Gunbrella preview — Shoot, parry, and glide your way through a noir mystery

I’m a sucker for narrative-based action side scrollers, and that goes quadruple if the game has any sort of parry mechanic. Gunbrella checks all of the above, and so much more. Gunbrella was created by Doinksoft and published by Devolver Digital, the latter of which has an excellent track record for publishing killer side scrollers; take Katana Zero and My Friend Pedro for example.

The game’s intro left me with plenty of questions, as it never says exactly what happened, just the way I like it. You play as an unnamed woodsman who’s out gathering mushrooms when all of a sudden calamity strikes, and your life is turned upside down. You’ve been wronged, now it’s time to make it right with some good ol’ fashioned revenge. Armed with only the gunbrella, a unique firearm found at the scene of the crime, you now have a weapon, an umbrella, and a lead.

Something important you should know about Gunbrella is that, yeah, you’re the main character, but you’re not the main character. People will comment on your actions, such as routing around in their stuff or interrupting their conversation expecting dialogue. It’s really grounded, everyone’s just trying to get by in this grim world, including you.

Don’t expect everything to go your way in this game. The world is a frayed rope hanging on by a thread, and you bet there are factions playing tug of war. Eldritch cults, ruthless gangs, and the greedy corporate elite are all oppressive forces that are just a part of everyday life. You just have to adapt the best you can to the changes, which is made easier by the gunbrella’s diverse munitions which can cover a wide range of circumstances. From the standard shells, to the high power rifle ammo, and even grenades, the gunbrella offers a way forward with the press of a trigger. Keep an eye out for gears, which can be used to upgrade the weapon’s damage and fire rate.

Of course, you’re going to be on the receiving end of various firearms yourself, and that’s where the healing items come in. Bandages restore health and apples add temporary extra health. There are other healing items, but they’re usually variations of these two. If you’re diligent, you can find permanent health buffs.

While you can blast your way through many situations, you’ll frequently come across tough choices. At one point I found a gem, and I could either give it to a merchant with grand dreams or a man who sells cooked rats in the sewer. I chose the merchant as I thought it would be a good idea to have him in my corner. It wasn’t a bad call, as the merchant continued to show up, offering me a discount on helpful items like apples and ammo. However, I often wondered what would happen if I chose differently, not just with that decision, but with all of my choices. What if I had explored my options a little more? What if I were more merciful? Was there anything I could have done to help? All of these questions lent a dynamic feeling to the world.

The gunbrella itself is useful for two things, killing and avoiding getting killed. As previously stated, there are plenty of options for ammo, and while you have unlimited of the default shells, costs can add up for the premium ammunition. Money isn’t exactly lying around… well, actually it’s lying around in small crates, but you don’t get much of it. Enemies drop money, but by far the best way to earn some cash is to sell the items that you don’t need.

Of course, there’s the second use for the gunbrella, avoiding getting killed. You can utilize the umbrella part to reposition and gain some good distance while traveling. Usually I dislike backtracking in games, but playing around with the Gunbrella’s movement mechanics made traveling a blast. Opening it in the direction you’re moving will propel you, adding some extra power to a jump. Combine that with the recoil of the shotgun mode, and forget rocket jumping, you’re gunbrella jumping. On top of that, you can hang on and jump off of walls, making the rather bulky-looking woodsman uncannily agile in the same vein as the Witcher’s Letho of Gulet. In totality, the gunbrellas’ combat capabilities are diverse, and gliding through the air with a satisfying “pop” of the umbrella is clean.

The best part of the Gunbrella’s combat has to be its parry mechanic. A well-timed block will not only negate damage from melee attacks, but, in the case of projectiles, send it right back where it came from. Parrys are naturally a high-risk, high-reward maneuver, mistime the counter and you might face a stream of bullets.

Gunbrella understands and respects its noir aesthetic, there’s plenty of moody jazz, and the saving mechanic is literally a bench illuminated by lamplight. There’s also the overarching investigation into the woodsman’s tragic past, which is mostly developed by talking to locals. Once you’ve discovered enough information, you can move on to the next zone via a train ride. It’s helpful that some text is colored and animated to highlight a piece of information, especially in a game where people speak in short, fictional exclamations.

The small details really make the world feel lived in. There’s an imprint of a coffee mug in the journal and what appears to be a signature on the leather lining. Gunbrella is brought to life by quality sprite work that sets the mood for this paradoxically drab yet lively world. The puffs of steam that burst from the sewer grate, the gentle flicker of a street lamp, and the subtle sway of cobwebs all come together to create a great atmosphere.

Overall, I had a great time with this game in every regard. If you’re a fan of side scrollers, mysteries, and killer world-building with plenty of dynamic characters, then keep an eye out for Gunbrella, which will be released sometime in 2023.

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