Beast Busters

Beast Busters is a rail shooter horror game released by SNK for arcades in 1989. It holds a notable place in gaming history as the first arcade light gun shooter to support up to three players simultaneously. The game originally ran on SNK's arcade hardware and later saw ports to home computers like the Amiga and Atari ST in 1990. Players take on the role of a team of survivors fighting through zombie-infested city streets. The screen scrolls automatically as the player aims and fires at oncoming enemies using a light gun. The objective is to clear each stage of monsters and bosses, rescuing hostages along the way for bonus points. The three-player co-op was a standout feature for its time, allowing friends to blast through the hordes together. Beast Busters is worth trying today for its historical significance as an early co-op rail shooter. While it may feel simple compared to later entries in the genre like House of the Dead, its fast-paced action and atmospheric pixel art capture the late-80s arcade vibe perfectly. For fans of SNK's catalog, it is a unique departure from their fighting games, offering a different kind of challenge with its zombie theme.