Reviewed on XBOX Series X.
“Geppy-X doesn’t just pay tribute to 1970s anime — it lets you climb inside one, fire up the engines, and become the hero.”
A Cult Classic I Always Wanted to Play
Geppy-X has been sitting on my gaming bucket list for years.
I was always aware of this former Japanese-exclusive PlayStation oddity. A four-disc monster packed with thousands of hand-drawn animation frames, a ridiculous amount of personality, and a reputation as one of the strangest cult classics from the PS1 era.
But like many people outside Japan, I never actually got the chance to play it.
So this remaster wasn’t a nostalgic return for me.
It was my very first time stepping into Geppy-X, but as someone who has been a lifelong fan of classic super robot anime, it immediately felt like I’d discovered something made specifically for people like me.
And honestly?
I can’t believe a game this unique exists.
This Isn’t Inspired By Anime… It Is Anime
The first thing that stands out about Geppy-X is just how committed it is to the bit.
This isn’t a game that simply borrows the look of 1970s super robot shows.
It recreates the entire experience.
The opening theme, episode structure, fake commercial breaks, ending credits, dramatic narration, and “next episode” previews are all here. It genuinely feels like you’ve sat down to watch an old-school anime series where you just happen to control the giant robot.
The game wears its influences proudly, taking inspiration from legendary series like Mazinger Z and Getter Robo, while also poking fun at the genre’s over-the-top storytelling and even taking some playful shots at more grounded “real robot” series like Gundam.
It understands exactly what made these shows special.
The ridiculous speeches.
The impossible machines.
The dramatic battles.
The sheer enthusiasm.
Geppy-X has all of it.
A Love Letter Made With Thousands of Drawings
The animation is easily one of the biggest highlights.
The amount of effort that went into recreating this feeling is honestly impressive. With over 8,000 hand-drawn animation frames, Geppy-X often feels less like a video game and more like a lost animated series from another era.
The remaster does a fantastic job bringing those visuals forward with improved presentation options, while still preserving the original charm.
The Japanese voice acting remains intact, and with new subtitles, a much larger audience can finally appreciate what was once locked away.
Surprisingly Addictive Shoot-‘Em-Up Gameplay
Thankfully, Geppy-X isn’t just a cool anime presentation wrapped around a mediocre game.
At its core, this is a side-scrolling shooter, and it is genuinely enjoyable.
You control the Geppy-X robot, which can transform into three different forms, each offering unique attacks and advantages. Learning when to switch forms during battles becomes a huge part of the experience, especially during boss encounters.
Combat revolves around managing your main weapons, sub-weapons, charge attacks, and movement while avoiding enemy patterns.
It may not be the most technically refined shooter I’ve ever played, but there is something incredibly satisfying about blasting through waves of enemies in a giant transforming robot.
It just feels right.
Boss Battles Are Where It Shines
The boss fights are where Geppy-X really comes alive.
Each encounter feels like a proper anime showdown, forcing you to learn patterns, manage your resources, and figure out the best way to use your different forms.
There’s a great sense of progression as your abilities improve and battles that initially feel overwhelming become much more manageable.
It captures that feeling of watching the hero struggle against a seemingly impossible enemy before finally turning the battle around.
A Short Adventure With Tons of Replay Value
One of the biggest surprises was how much replayability is packed into this experience.
A single playthrough can be completed in around one to two hours, but that is only scratching the surface.
Geppy-X features:
- Multiple story paths
- Different endings
- Bonus mechs
- Hard difficulty
- Boss rush modes
- Alternate scenarios
The branching routes encourage repeated playthroughs, and completionists can easily spend over a dozen hours chasing everything the game has to offer.
It has that classic arcade mentality of “one more run” but with a full anime adventure wrapped around it.
The Remaster Is Exactly What This Game Needed
The original Geppy-X became a collector’s item because of its rarity.
Thankfully, the remaster removes many of the barriers that prevented people from experiencing it.
Modern additions like:
- Save states
- Rewind functionality
- Rapid fire
- Difficulty options
- CRT visual filters
- Improved loading times
- Full subtitles
make the game much easier to enjoy today without taking away from its identity.
This is exactly how forgotten classics should be preserved.
A Few Rough Edges Remain
As much as I love what Geppy-X is trying to accomplish, it isn’t perfect.
If you’re judging this purely as a shoot-’em-up, there are definitely tighter and more polished games available.
The controls can feel a little stiff at times, the hitbox takes some adjustment, and the turning animation isn’t exactly lightning fast.
Some of the mid-stage animated sequences are incredible the first few times, but during repeat runs, I definitely wished there was an option to skip them.
The difficulty can also be a bit unforgiving early on, although the remaster’s additions help smooth out some of those frustrations.
Final Thoughts
Coming into Geppy-X as a first-time player rather than someone returning through nostalgia actually made me appreciate it even more.
This is a game I had heard about for years, and finally getting to experience it was a genuine treat.
It isn’t the most mechanically perfect shooter ever created.
But as a celebration of classic super robot anime?
There is nothing else quite like it.
Geppy-X is weird, charming, ridiculous, and overflowing with personality. It feels like someone took their favourite childhood anime, poured every ounce of passion into it, and somehow turned it into a PlayStation game.
For lifelong anime fans, retro enthusiasts, and anyone looking for something completely different, this is absolutely worth experiencing.
Score: 8.5/10
