After years of waiting, he finally got his hands on the Poly Mega GC01 light gun. First announced back in 2019, this gadget promised to bring classic shooting games to modern HD televisions.
Now that it’s here, he’s eager to see if it lives up to the hype—or if it’s just another fancy plastic toy for nostalgic gamers. He dives straight into testing, comparing it with other light gun options that popped up over the years.
From setting it up to firing away at old favourites, he’s ready to see how well this new controller performs. There’s a mix of excitement and scepticism in the air, but that’s half the fun of retro gaming, isn’t it?
Key Takeaways
- The long-awaited light gun finally reached players after several years.
- It aims to make classic shooting games playable on modern screens.
- Early tests show promise but also raise questions about performance.
Poly Mega GC01 Overview
Background and Development of the GC01
The Poly Mega GC01 light gun first appeared back in 2019 at E3 in Los Angeles. Since then, the wait dragged on—six years, to be exact.
Other companies jumped in with their own light gun options, but Poly Mega fans kept hoping for this one. The GC01 finally arrived as a smaller, lighter version of similar models, designed to work only with the Poly Mega console.
Main Functions and Standout Details
The GC01 uses optical tracking to let players enjoy classic light gun games on modern HD televisions. It connects through an 8‑foot cable and includes a rear analogue stick for navigating menus.
Unlike some competitors, it lacks recoil feedback, which helps keep the price and weight down. Here’s a quick breakdown:
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Connection Type | USB (Poly Mega only) |
| Cable Length | 8 feet |
| Recoil Function | None |
| Analogue Stick | Yes, for menu control |
| Price | About $109 USD |
| Compatibility | Works only with Poly Mega console |
It calibrates easily through the console’s settings. Users can fine‑tune it within individual games, too.
The gun tracks movement using a visible blue border around the screen. Enabling a TV’s Game Mode helps reduce lag.
Compatible Systems and Game Library
The GC01 supports a wide range of retro systems, including:
- Sega Saturn
- PlayStation 1
- Super Nintendo / Super Famicom
- Mega Drive / Sega Genesis
- Sega CD
- Nintendo / Famicom
It doesn’t come with built‑in games, so players must use their own physical copies. Some titles, like Point Blank on PlayStation 1, may need an original BIOS file to run properly.
Others, such as Time Crisis and Area 51, work smoothly right away. Performance can vary—while most Saturn and PlayStation titles play well, older NES games like Duck Hunt can show noticeable lag.
Comparing Light Gun Options
Poly Mega GC01 and the Sinden Gun
He placed both guns side by side and noticed that the Poly Mega GC01 looked smaller and lighter than the Sinden Light Gun. Both used similar optical tracking, but the GC01 had an analogue stick on the back for easy menu navigation.
It connected directly to the Poly Mega console through USB and didn’t need a separate controller. However, it lacked recoil feedback, which the upgraded Sinden model offered.
The GC01 also came with an 8‑foot cable, making it comfortable to use from a distance. He liked how simple the calibration was—just plug it in, open the settings, and it was ready to aim.
| Feature | Poly Mega GC01 | Sinden Light Gun |
|---|---|---|
| Size | Compact and light | Larger and heavier |
| Recoil | No | Optional upgrade |
| Analogue stick | Yes | No |
| Cable length | 8 ft | Similar |
| Works with PC | No | Yes |
Cost and Overall Value
The GC01 sold for $109, which made it slightly cheaper than the base Sinden model at $115. But once the recoil version came into play at $170, the gap widened.
He joked that while the GC01 was the “budget pick,” it only worked with the Poly Mega console, which itself wasn’t exactly pocket change. So, if someone didn’t already own that system, the “cheap” option suddenly became less cheap.
Compatibility and System Limits
The GC01 only worked with the Poly Mega console, and that meant no PC support. It handled games from systems like the PlayStation 1, Saturn, Mega Drive, Super Nintendo, and NES.
He discovered that some games, such as the first Point Blank, refused to load unless a PlayStation BIOS was manually added. Others, like Point Blank 2 and Time Crisis, ran fine after calibration.
