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{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Gunstar Heroes
| image =
| caption =
| developer = [[Treasure (company)|Treasure]]{{efn|Ported to Game Gear and 3DS by [[M2 (game developer)|M2]]''}}
| publisher = [[Sega]]
| series =
| engine =
| platforms = [[Sega
| released = {{collapsible list|titlestyle=font-weight:normal;font-size:inherit;background:transparent;text-align:left|title=September 10, 1993|'''Sega Genesis'''{{Video game release|JP|September 10, 1993|WW|September 1993}}'''Game Gear'''{{Video game release|JP|March 24, 1995}}'''Nintendo 3DS'''{{Video game release|JP|June 24, 2015<ref>{{cite web |title=3D ガンスターヒーローズ|セガ 3D復刻プロジェクト|セガ |url=http://archives.sega.jp/3d/gh/ |website=Sega |language=ja |access-date=December 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150820194624/http://archives.sega.jp/3d/gh/ |archive-date=August 20, 2015 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>|WW|August 20, 2015<ref>{{cite web |title=3D Gunstar Heroes |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/games/3ds-eshop/3d_gunstar_heroes |website=Nintendo Life |date=August 20, 2015 |access-date=December 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181228174810/http://www.nintendolife.com/games/3ds-eshop/3d_gunstar_heroes |archive-date=December 28, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref>}}}}
| genre = [[
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Cooperative
| director =
| producer = Masato Maegawa
| designer =
| programmer = Mitsuru Yaida<br />Hideyuki Suganami
| artist = Tetsuhiko Kikuchi<br />[[Hiroshi Iuchi
| writer =
| composer = Norio Hanzawa
}}
'''''Gunstar Heroes'''''{{efn|{{nihongo||ガンスターヒーローズ|Gansutā Hīrōzu}} in Japan}} is a [[
Development on ''Gunstar Heroes'' began among a team of staff working at [[Konami]] in 1991. Following an unwillingness of Konami to embrace their original game ideas, the team quit in 1992 and formed Treasure to see their project through. The team wanted to develop their game for the Genesis because of the system's powerful [[Motorola 68000]] microprocessor. [[Sega]] initially rejected their proposal, but later granted approval after they had been working for Sega for several months on ''[[McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure]]'' (1993). Treasure worked on both games in parallel, and released ''Gunstar Heroes'' worldwide as their first game in 1993.
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== Gameplay ==
[[File:Gunstar_Heroes_screenshot.png|thumb|left|The player runs to the right as they fire the machine gun]]
''Gunstar Heroes'' is a [[Run and gun (video game)|run and gun]] game played from a [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] perspective similar to [[Contra (series)|''Contra'']].<ref name="nwrr" /> The game can be played in [[Single-player video game|single-player]], or [[Cooperative
When starting a game, the player can choose either a free or fixed firing stance; the fixed stance immobilizes the character when shooting, while the free stance has the player move in the direction they are firing.<ref name="usgr" /> The player also has a choice of starting weapon. There are four shot types in the game: a homing shot, lightning blaster, flamethrower, and machine gun. Each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses, and can be swapped with others from item drops in each stage.<ref name=":26" /> The weapons can be combined with each other to produce unique shot types. For example, the homing shot can be combined with the machine gun to add a homing effect to the latter, or two lightning shots can be combined to create a more powerful lightning gun.<ref name=":26" /> In addition to firing their weapon, the player characters can pull off a series of acrobatic maneuvers including jumping, sliding, and grabbing and throwing enemies.<ref name="tar" />
== Development ==
In 1991, several [[Konami]] employees led by programmer Masato Maegawa began holding planning sessions at coffee shops for an original game.<ref name=":4">{{Cite magazine|last=Davies|first=Jonti|date=April 2008|title=The Making Of: Gunstar Heroes|url=https://archive.org/stream/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_050#page/56/mode/2up|magazine=[[Retro Gamer
[[File:Sega-Mega-Drive-JP-Mk1-Console-Set.jpg|thumb|left|Treasure believed the [[Motorola 68000]] microprocessor in the [[Sega Genesis]] was best suited for the action games they wanted to make.]]
