Treasure gives us classic Run 'N' Gun perfection in a package most others should be envious of.
Enter Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box. Released as Vol. 25 of the Sega Ages collection, this game forgoes the horrid and butcher-shop remakes the Ages collections are known for. Instead, Treasure themselves have overseen the development of this collection, which also includes Mega Drive/Genesis favorites Dynamite Headdy, and Alien Soldier, a game only released in Japan and Europe. Fans rejoice!
Let us talk about the meat of the collection though: Gunstar Heroes. Not only has Treasure delivered a perfect port of the Mega Drive/Genesis classic with the top-notch control and sound intact, but they saw it fit to include various extras to satisfy those who expect a little more than the typical re-issue. Included is the Japanese, US and UK versions of the game, along with the original box art and instruction manuals viewable in the gallery. A collection of rare art and promotional material are also included, along with additional rare documentation that can be un-locked.
Along with several galleries, you may also view two “Super Replay Videos” of experts completing the game to near perfection on both hard and super hard levels. What’s extra cool about these re-plays is instead of video, it uses the actual game engine to prove their finesse. You may also record, save and view your own romps through the game to memory card and show off your mad skills, or worst failures to friends.
The game is also no slouch for options either. Besides customizing your controls, you also have some nice display choices. The game supports two modes of 480P (one scan-line), flicker-free graphics, a sprite limiter which removes the slowdown and image drop-out of the original, (turn it off for the true old-time experience) and two graphics filters. One gives you the original look as if you where playing on the good old system itself, and another that gives you a sharp and unabated view of the work as never before seen. In other words, it looks beyond wonderful! Both Dynamite Headdy and Alien Soldier have also received the same fine treatment, so fans of those games should be beyond pleased as well.
With the attention to detail and extras Treasure has put into this re-release, others will have a hard time living up if things continue as they have been. Perhaps this could be the beginning of quality re-releases that pay proper homage and respect to both the original product, and the fans that enjoyed them so. Gunstar Heroes is a game that deserves no less, and the inclusion of the other titles makes this a wonderful package for classic and new game enthusiasts alike.
-Baroque-Legacy