Sunset Riders / サンセットライダーズ / Sansetto Raidāzu

Sunset Riders[a] is a side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter video game developed and released by Konami as a coin-operated video game on the JAMMA arcade platform in 1991.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot showing Steve on the game's third level
The game, which is set in a fanciful version of the American Old West, revolves around four bounty hunters named Steve, Billy Cool, Bob, and Cormano Wild, who are out to claim rewards offered for eliminating the most wanted outlaws in the West.

Sunset Riders has gameplay that is similar to both Contra and Vendetta. This cooperative shooter can also be played up to two or four players simultaneously, depending on the version of the game. In the two-player version each player can choose which of the four bounty hunters to play as at the start of the game, while in the four-player version each character is assigned to a different control panel. Steve and Billy wield revolvers, Bob carries a rifle, and Cormano uses a double barrel shotgun.

The objective of the game is to defeat a gang of outlaws in eight stages, with a fight against a strong boss character at the end of each. When two or more people are playing, the one who deals the most damage to a stage boss receives the entire bonus for defeating him. Five of the stages are played on foot, two on horseback, and one on a moving train.

Characters
There are four playable bounty hunters in the game who are out to claim rewards offered for eliminating the most wanted outlaws in the West. In the Sega Genesis version however there are only two playable bounty hunters.

Steve is a bounty hunter who also wields revolvers similar to Billy's, though his bullets from his revolver appear to be more powerful than Billy's own bullets.

Billy Cool is a bounty hunter who wields a revolver and speaks in a western country accent.

Bob is a bounty hunter wielding a rifle who speaks in a southern American accent.

Cormano Wild is a bounty hunter wearing a Mexican poncho and a sombrero who wields a double barrel shotgun. He later wears a red sombrero worn by El Greco after neutralizing him.

Wanted Outlaws
The outlaws are the recurring bosses of the game as Richard Rose is the final boss at the end of the game.

Simon Greedwell is a rich and greedy outlaw who is the boss of the first stage. He wields a shotgun while ordering his men to deal with the bounty hunters. His last words on death are "Bury me with my money."

Hawkeye Hank Hatfield is a rich outlaw who is known to shoot a gun in one hand and the boss of the second stage. Despite his efforts to kill the bounty hunters, he was neutralized.

Dark Horse is a muscular outlaw who rides an armored horse. He is the boss of the third stage. Once he is neutralized by the bounty hunters, the armored horse runs away along with his corpse.

The Smith Brothers are siblings and outlaws who cause trouble inside a saloon owned by a beautiful woman. They are the bosses of the fourth stage, fought immediately after Dark Horse. After the bounty hunters neutralize the brothers, they watch the dance performance of three beautiful women on stage, who then inform the bounty hunters about Richard Rose and his three henchmen.

El Greco is one of Richard Rose's henchmen and a Mexican outlaw serving as the boss of the fifth stage. He carries a shield to deflect shots and a whip. Once he is neutralized by the bounty hunters, El Greco tosses away his red Mexican sombrero. If Cormano is being played, he will catch the hat and wear it in place of his own for the rest of the game.

Chief Scalpem is a chief from the native American tribe, an expert in knife throwing and one of Richard Rose's henchmen, serving as the boss of the sixth stage. Despite his efforts to defeat the bounty hunters, he was neutralized but was soon spared by the bounty hunters due to his younger sister's plea knowing he was following Richard's orders. In the Sega Genesis version, Scalpem serves as the boss of the third stage.

Paco Loco is a hulking outlaw who wields a gatling gun, and is one of Richard Rose's henchmen, serving as the boss in the seventh stage. Once he is neutralized by the bounty hunters, his last words are Hasta la Bye Bye! referencing the T-800's main catchphrase in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day. In the Sega Genesis version, Paco Loco serves as the boss of the second stage.

______________

Developer(s) Konami Gaming
Publisher(s) Konami Co., Ltd.
Director(s) Hideyuki Tsujimoto
Composer(s) Motoaki Furukawa
Platform(s) Arcade
Mega Drive/Genesis
SNES
PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
Release Arcade
JP: July 9, 1991
NA: September 1991
Mega Drive/Genesis
December 1992
SNES
June 8, 1993
PlayStation 4, Switch
June 11, 2020
Genre(s) Run-and-gun shooter
Mode(s) Arcade
Single-player, 2–4 player (co-op)
Mega Drive/Genesis
1–2 player (co-op, versus mode)
SNES
1–2 player (co-op)
PlayStation 4, Switch
1-4 player
Arcade system Konami TMNT2 Based

#Sunset Riders #konami games #arcade retro