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Treasure consisted of around 18 people, most being programmers from Konami.<ref name=":0" /> The staff was split in half to work on both ''Gunstar Heroes'' and ''McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure'' in parallel.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The core team behind ''Gunstar Heroes'' consisted of six people: two programmers, two graphic designers, and two sound programmers.<ref name=":0" /> The staff (known by their nicknames) was composed of main programmer Yaiman, enemy and boss programmer Nami, graphic designers Han and Iuchi, composer Non, and sound effects programmer Murata.<ref name=":4" /> The role of game designer did not exist within Treasure; all game design and planning was undertaken by everyone involved.<ref name="works4" /> The team felt they had more freedom working under Sega than Konami.<ref name=":0" /> Maegawa got approval to add a Treasure logo when the game booted, which he felt was a rare opportunity for developers to get in that era.<ref name=":1" />
[[File:GunstarHeroes_SevenForce.gif|thumb|right|The Genesis's processor made multi-limbed bosses like "Seven Force" possible.]]
Development of ''Gunstar Heroes'' lasted around nine to ten months.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":0" /> It was the team's first experience programming for the Genesis, having come off programming for the Super NES at Konami.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="works4" /> Programmers Mitsuru Yaida and Hideyuki Suganami previously programmed ''[[Contra III: The Alien Wars]]'' (1992) for the Super NES at Konami.<ref name="euroretrospec">{{Cite web|url=https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-12-contra-3-retrospective|title=Contra 3 retrospective|last=Robinson|first=Martin|date=2014-01-12|website=Eurogamer|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180305165256/http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2014-01-12-contra-3-retrospective|archive-date=March 5, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=2019-08-25}}</ref> The team felt the Genesis's processor was more powerful, capable, and friendly to experimentation than other consoles. This led them to consider it more suited for action games and the sophisticated graphical effects they were looking to create.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name="works4" /> The team implemented heavy visual effects in an exercise in design experimentation (not an effort to push the hardware).<ref name="works4" /> Some of that experimenting was done with the system's [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] rotation and scaling capabilities, which evoked a sense of depth.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":0" /> The Genesis had its limitations however, as it could only display 64 colors on screen at once.<ref name=":0" /> The team placed extra effort on coloring to compensate.<ref name="works4" /> Early backgrounds were drawn with a 16 color palette, but they looked desolate, so ultimately two palettes with 32 colors were used.<ref name=":4" /> The team also used programming tricks to make the scenery appear like three to four layers were present, although the Genesis only supports two.<ref name=":0" />
The team approached ''Gunstar Heroes'' with an "anything goes" concept, that led to many ambitious ideas being implemented into the final game.<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":1" /> One such concept was the weapon combination mechanic, which was conceived in the early planning stages.<ref name="works4" /> They experimented with weapon attributes until the end of development,<ref name="works4" /> and designed the game so players would continue discovering new weapons and devise new ways to complete stages.<ref name=":4" /> The processor also made articulated multi-limb enemies possible, like the boss "Seven Force," which was programmed by Nami along with all other bosses.<ref name=":1" /> Because moving around large sprites was difficult due to limited [[Video RAM (dual-ported DRAM)|video RAM]], Seven Force was built by combining circles and squares to make one large character.<ref name=":1" /> Maegawa claims the game could have never worked on the Super NES because the boss animations required expanded computing power.<ref name=":0" /> The standard enemy characters, designed by Han, were drawn on the screen by combining a top and bottom sprite, allowing for more animation patterns with lower memory usage.<ref name=":1" /> Han was inspired by the game ''[[Mazin Saga: Mutant Fighter]]'' (1993) to program the enemies manually rather than with mathematical algorithms.<ref name="B!MD49">{{
== Release ==
