One of the best Run and Gun both in terms of the technology used in the game, and in the crazy gameplay, crazy setting and the most non-standard boss battles (well, except for the last one, it sucks), essentially the game is more about that than exterminating tons simple passing enemies on the level.

Одна из лучших Run and Gun и с точки зрения технологий, используемых в игре, так и в безумном геймплее, безумном сеттинге и самых нестандартных сражениях с боссами(ну, кроме последнего, он сосет), по сути игра больше об этом, чем истребление тоннами простых мимопроходящих врагах на уровне.

[Played on NSO on Switch] I have been meaning to play Gunstar Heroes fore years. Treasure is a developer that has almost unanimous praise in the industry, and many claim that Gunstar Heroes is there number one piece of work (or maybe Ikaruga). Personally, the only Treasure game I have played so far was Sin and Punishment, in which I have grown to appreciate more since initially playing. I basically played through Gunstar Heroes 2 and a half times in the course of a day. The first time, I got a couple of levels in, but had picked the chaser gun option and was kinda annoyed by my choice after a little bit, so I restarted. My second playthrough, I picked the force gun option and was shocked by how much better I was at the game by simply replaying already. I proceeded to beat the game all the way through on normal difficulty, but with pretty heavy assistance of the rewind feature. My third playthrough I played in entirety on Easy, but with no rewind and felt pretty good about it. I know this isnt very impressive, but I am personally not great at these types of games and was pretty happy with myself for leaving it there for now. Gunstar Heroes is really ahead of its time in terms of difficulty, as continues are unlimited which is very nice for 1993. The game’s replayability seems more hinged on seeing how many points you can rack up on a 1 hour run, rather than gatekeep you artificially from ever beating the game, which seems very Treasure. The gun combo system is also pretty cool, where you can mix and match all 4 of the gun options to create new ones. The game is also a technical powerhouse given how many enemies and explosions are on screen, yet it rarely slows down. Enjoyed my couple runs on the game, and look forward to trying a harder difficulty one day on 3D Gunstar Heroes on 3DS.

If you have been following my reviews on this website for a good while now, you would know that I primarily stick to arcade and Nintendo platforms when it comes to the games I talk about. There are a few reasons for this, such as how I am slowly combing my way through every single NES game I can comb through until I get sick of it, there are some pretty noteworthy titles on the SNES I want to check out, and there have been so many different games and franchises released in the arcades that I missed over the years, and I want to cover as many of them as possible. But… what about Sega? Sure, I have covered plenty of Sega games on this website already, such as Sonic, Golden Axe, Shinobi, Alex Ki- gags... sorry, almost threw up because of the midness. But compared to what I have reviewed from those other platforms that I mentioned earlier, I have covered very little from Sega’s side of things, especially with lesser recognized titles. So, I decided that I wanted to try (big emphasis on TRY) to give some more Genesis games some time in the spotlight, starting with one I have been wanting to try out for a while now, Gunstar Heroes.

I myself had never played Gunstar Heroes until before this review, nor too many of the other games that Treasure has developed over the years, but it’s not like I haven’t heard of it before. I first saw it in action through the original episode by The Charityfraudist, and from what I saw, it looked pretty neat overall, but it was nothing that was gonna make me be like “Yes, inject it into my veins NOW”. But, since I have played through more and more retro games over the past couple years, I decided that it was about time I finally checked it out, and HOT DAMN, I was definitely missing out on some peak content right here. Many have called this one of the best games on the Sega Genesis, and they were not kidding, because for being the very first game ever made by Treasure, it is fantastic! Sure, it isn’t the most original game out there in terms of gameplay, but what it manages to do with the gameplay style it takes on is not only really unique, but also manages to be extremely fun, fast, and engaging throughout the entire thing.

