Sunset Riders

From Sega Retro

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SunsetRiders MDTitleScreen.png

Sunset Riders
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Konami
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
EU 		T-95026-50
Sega Mega Drive
PT 		MD85026
Sega Mega Drive
UK 		£39.9939.99[4][2] T-95026-50
Sega Mega Drive
SE
(Rental)
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Non-Sega versions

Sunset Riders is a 1991 arcade run-and-gun by Konami, ported to the Sega Mega Drive and Super NES in 1992 and released only in the US and Europe in 1993. Because of its small ROM size, the port was heavily remixed in terms of stage layout and is missing characters and stages compared to the arcade and SNES versions.

Gameplay

The game is a run-and-gun platformer similar to Konami's Contra series but set in the American Old West. Players can choose from the two bounty hunters, Billy Cool and Cormano Wild, who seek rewards for catching bandits and saving girls. Billy is armed with a revolver and Cormano with a shotgun. They are moved with Left and Right and also aim in eight directions using the D-Pad. They fire in a stationary position with A and can walk and fire at the same time with B. Either button can be held for continuous fire. Both characters can acquire upgrades that increase their rate of fire or give them a second weapon to wield. They jump with C. They can jump up higher platforms with Up+C and jump back down with Down+C. They can slide on the ground with Down-left+C or Down-right+C, during which they are immune to damage.

The score is measured as currency. Small coins are worth $200, while larger coins with dollar signs on them are worth $2,000. Characters die in one hit and lose their weapon upgrades and $1,000 on death, but these coins fall on the ground and can be collected again. The game punishes players for standing in one place for too long by sending a bird to attack the player. If players run out of lives, they can continue the game as long as they have continues remaining. Players have five continues and cannot gain any more.

The game supports multiplayer for two players on the same screen in both cooperative and competitive modes. Cooperative games can be started by selecting "2 Players" from the title menu or by pressing  START  on the controller of the second player during a single-player game. The first method is preferable as the latter method costs a continue. There is no friendly fire and continues are shared. The competitive mode can be selected with "Versus" on the title screen. The game is played in a few rounds with the arenas changing slightly. Players have to shoot each other down in this mode. Each player has a health bar and much lower rate of fire than in normal game, with a bird periodically dropping bonus items.

Due to a bug, "Versus" and "2 Players" modes are not selectable if both players have Six Button Control Pads, despite being highlighted in menu. The second player can still join during "1 Player" mode play. Holding the  MODE  button when booting the system to switch to three button mode fixes this issue.

Characters

Sunset Riders, Characters, Billy Cool.png

Sunset Riders, Weapons, Billy Cool.png

  • Sunset Riders, Characters, Billy Cool.png

  • Sunset Riders, Weapons, Billy Cool.png

Billy Cool
Billy is armed with Peacemaker revolvers that shoot large bullets one at a time. When wielding two weapons, he shoots one forwards and one diagonally.

Sunset Riders, Characters, Cormano Wild.png

Sunset Riders, Weapons, Cormano Wild.png

  • Sunset Riders, Characters, Cormano Wild.png

  • Sunset Riders, Weapons, Cormano Wild.png

Cormano Wild
Cormano is armed with riot shotguns that deal damage in an area. The shots spread out as they travel further down the screen. When wielding two weapons, he shoots both forwards, firing a denser spread.

Items

Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Leather Pouch
Shoot to reveal an item.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Coin
Gives the player $200.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Big Coin
Gives the player $2,000.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Star
Lets the player play the bonus stage after the current stage is completed.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Dynamite
Explodes after a short time. Thrown by enemies or sometimes found in leather pouches. Can be picked up with Down and thrown with A or B.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Bullet
Increases the player's attack speed.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 Gun
Gives the character a second weapon that is fired simultaneously with the main weapon.
Sunset Riders, Items.png
 1-Up
Gives the player an extra life.

Stages

Each stage consists of two segments. The first has the characters rescuing a damsel in distress. The second has the characters fighting a boss character to collect a bounty.

Sunset Riders, Stage 1-1.png

Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Simon Greedwell.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 1-2.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 1-2 Boss.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 1-1.png

  • Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Simon Greedwell.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 1-2.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 1-2 Boss.png

Reechforem Gulch

Sunset Riders, Stage 2-1.png

Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Paco Loco.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 2-2.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 2-2 Boss.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 2-1.png

  • Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Paco Loco.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 2-2.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 2-2 Boss.png

The Chatahoochie Choo-Choo

Sunset Riders, Stage 3-1.png

Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Chief Scalpen.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 3-2.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 3-2 Boss.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 3-1.png

  • Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Chief Scalpen.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 3-2.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 3-2 Boss.png

T.P. City

Sunset Riders, Stage 4-1.png

Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Sir Richard Rose.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 4-2.png

Sunset Riders, Stage 4-2 Boss.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 4-1.png

  • Sunset Riders, Outlaws, Sir Richard Rose.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 4-2.png

  • Sunset Riders, Stage 4-2 Boss.png

Powder Keg Pines & The Rose Mansion

Bonus stage

Sunset Riders, Bonus Stage.png

Bonus stage

If the players have collected a Star item during the stage, they play a bonus stage afterwards. In the bonus stage, the character rides a horse and chases a wagon. A woman in the wagon throws Big Coins and 1-Ups out of the wagon, and the player can use the D-Pad to move the horse around the plane to catch the items.