Although ''McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure'' was completed first, Treasure decided to wait and release ''Gunstar Heroes'' first because they wanted their debut to be an original game.<ref name=":1" /> It was nearly rejected for
''Gunstar Heroes'' was released in Japan on September 10, 1993,<ref name=vc>{{cite web |title=ガンスターヒーローズ バーチャルコンソール メガドライブ 公式サイト |url=http://vc.sega.jp/vc_gunstar/ |website=Sega |access-date=December 28, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180726233826/http://vc.sega.jp/vc_gunstar/ |archive-date=July 26, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and released in the West the same month.<ref name=":4" /> Sega underestimated demand in Japan where their initial shipment was only 10,000 units.<ref name=":9" /> Meanwhile, Sega of America also ordered a small initial print run, as they were not typically confident in games from Sega of Japan.<ref name=":2" /> The game was not heavily promoted and spread by word of mouth.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.1up.com/features/13-years-treasure?pager.offset=0|title=13 Years of Treasure: A Retrospective from 1UP.com|last=Turner|first=Benjamin|date=March 25, 2016|website=1UP.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160325100215/http://www.1up.com/features/13-years-treasure?pager.offset=0|archive-date=March 25, 2016|url-status=dead|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref> ''[[GameFan]]'' particularly enjoyed the game and published the first English interview with Maegawa.<ref name=":3" /> The game shipped in total around 70,000 copies in Japan, and 200,000 overseas.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/treasures_masato_maegawa_wants_sega_to_make_a_mega_drive_mini|title=Treasure's Masato Maegawa Wants Sega To Make A Mega Drive Mini|last=McFerran|first=Damien|date=October 31, 2017|website=Nintendo Life|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181202030116/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2017/10/treasures_masato_maegawa_wants_sega_to_make_a_mega_drive_mini|archive-date=December 2, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref> An arcade version was also released for the [[Sega Mega Play|Sega Mega-Play]] arcade board.<ref name=":1" />
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Sega released ''Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box'' in 2006 in Japan, a compilation of Treasure games for the [[PlayStation 2]] as part of their ''[[Sega Ages|Sega Ages 2500]]'' series.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|url=https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060314/ages.htm|title=「SEGA AGES 2500シリーズ Vol.25 ガンスターヒーローズ ~トレジャーボックス~」~奥成プロデューサーに再びインタビュー!~|date=March 14, 2006|website=GAME Watch|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180727145603/https://game.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/20060314/ages.htm|archive-date=July 27, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 22, 2018}}</ref> Included on the compilation were ''Gunstar Heroes'', ''[[Dynamite Headdy]]'' (1994), and ''[[Alien Soldier]]'' (1995).<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /> The games are run through an emulator and include display options for filters and resolutions. The Japanese and international versions of each game were included, along with the Game Gear ports of ''Gunstar Heroes'' and ''Dynamite Headdy'', and a Genesis prototype of ''Gunstar Heroes''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.siliconera.com/gunstar-heroes-treasure-box/|title=Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|website=Siliconera|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223163905/http://www.siliconera.com/gunstar-heroes-treasure-box/|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2018}}</ref> A gallery is included with scans of the original instruction manuals, concept illustrations, and design documents.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web|url=http://ages.sega.jp/vol25/home.html|title=SEGA AGES 2500 {{!}} Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box|website=Sega|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180503201846/http://ages.sega.jp/vol25/home.html|archive-date=May 3, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2018}}</ref> This compilation was released digitally on the [[PlayStation Store]] in 2012.<ref name=":8" />
The game was ported by M2 to the [[Nintendo 3DS]] in 2015 as part of Sega's line of ''[[3D Classics]]''.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/3d_gunstar_heroes|title=Review: 3D Gunstar Heroes (3DS eShop)|last=Town|first=Jonathan|date=August 20, 2015|website=Nintendo Life|language=en-GB|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223163943/http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/3ds-eshop/3d_gunstar_heroes|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live|access-date=December 23, 2018}}</ref> ''Gunstar Heroes'' was originally not considered for the series because converting the game's backgrounds into a layered 3D effect was thought to be impossible, but these perceived problems were later overcome.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://blogs.sega.com/2015/08/18/segas-newest-title-in-their-3d-remaster-project-3d-gunstar-heroes-interview-part-1/|title=