The story is pretty simple for what this game is, where an evil empire led by Colonel Red has brainwashed Gunstar Green to find a set of mystical gems for him to rule the world, and so it is up to the remaining members of Gunstar to save their brother and stop this empire, which is basic enough, but you can get behind it easily and still have a good time, the graphics are really good, with many of the environments, characters, enemies, and bosses having great designs, while also having plenty of smooth and detailed animations that look extremely impressive for the system, the music is great, having plenty of wonderful tunes that have stuck with me after playing through, while also not sounding too much like other Genesis music (you know, with the twanging and all), which is refreshing, the control is as good as it needs to be, with a good movement speed and customization to fit your run ‘n gun play style, although the jumping is… complete trash 90% of the time, and the gameplay is familiar for those well-versed in the genre, but it still manages to bring plenty of fun and unique elements to the table where you won’t be bored.

The game is a run ‘n gun platformer, where you take control of either Gunstar Red or Blue, take on a set of seven different stages throughout plenty of different environments, take out many different enemies of various shapes and sizes using either your main weapon, or even by uses slides and throwing mechanics to shake things up, gather plenty of different powerups, weapon types, and health along the way to give you an edge over the forces of the evil empire, and take on plenty of bosses that either range from pretty damn easy, quite challenging, or fun and creative. Most of what is found here in terms of the mechanics has been done plenty of times before in other run n’ gun games, and there isn’t anything too new to be found here that can catch your attention, but it does manage to shake things up enough to where you don’t really care too much about that.

In terms of the basics, not too much has changed about it, but there is one aspect about the main gameplay that can be seen as more creative then the others, and that is in terms of its weapons. While you are gunning down numerous soldiers, you can carry up to two weapon orbs at once, and depending on what you are carrying at that point, it will change up what kind of weapon you can fire. This can make it so that you can make a more powerful version of a weapon you already have equipped, or you can even combine different weapon types to gain different combinations, and it is very fun to experiment with these to see which one works best and will get the job done in the best way possible for you.

Aside from that though, there isn’t much that the game has going for it fundamentally. It is more or less a standard run ‘n gun game when you break it down, but for once in my life, I don’t really care about that. There are so many different things that I managed to love and appreciate about the game regardless, such as the fun art style and animations, the fast-paced gameplay that managed to keep things fresh the entire time, and plenty of different stage types that also kept me engaged. There were several of these I ended up really liking, such as a stage where you are riding around in a mine cart that can be flipped onto the ceiling or opposite wall, a stage which turns the game into a shmup that tested your skills and made you focus on many directions other than what was in front of you, and even a stage that takes you through a board game, rolling dice to determine what space you land on, which can either make you fight a boss, give you an item, or even detriment you if you are unlucky. I loved seeing these variations pop up from time to time, ESPECIALLY the board game one, since I am a huge sucker for that kind of gameplay, especially when it manages to shake things up in a normal game that make things more interesting.

Overall, despite not expanding upon the genre too heavily, I found myself really loving my time with Gunstar Heroes, and I am disappointed in myself that I didn’t get to it sooner. Sure, I wouldn’t say that it is the best run ‘n gun game ever made, and it was still pretty basic fun co-op action that you could get from plenty of other games, but it manages to pull off what it wants to do in a seemingly flawless package, which is something I can definitely appreciate. I would definitely recommend it for those who love run ‘n gun games, as well as those who have experience with some of Treasures other titles, because again, for the first game they ever made as a company, they knocked it out of the park. Then again, if you are familiar with their other games, you have probably already played this one, but WHATEVER! Hoo man, that was pretty refreshing. So, what did these guys make after this?........................ what the fu-

Game #458

De Run N' Gun, só entendo de Metal Slug. De SEGA, dispenso apresentações, mas mesmo assim, nunca tinha jogado mais que a primeira fase desse clássico.
Eu e @cellerepe zeramos Gunstar Heroes em uma tacada só, e apesar de ter sido um desafio intenso, seus elementos a frente do seu tempo nos impressionavam o tempo todo. A falta de um sistema de vidas e a inclusão de checkpoints, mesmo sem saves (só os estates rs), os efeitos 3D e animações fluídas em meio de uma apresentação que não se destaca, e a quantidade enorme de combinações de armas com diferentes usos nos fez apreciar o jogo cada vez mais e entendemos porque é um clássico.
As vezes irritava o fato do arremesso ser no mesmo botão do tiro, e nos jogávamos nos inimigos, mas isso não nos atrapalhou de curtir as variadas fases, que traziam uma mudança na maneira de jogar em cada uma, o que eu prefiro mil vezes no lugar de uma campanha maior.

