Beast Busters (US, Version 2)

Beast Busters is a rail shooter horror game that SNK unleashed on arcades in 1989. This US Version 2 is an updated build of the original, and it made history as the first light gun shooter to support up to three players simultaneously. You point a plastic gun at a CRT screen and blast through waves of zombies, ghouls, and other monstrosities as the game scrolls you through haunted streets and buildings. SNK, known for fighting games like Fatal Fury and Samurai Shodown, took a stab at horror here, and it shows their versatility during the late 80s arcade boom.

The core loop is straightforward: enemies pop up from all directions, and you aim the crosshair and pull the trigger to take them down before they get too close. The game throws a mix of slow shambling undead and faster, more aggressive creatures at you, and some can even grab you if you don't shoot them in time. Reloading requires you to shoot off-screen, adding a layer of tension. With three players, you can cover more areas and revive fallen teammates, which makes coordination key. The arcade cabinet used actual light guns, but in emulation you'll map a mouse or controller to aim.

For a retro shooter fan, Beast Busters is a solid time capsule of late-80s arcade horror. It doesn't have the depth of later rail shooters like House of the Dead, but its three-player co-op was a genuine novelty back then and still makes for chaotic fun with friends today. The US Version 2 fixes some bugs from the original release, making it the definitive arcade version to play. Just don't expect a deep story or complex mechanics - this is pure, simple zombie shooting that knows what it is and delivers it with style.