My Played Video Games Review: Sunset Riders for the Sega Genesis

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Sunset Riders is a scrolling run and gun, action video game developed by Konami of Japan as an arcade game in 1991. The home versions of the game were released for the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive in 1992.

This was pretty fun to play during that time because it was set in the American Old West era. Cowboys, horses, old firearms, outlaws and Indians were the main features of that fascinating period of American history.

Japanese ad flyer of the game (Image source)

The Story

You are a brave and heroic cowboy bounty hunter hunting down the notorious outlaws like Simon Greedwell and Chief Scalpen. Each outlaw boss has a big reward offered by the local county governments. And they are helped by gangs of goons, gunslingers and horse bandits, so pack up your guns and go after them. Track those rotten varmints through an Indian village, on a steaming train, and down the mean streets of lawless town of Reechforem Gulch.

Occasionally, some dynamite is at your disposal, as well as gun power-ups. But cattle stampedes and clever traps could end your adventure in a cloud of dust. You will also go ride horseback in a galloping bonus stage filled with them handy items. Ultimately, you must make the nasty gay villain, Sir Richard Rose, eat lead. Do so and you will have lots of money rewards and the townsfolk kissing your boots.

Manual, box and cartridge of the game (Image source)

The Graphics and Sound

The graphics are quite nice and smooth. It looks a lot like a cartoon, but not much to be cheesy.. The levels are large and in adequate. The character sprite animations are quite well done and are smoothly laid out.

The sound effects are pretty good, and the music is fitting for the theme. You will have the basic gun shot sounds effects, vocals and groans of enemies being shot, and the classic Western-style background music.

A 2 player coop gameplay sample of Sunset Riders

The Gameplay

You pick from two cowboy gunslinger characters: Billy or Cormano the Mexican. Billy has revolver pistols as his weapon while Cormano uses a double-barreled shotgun. You go on your way shooting the bad guys. You can get rapid fire power ups, as well as another gun. The stages go from left to right, and there are 2 areas to each stage: One is where you must save the lady and the other one is where you kill the stage boss.

Replay value is decent. You can team up with a friend as 2nd player and increase the difficulty. Or you can gun each other down in versus mode till the last man is standing.

My Verdict

Sunset Riders is a must have for any Sega Genesis game collector. The single-player is always a fun experience and it never gets old. Whiny, low effort gamers looking for easy gameplay need not apply.

Go and play it on the venerable Sega Genesis or Mega Drive or on emulators.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!



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