of popularity of gun shooters, but rather a characteristic problem that many gun controllers were based on CRT TVs. The impetus for this project was to see if we could solve that problem.

After LCD TVs became commonplace, many gun controllers required troublesome settings, and we believe that it was not an environment that was easy to spread to the general public. With that in mind, this project was launched. Based on the challenge of how to revive gun shooting games in a simple way, we thought that AI could be used to aim with camera recognition.

Naturally, the first title to be revived was Time Crisis. The experience of not only shooting, but also stepping on the pedal and shooting while hiding was revolutionary for us at the time.

――In addition to Time Crisis, Bandai Namco's licensed titles are included in the premium version and above models, but how did you decide to include them?

andrew

 We have only been a company for about three years, but when Japan we went to consult with Bandai Namco, they kindly accepted. There were three points that appealed to Bandai Namco, the first of which was the screen size. G'AIM'E can also work on a 150-inch monitor, and in the test range, it can also work with projector images of about 200 inches.

The second is brightness. G'AIM'E IS NOT INFRARED, SO IT IS DESIGNED TO WORK IN BOTH BRIGHT AND DARK CONDITIONS.

And the third is reasonableness. We were able to make it a price range that many people can afford.

――Is it the arcade version of Time Crisis?

Andrew

 With 

the help of Bandai Namco, the arcade version of Time Crisis is rebuilt.

Also, at the time of last year's TGS, only "Time Crisis" had been decided to be recorded, but in a questionnaire, we received a voice saying that we would like to see more games recorded, so it was decided to include "Gun Bullet" and "Steel Gunner" that can be played by two people.

――The PS era port was great, but I'm still happy to be able to play something that conforms to the arcade version.

andrew

 Our goal is to create products that people can enjoy. Among them, there is a part where a lag of a few tenths of a second inevitably occurs due to the convenience of recognition by the camera. To be honest, when a professional like "I set a world record in the past!" plays the game, I think there is a part of it that makes you think, "It's different ~", but I think that it has become a product that many gamers will enjoy.

――Please tell us what kind of products you are planning for the future.

andrew

 Our ultimate goal is to reach a place where this gun shooting controller technology using AI and cameras is recognized and can be played on a variety of game hardware. Our company has the concept of "giving shape to things that have never existed before," so we would like to deliver new products to everyone in genres other than gun controllers.

――This gun-shaped con was exactly what I felt, "It would be nice to have something like this." Nowadays, it's rare to find hardware that can play gun shooting games.

andrew

 I don't think recent products have the "excitement of a technological leap" that I used to feel. For example, it is like when you evolved from the NES to the Super Nintendo. This is not limited to our industry, but these days I don't get so excited about going to the store, and even when a big new product comes out, I honestly sometimes feel a little unsatisfied.

That's why we want to create exciting products that even a small company like ours will make you think "Wow!" the moment you see it, and that will catch your eye in the store. With the release of G'AIM'E, I believe that we will be able to provide everyone with a new experience of "playing gun shooting games on a large monitor".

G'AIM'E, WHICH I WAS ALLOWED TO TRY OUT DURING THE INTERVIEW, WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR PRE-ORDER AT SOME STORES SUCH AS EBTEN AND BIC CAMERA FROM JULY 10, 2025. Although it is an old-fashioned genre of gun shooting games, the technology used and the thoughts that are put into it are the latest itself.

From those who say, "I used to play 'Time Crisis'~", to those who say, "I've never played a certain guy at the arcade with Anma-chan~", if you are even a little interested, I would like you to take a look at the reservation page! Really, Gunshu is good!