É pequetitinho, mas suas ideias e variação criam uma campanha desafiadora, mas divertida e criativa, que vale muito a pena ser experienciada com um companheiro. E eu não poderia ter companhia melhor!

this game fucking rules. the right amount of difficulty on the default difficulty in the game and a lot of fun and potential for replayability. gun combinations are really cool, some are a little more overtuned than others like lightning + chaser, but the variety and the fact youre not always guaranteed to get your preferred combo slightly balances it out. spritework is great, the gameplay goes in plenty of different directions and never feels the same, and i love all the little touches and details that give this game a lot of character like the final stage having the villains watch you on a tv screen while you play through the level. just a great game overall, ive been sleeping on it for too long

Another run and gun people tend to vastly overstate the difficulty of (except on Expert but outside of trying to beat the final stage without dying it really isnt that bad), but that and music quality are as far as the similarities between this and Journey to Silius go. This is probably the only game I think about in terms of being a developer’s “debut title” because it is just that impressive how many things are done and done right in this game. The character moveset and level-to-level selection/progression are well ahead of their time, and while the weapon system isn’t groundbreaking it’s extremely well refined, with almost every weapon and combination having unique features and uses. Weapon balance is far from perfect, but it’s good enough on Normal that the average player should be able to clear the game in a couple hours once they commit to one they like, unless it’s Fire+Chaser as that requires a little more practice. What’s really impressive with the weapon balancing is the approach Treasure took to it wrt difficulty selection; kneecapping easymode combinations shows both understanding and consideration of the mechanics they created that were far from common in the early nineties.

Levels and bosses are almost all good, with the major exception of the shmup section, which, while it clearly resembles enough a real shmup to suggest the team’s background at Konami and the possibility (eventually realized) that Treasure could make a great shmup, is unfortunately really fucking boring and also has no checkpoints. The dice palace, despite being a high point in creativity, is also a lull for those having trouble or otherwise grinding out a challenge/new weapon run due to the waiting around you have to do to roll again, but the music is nice and fast forward exists these days so I won’t begrudge it too much.

Aesthetically Gunstar Heroes is pretty charming, but Treasure would quite outdo themselves pretty soon after this. I do really like how the font/look of onscreen text and life totals is something they kept around for so many of their later titles.

Overall, one of few single player games of this short length that I can say would reward any amount of time put into it, even if you don’t aspire to a damageless clear or WR score etc. Not that I plan on coming back to it super often, just that I can’t conceive of playing this game “too many times”, nor “too few” aside from 0. Classic.

Gunstar Heroes is undoubtedly one of the most iconic titles for the Mega Drive. But what makes it so special? First, let's talk about Treasure, the developer behind the game. There's an interesting story here.

Treasure was founded in 1992 by former Konami members and quickly established itself as a renowned developer for Sega, thanks to its ability to create high-quality, action-packed games. Their creations were true gems for console fans. On September 10, 1993, Treasure made its debut with Gunstar Heroes, which would not only become a console classic but also a milestone in gaming history. But before becoming a classic, believe it or not, Gunstar Heroes was on the brink of never being released.

According to Mac Senour, a former Sega producer, the game was initially rejected by several people before it reached him. He picked up the controller, played for a few minutes, and then slammed it down on the ground, and said, "This is the game of the year." Everyone around him laughed at his statement. But Mac Senour was willing to bet all his chips on the project because he strongly believed in its potential. You can see the interview by clicking here, if you are interested.

Did Mac Senour's prediction prove to be right? Well, the game received an impressive fourteen nominations for Game of the Year and, furthermore, secured the 33rd position in the 2009 Guinness Book Gamers Edition. Not too shabby. Gunstar Heroes was only made possible through the determination of its development team and Mac Senour's vision.

