3D Gunstar Heroes

Genre: Action-Platformer

Players: 1-2 Co-Op (Local Wireless)

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Review:

Gunstar Heroes is an Action-Platformer originally released on Sega Genesis in 1993 and later ported to numerous other platforms over the years (including two ports on Nintendo Switch), with the 2015 Nintendo 3DS release of the game adding stereoscopic 3D. This Action-Platformer has players collecting and combining four weapon power-ups and battling hordes of enemies.

The presentation here makes use of some good, detailed 2D pixel art visuals with occasional use of some primitive 3D effects, backed by a decent chiptune soundtrack that will be absolutely drowned out by the sounds of gunfire as you fight through the game.

The gameplay in this game has players spraying bullets across the screen and taking out hordes of enemies in a style similar to the Contra and Metal Slug franchises, though Gunstar Heroes has some fun mechanics that offer something unique within the genre, with players able to hold two weapons at once and combine them, effectively meaning that this game has a total of 20 different weapon types depending on your combinations. In addition, the stages and bosses are pretty creative themselves, making this one of the best games of its kind. The endless onslaught of enemies can get a bit overbearing at times, so players should be ready for a challenge.

The Nintendo 3DS release of the game adds a few extra features, such as the ability to play the game with different emulation modes or different international versions, screen settings, button reassignments, save states, a “Mega Life” mode that doubles the amount of life you have, and a much-appreciated new “Gunslinger” mode that lets players keep all four of the game’s weapons, swapping between them at will.

Overall, Gunstar Heroes still stands tall as one of the better games within this genre of Contra/Metal Slug-style Action-Platformers. There’s so much variety and creativity here that it’s a must-play for Action game fans, although less-skilled players may find it too tough for their liking. This release is an excellent version of the game that adds some nice new features. In short, this is a great version of a great game.

tl;dr – Gunstar Heroes is an Action-Platformer in the vein of the Contra and Metal Slug games, and it’s absolutely brimming with imagination and personality. It’s a bit on the challenging side, and at times the screen can get so full of enemies it’s difficult to think, but it is nevertheless still very fun to play. This version of the game includes some excellent new features, including a new “Gunslinger mode” that lets you keep all four weapons. In short, this is a superb version of a must-play Action game.

Grade: B+

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