When testing Duck Hunt on the NES, the results were mixed. The lag made it tough to hit anything, and his friend struggled even more.
They tried recalibrating, standing, sitting, and even squinting at the screen—but the ducks still got away.
Setting Up the Poly Mega GC01
Calibrating the Light Gun
He plugged the GC01 into the Poly Mega console and opened the settings menu to start calibration. The system detected it as a light gun depending on whether it was in USB port one or two.
Some games expected both a controller and a gun, while others worked with just the gun. He noticed a blue border around the screen once the gun connected, showing how it tracked movement.
The gun used a small camera at the front to follow that border. For best results, he switched his TV to game mode to reduce lag.
He also found that many games had their own in-game calibration, which helped fine-tune the aim.
Moving Through the Console Menus
The GC01 came with a small analogue stick at the back, making it easy to browse the Poly Mega menus without swapping to another controller. Pressing the stick opened the system menu, and the side buttons handled other functions.
He liked that he could control everything with just the gun—launching games, switching settings, and even adjusting options mid-play. It felt light and simple to use, even with the eight-foot cord trailing across the floor.
Ports, Games, and Compatibility
The GC01 only worked with the Poly Mega console, not with a PC. It supported games from systems like the PlayStation 1, Sega Saturn, Mega Drive, SNES, and NES.
However, neither the console nor the gun came with games, so players needed their own discs or cartridges. He discovered that some games, like Point Blank, required sideloading the original console BIOS to run properly.
Others, such as Time Crisis and Area 51, started right away. A few titles, especially older ones like Duck Hunt, showed noticeable delay, which made aiming tricky.
| Feature | Works With | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| USB Ports | Poly Mega only | Choose port 1 or 2 for setup |
| Recoil | No | Keeps weight and cost down |
| Supported Systems | PS1, Saturn, SNES, NES, Mega Drive | Must own the games |
| Price | $109 USD | Cheaper than similar models |
Performance and Gameplay Experience
PlayStation and Saturn Game Results
He tested several PlayStation and Saturn titles, and most of them started right up without a fuss. A blue frame popped up on the screen showing the gun’s tracking area, and after a quick calibration, the games played smoothly.
Titles like Time Crisis and Area 51 responded well, though the first Point Blank refused to load until he added the original PlayStation BIOS file. Oddly enough, Point Blank 2 ran perfectly fine.
| Console | Game Tested | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| PlayStation 1 | Time Crisis | ✅ Works well | Minor delay |
| PlayStation 1 | Point Blank | ❌ Fails to start | Needs BIOS |
| PlayStation 1 | Point Blank 2 | ✅ Works | No issues |
| Sega Saturn | Various | ✅ Works | Occasional calibration tweak |
Lag and HDTV Setup Tips
Modern TVs can really change the experience, for better or worse. He noticed that turning on Game Mode helped cut lag by skipping extra processing.
Even with that, there was still a bit of delay compared to a classic CRT screen. Every modern light gun seems to deal with this, not just this setup.
On older games like Duck Hunt, the lag was more obvious—especially when trying to hit fast-moving targets. It’s a little frustrating if you’re used to the old instant response.
Quick tips:
- Turn on Game Mode on your TV.
- Recalibrate for each game.
- Sit or stand at a consistent distance.
Analogue Stick and Controls
The little analogue stick on the back of the gun turned out to be surprisingly useful. He used it to move through menus, start games, and even pop open the system interface mid-match.
The gun packed enough buttons for all the usual commands, so he didn’t need a separate controller. It didn’t have recoil like some fancier models, but that made it lighter and easier to hold for long stretches.
Troubleshooting and Caveats
BIOS Problems and Manual Installs
Some games just won’t start unless you add the right console BIOS. For example, one PlayStation title froze at launch while its sequel ran fine.
He fixed it by manually adding the original PS1 BIOS file. A few Saturn and Sega CD games needed the same trick. It’s not too hard, but it’s an extra step that can definitely catch you off guard.
