Gunstar Super Heroes
The heavens bestow a sequel upon us to the ever-loved Sega Genesis game.
Tags: Gunstar Super Heroes Categories: GBA Reviews, Reviews
Posted by David Hinkle on Feb 1st, 2006
| Title | Players | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gunstar Super Heroes (title page) | 1 | ||
| Developer | Publisher | Genre | Online |
| Action | No | ||
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You’d think in that the 10+ years it’s been since the original Gunstar Heroes was released few would remember the game, and upon mention, offer a nostalgic tale thick with adolesence and mass consumption of carbonated beverages whilst trying to beat the game late at night, awash in the light emitting from the television screen. Instead, upon mention, you’re likely to be met with such praise that would be given a God, many to proclaim it the best game Sega’s Genesis ever had in its lineup. Well, it seems all those with sprite comics using the original characters and players who still have the cartridge sitting in their system, poised at the ready should a quick fix be needed, have gotten their wish as Gunstar Super Heroes, a brand new game and in no way a port, does not disappoint.
The story is based on the outcome of the first game, where several moons, fully-fit with baddies and action-packed stages, were the by-product of the final clash with the God of Ruin. Years later, the Evil Empire is looking to pull off a ressurection and it’s up to the Gunstar Super Heroes to put a stop to it. The story doesn’t evolve much over the course of the game and takes a back seat to the white-knuckle action and perfected trip down memory lane, a concession that is easily made.
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The action is a mixture of side-scrolling shoot-em-up and rail-based combat. Each of the 6 areas have their own distinct approach to play. One area has you running through a thick forrest, mowing down faceless baddies left and right. Another has you standing atop a high-tech jet, blasting enemy aircraft down approaching your position. The game, while short, is engaging and fun throughout.
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You’ll have two characters at your disposal; Red and Blue. The two characters differ not only in look, but also in arsenal. Each Hero has three weapons, one of which is unique to the character. The weapons have their use and really allow the player to take a different approach to the game’s presented dillemmas each play. You’ll have a fire-embued weapon, mainly for short-range situations and a laser-embued weapontype that fires homing lasers. You can also charge your weapons for severe damage, which is both impressive in its amount of sheer devistation and, also, its great pixelation.
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The graphics are top-notch, showcasing the processing power on the Game Boy Advance’s hardware. The sprites of your enemies all look and animate wonderfully as they emerge on-screen and explode in a ball of fire caused by your potent firearms emission. Everything moves so fast, creating an almost hypnotic orchestra of destruction. It’s so great to see a wonderful game, new in its story and platform, yet comprised of all the wonderful things that made the games of yesteryear so endearing to us, such as simplistic, yet gripping, gameplay.
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Gunstar Super Heroes is a wonderful game and deserves, nay, needs, to be in anyone’s GBA collection. It takes all of the old ideas about what a great game should be and applies them toward one ultimate goal; giving the player a fun experience. And this game is fun, it’s pure enjoyment from start to finish. Little flaw can be found when taking this game to the microscope, and eventhough it’s short, the game is so good that the same parts can be easily played over and over again. Get this game now, you’ll thank yourself for the smart purchase and your wallet will be thankful for the less-than-usual beating it takes when you take a trip to your usual purchasing hole.
| What Works | Score |
|---|---|
|
+ Great action + Nice graphics + Herald back to the glory days |
9.0 |
| What Doesn't | |
| - Is a tad too short | |
| Under the Shrink-wrap | |
| In the GBA's top 5 games. | |
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Tags: Gunstar Super Heroes
Posted by David Hinkle on Feb 1st, 2006 and is filed under GBA Reviews, Reviews. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can post a comment, or trackback from your own site.