''Gunstar Heroes'' has also been released on the [[Xbox 360]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/10/gunstar-heroes-review-2|title=Gunstar Heroes Review|last=Hatfield|first=Daemon|date=June 10, 2009|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=December 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223164212/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/10/gunstar-heroes-review-2|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[PlayStation 3]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/11/gunstar-heroes-review|title=Gunstar Heroes Review|last=Hatfield|first=Daemon|date=June 11, 2009|website=IGN|language=en-US|access-date=December 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181223164203/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/06/11/gunstar-heroes-review|archive-date=December 23, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Wii]],<ref name= ":26" /> and [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/20/11079496/sega-free-games-download-steam-gunstar-heroes-renegade-ops|title=Sega offers up Gunstar Heroes and more on Steam for free|last=Frank|first=Allegra|date=February 20, 2016|website=Polygon|access-date=December 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181224023828/https://www.polygon.com/2016/2/20/11079496/sega-free-games-download-steam-gunstar-heroes-renegade-ops|archive-date=December 24, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> A [[Sega Forever]] version for mobile devices was released in 2017.<ref name=tar/> The game was again released on the [[Nintendo Switch Online|Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack]] in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Stedman|first=Alex|date=September 30, 2021|title=Nintendo Switch Online Expanding With N64 and Sega Genesis Games in New Membership|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/nintendo-switch-online-n64-sega-genesis-new-membership |access-date=December 24, 2021|website=IGN|language=en}}</ref>
==Reception==
{{video game reviews
| title = Contemporary
| CVG = 92%<ref name="CVG">{{Cite magazine |last1=Keen |first1=Steve |last2=Anglin |first2=Paul |date=
| Edge = 6/10<ref name="edger">{{Cite magazine |date=October 1993 |title=Test Screen: ''Gunstar Heroes'' |url=https://archive.org/details/Edge_UK_001/page/n85 |magazine=[[Edge (magazine)|
| EGM =
| GI = 9.25/10<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Gunstar Heroes |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |date=September 1998 |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/legacyreviews}}</ref>
| GamePro = 18/20<ref name="gpror">{{Cite magazine |author=Bro' Buzz |date=February 1994 |title=ProReview: ''Gunstar Heroes'' |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/1/11/GamePro_US_055.pdf |magazine=GamePro |pages=52 |access-date=December 29, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181229123425/https://retrocdn.net/images/1/11/GamePro_US_055.pdf |archive-date=December 29, 2018 |url-status=live |df=mdy-all }}</ref> |
| rev2 = ''[[Sega Force]]''▼
▲|rev1Score = 93%<ref name="mmsr">{{Cite magazine |date=October 1993 |title=Mega Drive Review: ''Gunstar Heroes'' |url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-magazine-12/page/n69 |magazine=Mean Machines Sega |volume= |issue=12 |pages=68–71 |via=}}</ref>
| rev2Score = 94%<ref name="sforcer">{{Cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title=''Gunstar Heroes''
▲|rev2 = ''[[Sega Force]]''
| rev3 = ''[[Sega Magazine]]''▼
▲|rev2Score = 94%<ref name="sforcer">{{Cite magazine |date=November 1993 |title=''Gunstar Heroes'' |url= |magazine=Sega Force |volume=2 |issue=5 |pages=48–51 |via=}}</ref>
| rev3Score = 94%<ref name="smagr">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1994 |title=Out Now: ''Gunstar Heroes''
▲|rev3 = ''[[Sega Magazine]]''
| Fam = 29/40<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/weekly-famitsu-no.-248-september-17th-1993/page/n37/mode/1up|title=ガンスターヒーローズ [メガドライブ]|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|publisher=[[ASCII Corporation]]|date=September 17, 1993|page=38|language=JA|access-date=2022-06-24}}</ref>
▲|rev3Score = 94%<ref name="smagr">{{Cite magazine |date=January 1994 |title=Out Now: ''Gunstar Heroes'' |url= |magazine=Sega Magazine |volume= |issue=1 |pages=125 |via=}}</ref>
| award1Pub = [[GameFan|''GameFan'' Megawards]]
