Hello, and welcome to Retro Revival a new regular feature, where I will be discussing retro titles that have been given a new lease of life on modern platforms. The titles featured in this series will range from HD remasters, emulated ports and titles that are included in collections. To start off this new feature, I will be covering the arcade title Sunset Riders, a western run and gun action title from Konami, powered by Hamster’s Arcade Archives.
Disclaimer: the games discussed in this feature have been purchased by me, so the opinions given within are all my own. There has been no sponsorship of the content within this feature. Links to the different versions of the game will be provided at the bottom of this feature where possible.
So with the introductions out of the way, let’s get started with the premier instalment of the new Retro Revival feature. This will follow a similar formula to other features, discussing the game and then some personal thoughts on them.
About the game
Sunset Riders is a side-scrolling run and gun action game, set in a version of the American Old West, inspired by the tales of Outlaws and Bounty Hunters. In this arcade release, the player can select one of four gunslingers, who are on a mission to take down a rogue’s gallery of bandits and outlaws. This title can be played in two variants, a 2 player or 4 player mode is available, with a choice between the original Japanese and international versions.
There are four bounty hunters in this release, split into two specific play styles. The first is the gunslingers, Billy and Steve, who are armed with rapid fire six shooters for quick shots. Then there are the shotgunners, Bob and Cormano, who use powerful spread guns to dispatch enemies. This gives a good amount of variety when playing the game alone, or with others as there is a lot of content on offer in this title.
The game itself is made up of 8 stages with a boss battle in each of them. These stages usually play out in a traditional side scrolling fare, with the ability to jump between upper and lower levels, alongside platforming challenges. Then there are the auto scrolling stages, where the player rides a horse moving back and forth. There are even stages where the player has to cross a moving train, and a battle inside a saloon.
As the player makes their way through the stages, there will be gangs of outlaws that try to take the bounty hunters down. These include the traditional bandits, dynamite throwing cowgirls and fantastical depictions of Native Americans from the Spaghetti Western genre of film. These foes will attack the player with projectile and ranged weapons, appearing from windows, balconies and even jumping down from rooftops.
There will also be enemies holding sacks, who drop items when defeated. These include piles of gold, a turkey roast and the most important, power up stars. These stars give one of two benefits when first picked up, separated into gold and silver. The gold stars give ultra-rapid fire, whereas silver stars give the player a second gun, doubling the shots. All items can also be collected from Saloon girls and by entering open doors.
The power-ups will be with the character for as long as they can avoid death, as they will be reset upon being defeated. This will revert them to their standard attack, which can be a little frustrating during boss battles. Thankfully, there is an abundance of power-ups that can be found, with the number increasing as do the players. This can make it a little frantic during co-op play, as players can scramble to get the upgrades.
At the end of each stage, the boss will appear and throw out a digitized voice line, usually a quote that is inspired by outlaws in media. Then the battle begins, with each of the encounters having a unique gimmick to them. These include a hotshot gunfighter that can dodge roll, a hulking bandit on an armored horse and twins that use explosives/bombs. The unique gimmicks keep the action exciting, preventing it from getting tedious during play.
Each of the bosses has a bounty attached to them, increasing with their infamy and power. When playing single player, the bounty will be immediately given to the player. But if there is more than one, the player who deals the most damage to the boss will win the bounty, shown as a percentage on the results screen. This gives a competitive element to the co-op gameplay, as this is still a score based arcade game.
When all of the bosses have been defeated, the game will start again from the first stage for a second loop. This will occur with increased difficulty, increasing the number of enemies and dangers they possess. If the player chooses to play the Japanese version, the game will end after a second loop giving a definitive ending. However, if the player chooses to play the international version, the game will continue indefinitely after each loop.
After stage 2 and 5 during a loop, the player can challenge a bonus round, which acts as a shooting gallery, where 50 targets will pop up on screen. Players have a short window of time to shoot the outlaws, or they will disappear. The patterns are set for both stages, so after some practice it is possible to get perfect scores. When in solo or co-op mode, points will be awarded to a player based on how many targets they have managed to hit.
Since this is an arcade game, there is an in-game leaderboard that will record the score that players have earned. Then there are the online rankings, which let players across the world compete against each other for the top spot. Then we finish with the bonus challenge modes, with Caravan Mode that gives players a 5 minute time limit and Hi Score Mode, where players get one credit. The best score achieved in these modes is added to the global rankings.
Personal thoughts
I remember coming across sunset riders while on holiday as a kid, seeing the two player cabinet at a seaside arcade. This was alongside other Konami arcade machines, like the Simpsons and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, which were a highlight of the summer holidays. When the Arcade Archives brand launched on the PlayStation 4 and Nintendo Switch, I had no idea that Sunset Riders would get a revival through this brand.
However, I was happily surprised when this title was added to the Hamster Arcade Archives library, making it an easy pick up. When I booted this up for the first time, I was instantly taken back to those days in the arcade. I grabbed my controller, picked my favourite bounty hunter and before I knew it a couple hours had passed. In the end, I had cleared the true ending of the Japanese version and multiple loops of the International release.
I had previously played the game via early versions of MAME, alongside the two home ports, but they had their limitations. This is the best possible way to experience Sunset Riders, as it features both versions of the game in 2 and 4 player variants, alongside dipswitch access and video filters. Then there are the extra modes, which really expand the replay value for players. This is alongside the global rankings, where players can compete across the world.
As a single player experience, this is a great game on its own, with a lot of fun to be offered for those who enjoy a good run and gun. However, when playing this game with at least one person in co-op mode, the chaos is elevated even further. The enjoyment you can have looping the game over and over, is just pure arcade fun at its core, all wrapped in vibrant spaghetti western camp. There is even a Can-Can scene in a saloon as a transition cutscene.
This is one of those games that I thought would never get released again, as Konami has a pretty bad track record of ignoring a lot of their old games. It was part of the short lived Game Room app on the Xbox 360, which was poorly promoted and shut down in 2017, making Sunset Riders inaccessible once again. I am thankful that Hamster has put the effort into their Arcade Archives label, offering many games that have not seen a re-release, a second chance to be appreciated.
If you couldn’t tell, I have a lot of love for this game, and with the popularity of games that feature a western setting, I feel that it deserves a chance to shine again. Before Call of Juarez, Red Dead Redemption and Red Dead Revolver, Sunset Riders brought the wild west bounty hunter to game screens. I cannot recommend this game enough, as it the perfect for fans of westerns and co-op action games, with a low cost of admission.
If you have enjoyed reading this feature, then please check out my other content on the site, including additional features and game reviews. There will also be more entries in this new Retro Revival feature, the Lost Gems series and a new entry in Gaming Oddities will be coming soon. I will also be working on a series of features focusing on co-op experiences. So stick around and see what catches your fancy.
Links to Arcade Archives Sunset Riders below.
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
W.Kohaku Media 