Gunstar Heroes

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Description

Once upon a time, Dr. Brown managed to defeat a mad android known as Golden Silver, who tried to suck out the energy of the planet G-9. Dr. Brown extracted four Mystical Gems, the android's power source, and sealed them on one of the planet's moons, where it was guarded by the four Gunstar siblings. However, years later, a dictator named Smash Daisaku kidnapped Gunstar Green and brainwashed him into telling him where the Mystical Gems were. The dictator is now close to reactivating Golden Silver. The Gunstar twins Red and Blue, guided by their sister Yellow, must find a way to stop Smash Daisaku - but they know that their older brother is on that way...

Gunstar Heroes is a fast-paced side-scrolling shooter. Controlling either Red or Blue Gunstar, the player has access to four basic weapons: Force, rapid shot; Lightning, a straight shot that penetrates enemies; Chaser, a homing weapon; and Flame, a powerful close-ranged. The player can combine two weapons to produce a new one, for a total of fourteen weapons. It is also possible to use melee attacks and moves such as grabbing and tossing enemies, jumping, and sliding.

Screenshots

Promo Images

Alternate Titles

• "Gunstar Heroes Classic" -- iOS and Android release title
• "3D Gunstar Heroes" -- Nintendo 3DS title
• "ガンスターヒーローズ" -- Japanese spelling

Part of the Following Groups

• Console Generation Exclusive: Sega Genesis
• Game Center CX challenge games
• Genre: Side scrolling run and gun
• Gunstar Heroes series
• SEGA Forever series
• SEGA Vintage Collection series

User Reviews

A truly stunning action game, with surprises and magic at every turn	Genesis	Martin Smith (74278)
Did I Miss Something?	Genesis	Liam Dowds (51)
Gunstar! GUNSTAR!! GUNSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRR!!!!!!	Genesis	Satoshi Kunsai (2074)

Critic Reviews

GamePro (US)	Genesis	Feb, 1994	5 out of 5	100
Lens of Truth	Genesis	Apr 01, 2009	9.5 out of 10	95
Player One	Genesis	Nov, 1993	94 out of 100	94
Retro Gamer	Xbox 360	Jul 16, 2009	93 out of 100	93
Computer and Video Games (CVG)	Genesis	Sep, 1993	92 out of 100	92
Mean Machines	Game Gear	Feb, 1996	85 out of 100	85
GameSpot	Wii	Dec 19, 2006	8.1 out of 10	81
Retrogaming.it	Genesis	Jul 02, 2008	8 out of 10	80
Sega Saturn Magazine (Japan)	Game Gear	Apr, 1995	7 out of 10	70
Edge	Genesis	Oct, 1993	6 out of 10	60

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Trivia

1001 Video Games

The Mega Drive version of Gunstar Heroes appears in the book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die by General Editor Tony Mott.

Extras

The U.S. version of the game came with one free Fruit Roll-Up.

References

Most bosses of the game are in fact "borrowed" for famous movies, anime or video games. For instance, Colonel Red is Vega from Street Fighter II (aka "Bison" in US version), Pink and her two hunchmen are the Gladys gang from the anime Fushigi no Umi no Nadia (The secret of blue water), the Emperor is a clone of Darth Vader, and you'll also meet a copy of Vegeta from Dragon Ball Z...

About Pink, you'll also notice that the jewel she tries to steal is similar to the "blue water" jewel from Nadia.

Awards

• Electronic Gaming Monthly
  • November 1993 (Issue #52) – Game of the Month (Genesis version)
• Retro Gamer
  • October 2004 (Issue #9) – #50 Best Game Of All Time (Readers' Vote)

Information also contributed by Pirou Julien

Related Web Sites

• Gunstar Heroes For The Sega Genesis (Fanpage for the popular Treasure platform adventure/shooter.)
• X360A achievement guide (X360A's achievement guide for Gunstar Heroes.)