Gunstar Heroes

You have to defend your planet of Gunstar 9 with brothers Red and Blue with five weapons at your side as well as the option to combine 2 at a time, and also being able to team up with another player. At a first look, you may think this is just another run and gun shooter like Contra, but really Gunstar Heroes is a game with a great engine, fluid gameplay, and unique stratigic thinking making the action awesome fun. From the start of stage 1 with the flowing very well done backgrounds, this game looks phenomenal, and keeps doing so until the very end. You can choose 1 of 2 brothers at the start (playing single player) and choosing 1 of 5 weapons at your disposal. Each gun has its own power and unique action or advantage, with you being able to combine it with another weapon to mix it up, or 2 of the same for max power of that specific weapon. From the start of stage 1 the action picks up right away, with enemies flying at you from all directions, with you able to fire your weapon in all directions, like in Super Castlevania IV being able to whip in all directions. Your character can take a bit of damage, but not to much, and requires quick thinking, or else our health will start flying (vitality) toward 0. The enemies have their own unique movement and fire differently, with no really set pattern, with quick reflexes being required as well. Gunstar Heroes is a side scrolling game, making walk to the right to advance forward, then eventually reaching a boss along the way, and each boss is very creative, some of the best boss designs created in gaming history, with all bosses occuring making think very fast, and quick movement to dodge their fire. Bosses can arrange from hard to fairly easy, and most have a set pattern that doesn't take very long to figure out, but you'll probably die a few times trying to figure out a boss. Believe me when I say "these are some of the coolest and most creative bosses ever" and I am not exaggerating. 
 
Gunstar Heroes takes advantage of the Genesis's blast processing, with full blown moving backgrounds, making the speed of the game very speedy. You will almost feel like your interacting with the environment you are playing in. The enemies as well as all of the bosses feel fresh and original (with the exception of Colonel Red, whom resembles M. Bison of the Street Fighter series very much). Every stage, even sections within feel new and look excellent, stunning your eyes through the whole playthrough, astounding every step of the way. The presentation does not play around hear, as I've been babbling on about, and makes this one of the funnest games I have ever played, ever. The colors and vibrant textures are so unique with a strong feel, that give you a feeling that you actually part of this awesome universe and planet of Gunstar 9. Gunstar Heroes allows to interact with most objects you come accross, allowing you to destroy many objects, and also double jump or grab onto ledges, as well hang from them to blast away your foes, giving you a feel of a real Gunstar Hero. I'm going to come back to talking about the bosses once again, because I can't seem to get my finger tip away from talking about them. The bosses here are designs so nicely, look amazing, have very cool movement, and look like nothing you have ever seen before, as well, they interact with the back ground making you fire into the distance throwing crazing attacks and explosions your way. You may get frustrated versing these bosses, but then take a look at them, and just simply sit there and really see how cool all of these bosses really are. There are also a TON of bosses, and when I mean a TON, I actually mean a lot of bosses. This game takes fairly 2-3 hours to complete, and there is roughly around 20 boss fights, which are all unique, and get very crazy and cool looking in the very end, also versing bosses multiple times, as well changing their patterns, and the way they attack each time you'll face them.
 
I can't say enough how great Gunstar Heroes really is, I hope this review does this game justice, and give you some spite to go and try it out and see really, how amazing this now classic game is. From start to finish, all of the visuals and battles, with the plenty awesome boss battles, you'll really enjoy this great game. I hope this encourages everyone to go and play this game right now, and I now everyone should enjoy this, you will, make no mistake. The weapons are like nothing you've ever used or seen, but... JUST GO AND PLAY THIS GAME ALREADY, IT IS AWESOME!