Gunbird's primary claim to fame amid the increasingly crowded shoot-em-up category was its cast of quirky characters, whose diverse attack styles and storylines give the game most of its charm. The characters include a pre-teen witch with a pet bunny (which she frequently mistreats), a jetpack-wearing adventurer (with an unhealthy interest in the aforementioned witch), a Russian robot, a monkey warrior girl and more, and their humorous (if sometimes questionable) cutscenes add some levity to the otherwise combat-driven gameplay. The characters are all battling a pirate gang known as The Trump for control of a magic mirror that is said to grant one wish, across randomly-chosen levels that provide a decent challenge, though with somewhat less polish than shmups to come. This game features an original overlay based on artwork from the game's promotional materials.