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Sunset Riders

From Sega Retro

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SunsetRiders MDTitleScreen.png
Sunset Riders
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher:
Developer:
Original system(s): Arcade boards
Sound driver: Konami/Hyperstone Heist
Genre: Action































Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
US 		$? T-95026
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£39.99More...[2]More...[3] T-95026-50
Sega Mega Drive
FR 		?F T-95026-50
Sega Mega Drive
DE 		DM ? T-95026-50
Sega Mega Drive
ES 		?Ptas T-95026-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT 		?PTE$ MD85026
Sega Mega Drive
AU 		$? ?



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Sunset Riders is a 1991 arcade run-and-gun by Konami, ported to the Sega Mega Drive and SNES in 1992 and released only in the US and Europe in 1993. This port was heavily remixed in terms of stage layout. The small rom size likely made a true to source arcade port impossible.

Gameplay

You play as one of two (reduced from four in the arcade version) American Old West bounty hunters, Billy and Cormano, who seek rewards for catching bandits and saving girls. Billy is armed with a peacemaker and Cormano with a shotgun that fires rather large shots; A is used for stationary fire and B is used to fire and walk at the same time, and both can collect various weapon upgrades along the way.

Aiming is done in the traditional Konami fashion (hold D-pad buttons diagonally to move while firing diagonally, hold Up to shoot straight up, hold Left and Right to shoot straight ahead while moving, or hold Down to shoot straight ahead while crouching). C jumps; you can latch on to ledges and climb up, pressing Down+C to get back down. Down+C and either Left or Right slides. Score is measured as currency; each gold coin is worth $200, while larger red coins with dollar signs on them are worth $2000. You will lose $1000 for dying, and you die with one or two hits.

Similar to often used practise in arcades, the game punishes players who stay in same spot for far too long, as the bird will fly on top of the screen and then swoop down at you. You can jump over it.

Note that the guns are removed from the PAL box. This is also done on the SNES PAL version. A case of the Sega Europe censorship and strict German laws probably.

Multiplayer

The game supports multiplayer for 2 players, which is less than on Arcade version, on same screen both in cooperative mode and competitive one.

To play competitive mode, just select "Versus" mode. The game will be played in few rounds, arenas changing slightly. Each player has a health bar and much lower rate of fire than in normal game, while a bird periodically coming in to drop extra items. Players have to shoot each other down in this mode.

To play cooperative mode you can either select "2 Players" mode or start the "1 Player" game and press Start on controller of the second player. Though the first method is preferable, as it doesn't take away a continue point. There is no friendly fire and continue points are shared.

However, due to bug, if both players have Six Button Control Pad then "Versus" and "2 Players" modes will not be selectable, despite being higlighted in menu. Another player can still join during "1 Player" mode play. Hold Mode button when booting up the system to switch to 3 button mode and fix this issue.

Production credits

  • Program: K.Toyohara, K.Endoh
  • Graphic Design: H.Matsuda, N.Takemoto
  • Sound Design: M.Ikariko, H.Inoue
  • Package Design: M.Yoshihashi
  • Special Thanks: I.Akada, AC Team
Source: In-game credits


Magazine articles

Main article: Sunset Riders/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Sunset Riders/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
68 More...[4]
94
80 More...[5]
71
60 More...[6]
60
82 №9, p62/63
79 №8, p44/45
82 №1, p38
87 №16, p38-40
84 More...[7]
65 №30, p98
80
86
68 №42, p42/43
87 №18, p24/25
84 №6, p36-38
86 More...[8]
Sega Mega Drive
 78
Based on
18 reviews

Mega Drive, US
SunsetRiders MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Sunsetriders md us cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, EU
SunsetRiders MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SunsetRiders MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, SE (rental)

Technical Information

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
512kB 1992-12 Cartridge (US)
Sega Mega Drive
 ?
CRC32
MD5
SHA-1
512kB Cartridge (EU)

References

  1. ↑ GamePro, "November 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 199
  2. ↑ Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 72
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 GamesMaster, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-18), page 52
  4. ↑ Consoles +, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-xx-xx), page 112
  5. ↑ GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 50 (52)
  6. ↑ GamesMaster, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-18), page 52/53 (52)
  7. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 68-70 (68)
  8. ↑ Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 70-72 (70)
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