Retro Yearly List #17 [1991: Sunset Riders]
Okay, wow.
This game is often mentioned when it comes to ranking the best SNES games of all time, so my expectations were high, but I was still impressed.
Sunset Riders normally would fall into the status of those "hidden gems" since it's just a one-game title, but it went far beyond that, becoming an undisputed must-play game. I can see the reason: the game is a blast.
The Western atmosphere, which is something not enough explored in games, is pretty well implemented here. For that same aspect, OST does help a lot, and by the way, what a BANGER, Stage 1 theme went right into my top game tracks of all time, I'm listening to it in loop while writing this review.
The graphics are what you expect from SNES, as beautiful as the Arcade version. The gameplay works very well for the way the game is constructed, I just could not get used to the slide properly for whatever reason.
The game's difficulty is most of the time balanced, with a few sections of high unfairness, usually, the first minutes of the horse levels, which are a huge mess that will require you a response time comparable to the bonus stages at full speed.
Chief Scalpem boss is also a pain in the ass, and the final boss is a bullet hell. Those elements didn't take away my satisfaction with the game, though. After finishing this I got instigated to play it again and again, beating it about 3 times, and that was after beating the Arcade version twice.
I've saved the best for the end: The bosses.
I love boss battles, even more when they have identities, unique patterns, and personalities, and that's the case here. Everyone here can be easily remembered by their catchphrases, for example. The El Greco easter egg with Cormano on the Arcades is also a genius touch.
Even the main characters have their own characteristics which is incredible, they really put work on this.
Well, so this is what Konami was like at its full power, huh?
Okay, wow.
This game is often mentioned when it comes to ranking the best SNES games of all time, so my expectations were high, but I was still impressed.
Sunset Riders normally would fall into the status of those "hidden gems" since it's just a one-game title, but it went far beyond that, becoming an undisputed must-play game. I can see the reason: the game is a blast.
The Western atmosphere, which is something not enough explored in games, is pretty well implemented here. For that same aspect, OST does help a lot, and by the way, what a BANGER, Stage 1 theme went right into my top game tracks of all time, I'm listening to it in loop while writing this review.
The graphics are what you expect from SNES, as beautiful as the Arcade version. The gameplay works very well for the way the game is constructed, I just could not get used to the slide properly for whatever reason.
The game's difficulty is most of the time balanced, with a few sections of high unfairness, usually, the first minutes of the horse levels, which are a huge mess that will require you a response time comparable to the bonus stages at full speed.
Chief Scalpem boss is also a pain in the ass, and the final boss is a bullet hell. Those elements didn't take away my satisfaction with the game, though. After finishing this I got instigated to play it again and again, beating it about 3 times, and that was after beating the Arcade version twice.
I've saved the best for the end: The bosses.
I love boss battles, even more when they have identities, unique patterns, and personalities, and that's the case here. Everyone here can be easily remembered by their catchphrases, for example. The El Greco easter egg with Cormano on the Arcades is also a genius touch.
Even the main characters have their own characteristics which is incredible, they really put work on this.
Well, so this is what Konami was like at its full power, huh?