This brings us an important lesson: We should never doubt ourselves, even if others doubt or ridicule our ideas. A determined team turned a discredited project into a gaming industry icon. Gunstar Heroes is not only one of the best Mega Drive games but also one of the best run 'n' gun games ever made. Now, without further ado, let's talk about the game, starting with the plot. It's important to note that there are significant differences between the international version and the Japanese version, which apparently is the canonical version. I played the international version, and that's the one I'll talk about.

The game's story revolves around the Gunstar brothers, Red and Blue, who join forces to face the evil empire led by Colonel Red and stop their plans to resurrect the Golden Silver destruction robot.

The story may not be very deep or relevant, but nobody cares because you are quickly rewarded with frenetic action, and man, this game is intense. As soon as you enter the first stage, the screen is filled with an impressive number of sprites and visual effects, thanks to the Motorola 68000's ability to handle multiple elements on the screen simultaneously.

"What makes the Genesis the superior machine?" It has "blast processing."

The stages are diverse, ranging from a mine cart chase to a very epic battle against a free-falling robot. In fact, this is my favorite boss fight in the game, the Seven Force. This boss has seven different forms that randomly alternate after each defeat. It's an intense and highly enjoyable fight.

Visually, the game is beautiful; it's definitely one of the prettiest on the Mega Drive. Everything is colorful, detailed, and the enemies are quite expressive. The game makes clever use of the Mega Drive's color palette.

The soundtrack was handled by Norio Hanzawa, who did an excellent job. The music may not be the best of all time, but it gets you pumped at the right moments. The boss themes are truly memorable, especially the Seven Force theme, which is my favorite in the game. I shouldn't forget to mention that this music has an arranged version, and it's simply sensational, not to mention more aggressive than the original. I highly recommend checking out the official album on YouTube.

And finally, the gameplay offers an innovative approach compared to other games in the same genre. The game provides four basic weapon types, each with its own distinct characteristics:

1. Force: This is a rapid-fire weapon, similar to a machine gun, and it's great for covering a wide area with projectiles.

2. Lightning: Lightning is a laser that cuts through enemies and obstacles. It's excellent for long-range attacks and piercing through enemies in a straight line.

3. Chaser: This weapon fires homing projectiles that track enemies. However, individual damage is lower than the other weapons.

4. Flame: It's a short-range weapon, similar to a flamethrower, and it has high destructive power. It's the weapon with the highest individual damage in the game.

You can combine two of the four basic weapons to create new and powerful attacks. For example, when you combine the Lightning shot with the Chaser, the result is a guided lightning attack. There are 14 different combinations, and each offers a unique gaming experience, giving the player the freedom to choose a strategy that suits their playstyle. In fact, this combination was the one I used the most.

Another significant feature of Gunstar Heroes is that the game offers a health bar, starting with 100 hit points and increasing after each level. So, no hit and kill here, making it more accessible and less punishing. It's an excellent entry point for those starting to venture into games of the same genre.

The game also has a cooperative mode, so if you have a friend to play with, it's well worth it because it certainly adds an extra layer of fun. But if you prefer to play alone, the fun is guaranteed as well. Playing with a friend, of course, brings an extra layer of enjoyment.

In summary, Gunstar Heroes was a technical marvel of its time. It's one of those games that transcends the barriers of time and still impresses to this day. The game offers everything a fan of the genre could ask for: innovative gameplay, a versatile weapon system, frenetic action, and creative bosses (although some of them are a bit lazy). Finally, that's it...

Man, this one's tough. At the same time, a lot of what it does is my shit. The setpieces and boss fights in this one is like if Contra III went into maximum overdrive, just absolutely stopped giving a fuck. "Seven Force" is a legendary boss fight, especially when fought on the Hardest difficulty where you get to see it go through all its phases. The rest of the game holds up pretty well too, but honestly, you really wanna play it just for Seven Force alone.

Still, even on lower difficulties, Gunstar kicked my ass like nothing else. This is a hectic as hell run 'n gun, and one that I don't think I could ever master. But I'll always come back to it for its sheer spectacle. Treasure has only just started making games, but they've already hit a pretty high bar on how to create unconventional bangers. Checking out more of their catalogue is super recommended, as is playing Gunstar Heroes.