Versions

The Mega Drive version contains substantial changes from the arcade version and the Super NES port. It only features two characters (removing Steve and Bob) and four stages compared to the four characters and eight stages of the arcade version. Each stage in the Mega Drive version is divided into two segments. The Mega Drive version adds a button to fire while remaining stationary. The voice samples from the arcade version have been removed and replaced with text bubbles. The bonus stages are also different and involve chasing a wagon rather than the first-person shooting gallery of the arcade and SNES versions. The Mega Drive version also has a two-player versus mode absent from the other versions.

Guns have been removed from the PAL box (on both the Mega Drive and SNES PAL releases), likely to conform to German laws.

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
Sunset Riders MD credits.pdf
[5]


Magazine articles

Main article: Sunset Riders/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Sunset Riders/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
Expression error: Unrecognized punctuation character "}".
Sega Mega Drive
 Expression error: Unexpected < operator.
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
68
[6]
Consoles + (FR)
68
[7]
Cool Gamer (RU)
70
[8]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[9]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3 (RU)
60
[10]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
81
[11]
GameFan (US)
94
[12]
Game Power (IT)
71
[13]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[14]
GamesMaster (UK) PAL
60
[2]
Game Informer (US) NTSC-U
78
[15]
Joypad (FR) PAL
66
[16]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
82
[17]
Mega (UK) PAL
79
[18]
Mega Action (UK) PAL
82
[19]
Mega Force (FR)
90
[20]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-U
76
[21]
MegaTech (UK) PAL
87
[22]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
84
[23]
Player One (FR)
65
[24]
Play Time (DE)
74
[25]
Power Play (DE)
48
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
68
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
87
[28]
Sega Zone (UK) PAL
84
[29]
Sega Force (UK) PAL
86
[30]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
66
[31]
Todo Sega (ES)
87
[32]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
83
[33]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
70
[34]
Sega Mega Drive
 75
Based on
30 reviews

Sunset Riders

Mega Drive, US
SunsetRiders MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Sunsetriders md us cart.jpg
Cart
Sunset Riders MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
SunsetRiders MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
SunsetRiders MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Sunset Riders MD EU Manual.jpg
Manual
SunsetRiders MD EU pcb.jpg
PCB
Mega Drive, FR

Sunset Riders MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, PT
SunsetRiders MD PT cover.jpg
Cover
Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT orange)
SunsetRiders MD SE rental Box.jpg
Cover

Technical information

Main article: Sunset Riders/Technical information.

References

  1. ↑ GamePro, "November 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 199
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 GamesMaster, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-18), page 52
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 MegaTech, "March 1993" (UK; 1993-02-20), page 15
  4. ↑ Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-27), page 72
  5. ↑ File:Sunset Riders MD credits.pdf
  6. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 229
  7. ↑ Consoles +, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 112
  8. ↑ Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 209
  9. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 362
  10. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 3, "" (RU; 2000-xx-xx), page 263
  11. ↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 99
  12. ↑ GameFan, "Volume 1, Issue 2: December 1992" (US; 1992-xx-xx), page 8
  13. ↑ Game Power, "Maggio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 58
  14. ↑ GamePro, "February 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 52
  15. ↑ Game Informer, "January/February 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 6
  16. ↑ Joypad, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 64
  17. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-xx-xx), page 62
  18. ↑ Mega, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-15), page 44
  19. ↑ Mega Action, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 38
  20. ↑ Mega Force, "Avril 1993" (FR; 1993-0x-xx), page 98
  21. ↑ Mega Fun, "02/93" (DE; 1993-0x-xx), page 39
  22. ↑ MegaTech, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-20), page 38
  23. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-26), page 68
  24. ↑ Player One, "Avril/Mai 1993" (FR; 1993-04-10), page 98
  25. ↑ Play Time, "5/93" (DE; 1993-04-07), page 103
  26. ↑ Power Play, "3/93" (DE; 1993-02-10), page 103
  27. ↑ Sega Power, "May 1993" (UK; 1993-04-01), page 42
  28. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 24
  29. ↑ Sega Zone, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 36
  30. ↑ Sega Force, "July 1993" (UK; 1993-05-27), page 70
  31. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 155
  32. ↑ Todo Sega, "Abril 1993" (ES; 1993-03-15), page 50
  33. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 190
  34. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 67


Sunset Riders

SunsetRiders MDTitleScreen.png

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