Quick tip:
| Issue | Likely Fix |
|---|---|
| Game freezes or won’t load | Add the correct console BIOS manually |
| Game runs but behaves oddly | Recheck calibration and BIOS version |
Game-Specific Oddities
Most games behave well, but some still have quirks. A few PlayStation and Saturn titles start up smoothly, while others show lag or need extra calibration in-game.
Using the TV’s Game Mode helps reduce delay, but it never goes away completely. Sometimes you just have to live with it.
Common quirks:
- Slight aiming delay on modern TVs
- Occasional lock-ups on older titles
- Games reacting differently depending on which USB port is used
Disc-Based Game Needs
The console and light gun don’t include built-in games. You need your own discs or cartridges, no shortcuts here.
If you want to blast through Time Crisis, you’ll need an actual copy. No free rides.
Remember:
- No pre-installed titles
- Works only with physical media
- Each game may need its own calibration setup
Classic Games Tested
Time Crisis and Area 51 Trials
He fired up Time Crisis and Area 51 first, curious how the new light gun would handle the action. Both games loaded right away, with a neat blue border around the screen for tracking.
The gun’s built-in stick made it simple to move through menus—no controller needed. There was a bit of lag, which isn’t shocking on modern TVs.
Still, the games played smoothly enough to keep things fun. Switching the TV to Game Mode helped reduce the delay, making aiming feel a bit more natural.
| Game | Console | Result | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Time Crisis | PlayStation 1 | ✅ Works | Slight delay |
| Area 51 | PlayStation 1 | ✅ Works | Smooth gameplay |
Point Blank Collection
When he tried Point Blank, things got weird fast. The first game wouldn’t load—just froze after showing the blue borders.
After some head-scratching and help from Polymega support, he found out it needed the original PS1 BIOS to run. Once that was sorted, Point Blank 2 worked perfectly.
He couldn’t help but laugh at the idea that a game full of cartoon targets caused more trouble than Time Crisis.
Quick recap:
- Point Blank 1: ❌ Wouldn’t start without BIOS
- Point Blank 2: ✅ Played fine
Duck Hunt Challenge
Next up was Duck Hunt on the NES. He managed to hit a few ducks, but the lag was tough to ignore.
His friend Paul struggled even more—missing almost every shot despite recalibrating several times. They tried standing, sitting, even backing up from the screen. Nothing fixed the delay.
The game worked, but it felt more like slow-motion target practice than the quick reflex test it used to be.
Verdict:
Fun for nostalgia, but not quite the duck-hunting magic remembered from the old CRT days.
Final Thoughts and Recommendations
He found the Poly Mega GC01 both clever and quirky. The setup process felt easy.
The built‑in analogue stick made menu navigation surprisingly smooth. The gun’s lightweight design helped during long play sessions.
Still, the missing recoil feature made things feel a bit tame compared to pricier options.
| Feature | Impression |
|---|---|
| Build quality | Solid but light |
| Compatibility | Only with Poly Mega console |
| Recoil | None |
| Price | £109 (approx.) |
| Ease of use | Simple setup and calibration |
He appreciated how quickly most PlayStation 1 and Saturn games worked. Some titles demanded extra steps like sideloading BIOS files, which honestly felt a bit like homework.
When testing Duck Hunt, latency showed up like an uninvited guest at a party. It worked, but not perfectly.
Some games, like Point Blank 2, ran fine. Others just refused to cooperate, no matter how much patience you brought to the table.
Recommendation:
If you already own a Poly Mega console, this gun offers a fun and affordable way to enjoy classic light gun games. But if you’re expecting flawless performance or plug‑and‑play magic, you might want to adjust your expectations—or maybe just your aim.
Philip is a life long gamer and enthusiast.
He first started gaming in the 80’s on an Atari 2600 and has never looked back. He has owned just about every major console since then.
His passion for retro gaming and emulation sprung from trying to recapture the excitement of playing light gun games like Time Crisis and Point Blank in the arcades by emulating them on a PC and has grown from there into a love of emulation and Retro Gaming.