Really excellent little action puzzle/platformer kind of game. Much like Crack Down (1989) which I played through yesterday, I find these tight little action games that are about careful and precise movement and shooting really compelling. Where Crack Down had a wall hugging mechanic to dodge bullets, Bonanza Bros. with it's 2.5D side view plays the clever trick of having one additional tile of depth - so there are functionally two flat 2D levels next to each other, and you can step forward and back between them to dodge bullets and enemies. It's really clever, and once you get the hang of things you can absolutely weave your way between enemy attacks and fire. Nothing more delightful than waiting for an armored enemy to approach you and perfectly stepping out as he steps in to avoid him. Plus I love the character designs. The two roundest crooks you've ever seen in your life.

Reviewed on Apr 18, 2024


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