The cult arcade classic Gyruss has officially landed on the Amiga—yes, finally. Fans of the original 1983 Konami hit can now spin, shoot, and survive waves of enemies in full circular glory, thanks to a meticulous new port by developer jotd666. For the first time, Gyruss Amiga Port delivers the high-octane arcade experience on Commodore’s beloved 16-bit machine.
Unlike many ports that compromise for hardware limitations, this version doesn’t just emulate—it upgrades. From refined sound mixing by roondar to performance-enhancing starfield effects for users with fast RAM, the game takes full advantage of the Amiga’s capabilities. In fact, it goes beyond the arcade original with more simultaneous sound effects and even cheat codes that put MAME to shame.
Enhanced Gameplay, Authentic Feel
Players will instantly recognize the core gameplay: 360° movement, rapid-fire shooting, and relentless enemy waves. However, jotd666’s port of Gyruss Amiga Port adds thoughtful enhancements. With 2MB RAM, higher-quality sound effects are enabled. Add some fast RAM, and you get a beautiful starfield that gives the visuals extra depth.
The control scheme mirrors the arcade version: joystick for movement and fire, with intuitive coin-insert and start options. However, players looking to bend the rules will appreciate a few added cheat keys. Skip levels, rack up points, or toggle invincibility—all with a tap of the function keys.
Technical Marvel on Classic Hardware
Under the hood, the port required heavy lifting. Jotd666 reverse-engineered the M6809/Z80 codebase and converted it to 68000 for the Amiga. He also handled graphics and sound adaptation, preserving the arcade aesthetic while ensuring Amiga-native performance. The result? A smooth, fast-paced shoot-’em-up that runs on OCS Amigas with just 1MB RAM, though it truly shines with upgraded hardware.
And in the spirit of retro goodwill, Gyruss Amiga Port is free to download—but support is encouraged. The suggested price is a modest 4.00€, letting fans reward the developers’ hard work while enjoying one of the best arcade-to-Amiga ports to date.
