Now this is a god damn video game.
It really feels like Treasure threw everything they had at this game, and anyone familiar with their output knows that's saying a lot. This game is wild. It's weird, it's crazy, it's kinetic, it's gorgeous, and it's a whole lot of fun to play.
Headdy definitely outpaces Gunstar Heroes (arguably Treasure's most acclaimed game of this generation) for variety, with gimmicks and power ups that are always fun to engage and experiment with. Platforming is tight, Headdy's controls are very responsive, and the art direction gives you so much to soak in as you dash between bosses - which (in true Treasure form) are the real highlight of the game. It's never quite on the same level of Alien Soldier, where levels simply feel like a means to an end, though. But, very much like Alien Soldier, bosses are creative showcases that are sometimes too chaotic to fully take in. There's a few that really push the Genesis and I was surprised to see what Treasure was able to pull off at the time.
True to form for Treasure, this game is also hard as hell. Unlike Gunstar Heroes and even Alien Soldier, however, I didn't mind running the gauntlet again after burning through my continues. Dynamite Headdy owes a lot of its replayability to just being a damn fun game to play, but its aesthetics and music certainly pulls its weight. The soundtrack in particular is incredible and very effective as invoking stress and excitement at the exact right times.
Dynamite Headdy is hands down one of the best games on the Genesis and pretty high up there in Treasure's catalog. There's only a few reviews on this site for it, which I just have to take as a sign that not enough people have played it. Fix that. Right now. Or so help me, I will rip my head off and I will throw it at you.
It really feels like Treasure threw everything they had at this game, and anyone familiar with their output knows that's saying a lot. This game is wild. It's weird, it's crazy, it's kinetic, it's gorgeous, and it's a whole lot of fun to play.
Headdy definitely outpaces Gunstar Heroes (arguably Treasure's most acclaimed game of this generation) for variety, with gimmicks and power ups that are always fun to engage and experiment with. Platforming is tight, Headdy's controls are very responsive, and the art direction gives you so much to soak in as you dash between bosses - which (in true Treasure form) are the real highlight of the game. It's never quite on the same level of Alien Soldier, where levels simply feel like a means to an end, though. But, very much like Alien Soldier, bosses are creative showcases that are sometimes too chaotic to fully take in. There's a few that really push the Genesis and I was surprised to see what Treasure was able to pull off at the time.
True to form for Treasure, this game is also hard as hell. Unlike Gunstar Heroes and even Alien Soldier, however, I didn't mind running the gauntlet again after burning through my continues. Dynamite Headdy owes a lot of its replayability to just being a damn fun game to play, but its aesthetics and music certainly pulls its weight. The soundtrack in particular is incredible and very effective as invoking stress and excitement at the exact right times.
Dynamite Headdy is hands down one of the best games on the Genesis and pretty high up there in Treasure's catalog. There's only a few reviews on this site for it, which I just have to take as a sign that not enough people have played it. Fix that. Right now. Or so help me, I will rip my head off and I will throw it at you.
Reviewed on May 11, 2022
2 Comments
It's been a while and I'd need to go back and check which ROM I have. I think it's the localized version because I don't remember there being dialog. I likely earned some continues because I do remember having a small stock of them that I burned through on a particular boss.
Was not aware of there being graphical changes, I'll need to look those up.
Was not aware of there being graphical changes, I'll need to look those up.
Vee
1 year ago