Gunstar Super Heroes (GBA) Review

Back in 1993 I was working as an assistant manager for Buy Back Games, making game recommendations left and right while also dealing with a couple of punk-asses who felt like robbing the store. But I remember a distinctive highlight, the introduction of a little company called Treasure. Made up of former Konami employees, these guys crafted magic their first try with the release of Gunstar Heroes for the Sega Genesis. It's a fast-paced action game that redefined the system's power as we knew it, while remaining relentlessly fun. An instant classic, I still play it today.

Now, twelve years later, I'm in the middle of a journalism gig, and I run across a Gunstar product yet again. This is by all means a celebration, meaning that Treasure recognizes just how popular the first game was and has therefore delivered more for their fans, breaking their "no sequels" policy just for us. THAT'S love. And Gunstar Super Heroes is just as impressive as the first game, if not better. There's only one setback that keeps it from utter perfection, but more on that in a minute.

The game has a similar story to the original Gunstar. Two soldiers, assisted by the beautiful Yellow, are out to stop the theft of some Treasure gems that could reform a dark legacy within their galaxy. Throughout each stage, they'll find themselves pitted against countless soldiers and larger enemies that must be chipped away at in order to be destroyed. Several familiar faces from the first game resurface, including the treacherous Green.

The first game was all about frenetic side-scrolling shooting action, but Gunstar Super Heroes wisely mixes things up with different styles that keep things fresh. One stage has you riding on top of a craft and rotating the screen around as enemies fly in and out, firing missiles and projectiles around you that must be destroyed or avoided. There's also a Thunder Blade-style shooting stage where enemies must be shot and bombed before getting to a boss that can be considered just a bit bothersome. And this is before you get to another elaborate game hosted by Black, who has all new contraptions just waiting to finish you off.

The game was built for action, and it truly shows. Fortunately, the gameplay once again backs all this with weapon switching on the fly, from homing lasers to shotgun blasts to your typical weapon. You can also position your gun in a certain direction while you shoot, and slide and do rising punch attacks for extra power. Furthermore, difficulty levels are reintroduced, and I fully recommend tackling the game on hard just to access extra goodies like the After Burner theme. Apparently, these guys love Sega just as much as we do.

As far as looks go, the game is astoundingly beautiful, throwing us back to the old days of 2-D. Multi-scrolling backgrounds, rotational effects, and beautiful animation await you around each corner. The game's packed with so many explosions and the like that it greatly builds the adrenaline. The music backs it up with several memorable tunes, some of which are lifted straight from the original game and have been remixed.

The game has various challenge levels and other things that must be completed, and the final boss is a pain in the ass, so you'll be working on him for a while. So longevity's covered. So why did the game only get four out of five stars from someone like me, a Treasure fan? Sadly, it all comes about with the lack of a two-player option. Really, the first game was all saving the world with a friend, and that option is sadly lacking here.

But fret not. Although you're on your own, this is a journey you absolutely, positively should not miss. Gunstar Super Heroes is a wonderful game for fans of the original, yet it provides an experience that others can easily jump into and thoroughly enjoy. The graphics and sound are the best the GBA has to offer, and the gameplay is challenging and rich. Do yourself a favor and don't miss the ride because it is most certainly worth it. Another quality product from Treasure!