Basically, this is a port of the classic Genesis/MegaDrive version. The Genesis Cartridge of this game is not only difficult to come by, but also very pricey on auction sites like Ebay. Is the price difference, and the convenience of having the game playable on a newer console worth the enterance fee alone? Read on..
First, to play this game, you are going to need either a Japanese PS2, a USA PS2 with a modchip, or a USA Slimline PS2 with Swap Magic discs and parts kit. I personally went with option 3. The Swap Magic boot discs and parts kit together will run you around $36, but will also enable any Japanese Import title to be played on your console, so it is a worthwhile investment. Slimline PS2s run about $130 these days, so it won't break the bank to pick one up for the purpose of playing imports. The parts kit basically includes a few small plastic peices that hold various sensors in place to make the console think the disc lid is closed at all times. Then, you can load the boot disc and swap for the import disc. This is a method common for many consoles.
What extra features, if any, make this version of Gunstar Heroes worth a purchase? I'm glad you asked, as there are several. First and foremost, if you have your Playstation 2 hooked up to an HDTV via component cables, you can set the game to display in 480p progressive scan mode, complete with a graphics smoothing option. This makes Gunstar Heroes look amazing, and an absolute joy to play on a High Definition Television set. Secondly, this release of Gunstar Heroes includes four different versions of the game to play through: Original Japanese, North American English version, a pre-production prototype version, and the rare, Japan only GameGear version (which is suprisingly similar to the Genesis version BTW). The game also includes an image gallery, chocked full of original Japanese artwork, which is a nice extra for die hard fans to browse through. There is also a button configuration feature to map the three Genesis buttons to any on the Dual Shock 2 controller. Last but not least, you can save all your settings to a Playstation 2 Memory card so you don't have to reset everything every time you play.
Graphics 8/10 - Time has been good to this title, it is still one of the best looking Genesis games ever. Progressive scan and graphics smoothing really are a treat, and make this game look good, even by today's standards.
Sound 7/10 - The same sound effects and music from the original version, with no noticable differences or variations due to the port to a newer console.
Gameplay 9/10- The gameplay you've come to know and love, but enhanced slightly by the addition of a button maping feature. It almost makes things a bit easier when you can set it so Square shoots, X Jumps and R1 switches weapons. That's just my preference, you can set it any way you desire, and that is a big plus.
Nostalgia 10/10 - Gunstar Heroes is a fan favorite, and one of developer Treasure's finest games, this is truly a worthy compilation, with extras and features that you would expect of such a title. Reliving the memories, with visuals that look better than you remember is a huge factor in calculating this score.
Spectacular cover art befitting such an awesome game, enhanced visuals, multiple game versions, Button mapping, Dynamite Heady and Alien Soldier thrown in for good measure, and additional art galleries makes this package the definitive Gunstar Heroes release. A must have for any fan capable of playing imports, and it comes with my highest recomendation. Be sure to check it out, if your setup allows.