| award1 = [[List of Game of the Year awards|Game of the Year]]<ref name="gfanaward"/>
| award2 = Hyper Game Award<ref>{{Cite journal |date=September 1993 |title=Gunstar Heroes Review |url=https://archive.org/details/megatech-21/page/36/mode/2up |journal=MegaTech |issue=21 |pages=36–41}}</ref>
| award2Pub = [[MegaTech]] (1993)
}}
''Gunstar Heroes'' achieved greater recognition than Treasure anticipated.<ref name=":1" /> ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]'' called it their "Game of the Month,"<ref name="egmr" /> and the game placed first in ''[[Gemaga|Beep! Mega Drive]]''<nowiki/>'s reader rankings in Japan.<ref name=":1" /> ''GameFan'' deemed it their "Game of the Year"<ref name="gfanaward">{{Cite magazine
The game was praised for its fast and furious action.<ref name="egmr" /><ref name="CVG" /><ref name="sforcer" /> ''Electronic Gaming Monthly'' called it "one of the most intense carts to date [...] nonstop intensity from beginning to end."<ref name="egmr" /> ''Mean Machines Sega'' agreed, commending the variety in level design and the "frantic, high-density blasting mayhem."<ref name="mmsr" /> ''Sega Force'' believed the game's variety prevented it from falling into monotony, and instead, reinvigorated the platform genre.<ref name="sforcer" /> ''[[Computer and Video Games]]'' agreed, feeling gameplay customization options kept it feeling interesting and original.<ref name="CVG" /> Some critics praised the player characters' acrobatics and attack maneuvers for adding excitement.<ref name="mmsr" /><ref name="gpror" /><ref name="edger" /> ''[[GamePro]]'' called ''Gunstar Heroes'' "chaos in a cart" with "murderous action, excellent controls, and imaginative game design."<ref name="gpror" /> The game's two-player cooperative mode was praised,<ref name="egmr" /><ref name="edger" /> although some felt there was too much clutter on the screen to tell the player characters apart.<ref name="CVG" /><ref name="gpror" />
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=== Ports ===
Critics lauded the Game Gear port as a great 8-bit conversion.<ref name="mmsgg">{{Cite magazine
==Legacy==
''Gunstar Heroes'' was listed as one of the best games ever made by several publications.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://top100.ign.com/2003/|title=IGN's Top 100 Games of All Time |year=2003|website=[[IGN]]|
Being Treasure's debut game, ''Gunstar Heroes'' helped establish their reputation in the industry.<ref name=":4"/><ref name=":23">{{Cite web|url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/a-reminder-or-is-it-a-memorial-of-gamings-original-hardcore-developer|title=A Reminder (or is it a Memorial?) of Gaming's Original Hardcore Developer|last=Parish|first=Jeremy|date=July 22, 2015|website=USgamer|language=en|access-date=December 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226084219/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/a-reminder-or-is-it-a-memorial-of-gamings-original-hardcore-developer|archive-date=December 26, 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> ''Retro Gamer'' wrote that the game "blew open the state of 2D platform-shooters."<ref name=":4" /> Developers at the time borrowed inspiration for titles like ''[[Vectorman]]'' (1995) and ''[[Shinobi III]]'' (1993).<ref>{{cite book|title=Sega Mega Drive/Collected Works|last=Stuart|first=Keith
==Notes==
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==References==
{{Reflist}}
==External links==
*{{official website|https://www.treasure-inc.co.jp/p/gunstar_heroes.html}} {{in lang|ja}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080519085927fw_/http://www.treasure-inc.co.jp/products/lp/m_cd/guns_cd.html Official soundtrack website] {{in lang|ja}} (archived)
{{Treasure video games}}
{{Franchises owned by Sega Sammy Holdings}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:1993 video games]]
[[Category:Cooperative video games]]
[[Category:
[[Category:IOS games]]
[[Category:MegaTech Hyper Game awards winners]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo 3DS games]]
[[Category:Nintendo 3DS eShop games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 2 games]]
[[Category:Run and gun games]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Post-apocalyptic video games]]
[[Category:Sega Games franchises]]
[[Category:Sega Genesis games]]
[[Category:Side-scrolling video games]]
[[Category:Treasure (company) games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]▼
[[Category:Virtual Console games]]
[[Category:Xbox 360 Live Arcade games]]
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[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:Sega video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch Online games]]
▲[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
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