Gus Down!

Gus has fallen and can't get up. Murray, his old-man scooter and six bosses are on the way.

Space shooter · 1 PLAYER · Free to play in your browser

About the game

Gus Down! is a retro space shoot 'em up in the style of 80s arcade classics. Grandpa Gus has gone for a moonwalk, slipped, and can't get back up. His best friend Murray is the only one who can reach him, so he climbs onto his trusty old-man scooter and speeds through hyperspace to the rescue. The story is told in short cut-scenes you can read or skip, with chunky pixel graphics and chiptune music throughout.

Fly through six levels, each with its own backdrop, from Hyperspace Highway to The Recliner Zone. Shoot down or dodge angry pills, chattering dentures, bingo balls, hearing aids, walkers and fruitcakes. Some obstacles fire back and some just crash into you. Every level ends with a boss fight.

Pick Easy, Medium or Hard before you start. Easy gives you five lives and three bombs. Hard gives you two lives, one bomb and no extra lives at all, and it is built so that only a very small number of players will ever finish level six. Beat the last boss to see how the rescue ends, and whether there might be a Part 2.

Controls

Move: Arrow keys or W A S D. On a phone, drag a finger anywhere on the screen.
Fire: Hold Space, Z or J. On a touch screen your scooter fires automatically.
Bomb: Press X, B or K. On a phone, tap the bomb button.
Pause: Press P.
Sound: Press M to mute or unmute.

Tips

Pick up the power-ups that drift by. They can upgrade your weapon, give you a shield, add a bomb or give you an extra life.
Bullets often arrive in patterns with gaps. Look for the safe lane instead of chasing every enemy.
A bomb is your emergency button. Keep one in reserve for the boss fights.
On Easy and Medium you earn extra lives by scoring points. On Hard you don't, so every life counts.
Your high score is saved on your device.

Good to know: Cartoon sci-fi action with old-people humour. No sign-up, free to play.

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