Fun fact: Treasure, the studio that made Gunstar Heroes, was formed by a handful of ex-Konami developers who wanted to make small-team, high-energy action games without corporate constraints. Their pedigree shows — the game already feels like a manifesto for what 16‑bit action could be: breakneck pacing, inventive set pieces, and a refusal to be tidy.
I press start and we’re off — immediate chaos. The controls are crisp: jump, shoot, grab, slide. The co‑op is perfect; two players carve through action without the screen feeling cramped. I love how weapon combinations change your whole approach. I just paired Flame with Chaser and it’s ridiculous close‑quarters carnage.
I’m on the Lightning + Force build for straight, piercing shots. Great for bosses and long corridors. The level design keeps surprising me — one minute it’s a classic side‑scroll, the next it flips into a top‑down shooter sequence, then a cinematic collapsing bridge. It never settles on one formula, which is brilliant and occasionally disorienting.
Gameplay highlights have to be the weapon combinations and the variety of set pieces. Four base weapons that mix into fourteen permutations gives you real choices. And the melee/grab/toss adds a rock‑paper‑scissors layer: enemies you can throw for extra damage, or use as shields. The bosses are enormous, stage‑filling and wonderfully over the top.
I’ll be candid: the game is gloriously fun but it isn’t flawless. There are moments where the screen fills with projectiles and enemy spawns get aggressive — it can feel cheap until you memorize patterns. Also, some weapon combos outshine others so you might find yourself favoring a handful rather than experimenting every run.
That’s fair. Overall, it’s earned a B from us: excellent design and thrills, with a couple of rough edges. Not quite perfect, but damn close for 1993 cartridge horsepower.
- Gameplay Highlights (as we play):
- Responsive two‑button action that still manages combos and grabbing mechanics.
- Weapon fusion system — discovering a new combo feels rewarding.
- Set‑piece variety: side‑scrolling arenas, a surprise top‑down shooter, and multi‑phase bosses.
- Cooperative play that’s balanced and chaotic in the best way.
Hot tips while we barrel through Act 2: learn the grab timing and use it against bigger foes — tossing them at certain bosses breaks armor faster than bullets. Also, some levels hide powerups; sliding into walls and tossing enemies upward often reveals secret caches.
- Hot Tips (quick list):
- Mix those weapons early to find your favorite combo — don’t just stick with the starter gun.
- Use slide to dodge and reposition; it saves you when the screen fills with bullets.
- In co‑op, split roles: one player handles crowd control, the other focuses on bosses or platforming.
- Watch enemy patterns — memorization pays off more than brute force.
Remember that mid‑boss that turns into a giant drill? We just barely get past it because we learned not to hog powerups in co‑op — classic teamwork moment. The sound and pixel art are punchy too; the palette and animation are so expressive you can almost read the designers’ grin through the cartridge.
Speaking of memorable moments: the motorcycle/roller section — where you’re dodging traps while blasting — has me grinning. The game’s sense of momentum is addictive. Then there’s that sequence where the camera pulls back into a top‑down shooter. It caught me off guard the first time and felt like a little experimental film within a cartridge.
About the final boss: we’re at the climax, and Smash Daisaku’s work culminates in a massive multi‑form opponent that throws everything at you — sprawling limbs, homing projectiles, and stage changes that punish mistakes. The last phase practically demands cooperative choreography: one of us baits, the other cleans up. It’s punishing but fair; every wipe feels like “we missed the pattern” rather than “the game cheated.” My hands are sweating in a very 16‑bit way.
Anecdote — when we finally downed the final form, the room erupted with that triumphant chiptune flourish. It felt like saving your favorite Saturday morning cartoon. The storytelling is simple, but the energy behind it — rescued sibling, mad dictator, planet at stake — plays perfectly to the arcade spirit.
A couple more candid notes: the game is relatively short by modern standards; you can blitz through it with practice. There isn’t much in the way of replay modes beyond mastering combos and co‑op runs. If you’re after longevity, the challenge is in perfecting runs and finding all the weapon synergies.
Also, expect a learning curve. New players might get stuck on certain bosses until they internalize patterns. But once you do, the satisfaction is enormous — a true 16‑bit rush. For players who love tight action, inventive bosses, and two‑player mayhem, this is a must‑play with the aforementioned caveats.
We’re back at the title screen, grin plastered on our faces, planning another run already. Solid, sometimes ruthless, and packed with moments that define why Treasure became a name to remember.
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