Sunset Riders

Sunset Riders[a] is a 1991 run and gun video game

developed and published by Konami for arcades. It Sunset Riders
was released in North America in October 1991 and
Japan in November 1991.[3] It is set in the American
Old West, where the player(s) take control of bounty
hunters who are seeking the rewards offered for
various criminals.

The arcade version was released in two variants: a two-

player version and a four-player version. Home
console versions of Sunset Riders were released for the
Mega Drive/Genesis in 1992 and for the Super
Nintendo Entertainment System in 1993 to a positive
reception. Hamster Corporation released the game as
part of their Arcade Archives series for the Nintendo
Switch and PlayStation 4 in June 2020.[4]

Gameplay North American arcade flyer

Developer Konami
The game, which is set in a fanciful version of the Publisher Konami
American Old West, revolves around four bounty
Director Hideyuki Tsujimoto
hunters named Steve, Billy, Bob, and Cormano, who
are out to claim rewards offered for eliminating the Producers M. Ozawa
most wanted outlaws in the West. Each bounty hunter Masahiro Inoue
wields different guns. At the beginning of each stage, Platforms Arcade, Mega Drive/Genesis,
the players are shown a wanted poster for the outlaw Super NES
they will face at its end. Release Arcade
NA: October 1991
Sunset Riders has gameplay that is similar to other
Konami titles such as Contra and Vendetta. This JP: November 1991
cooperative shooter can also be played up to two or Mega Drive/Genesis
four players simultaneously, depending on the version NA: December 1992
of the game. In the two-player version each player can Super NES
choose which of the four bounty hunters to play as at NA: October 1993[2]
the start of the game, while in the four-player version EU: November 26, 1993[1]
each character is assigned to a different control panel.
Genre Run and gun
Steve and Billy wield revolvers, Bob carries a rifle,
and Cormano uses a double barrel shotgun. The Modes Single-player, multiplayer
controls consist of an eight-way joystick for moving
and aiming, and two buttons for shooting and jumping. The player(s) can jump between higher/lower
floors and slide to avoid enemy attacks.[5]
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. A bonus
minigame is played after the second and fifth stages, in which
the player(s) can earn additional points by shooting outlaws
as they pop up. After all eight stages are cleared, the game
restarts with increased difficulty.
Gameplay screenshot showing Steve on
Power-ups and bonus items can be obtained by entering the game's third level
doorways, defeating certain sack-carrying bandits, or opening
sacks placed on the ground. Two power-ups are available, a
gold sheriff's badge that grants fully automatic fire and a silver one that gives the player a second gun.
Both power-ups can be equipped at once. Other weapons that can be used by the player include dynamite
carried by female bandits (which must be thrown back before it explodes), hanging rocks/barrels/torches
that can be dropped on enemies, and mounted Gatling guns available only in the last stage. An easter egg
involves the defeat of the boss in the fifth stage; if Cormano is active at this point, he will catch the boss's
sombrero and wear it for the remainder of the game.

One life is lost whenever the player is hit by any enemy attack, trampled by bulls, caught in a fire or
explosion, or struck by a rock or obstacle. Any power-ups that a player has gained are also lost. After all
lives are lost, the player may continue the game by inserting more credits, but has a limited amount of
time to do so before the game defaults to a game over screen.

Release
In Japan, the arcade game was first released on July 9, 1991.[6] Sunset Riders made its North American
debut at the September 1991 Amusement & Music Operators Association (AMOA) show in Las Vegas.[7]
It was then released for arcades internationally in October 1991.[3] Two years later, the arcade version
was reprogrammed to two home consoles. The home versions were only released in North America and
Europe.

Sega Genesis
The Mega Drive/Genesis version of Sunset Riders features the most changes made to the game between
the two home versions of the game. Out of the four main characters from the arcade game, only Billy and
Cormano are featured. The two characters in the Genesis version were given surnames that they
originally did not have in the arcade version (Billy Cool and Cormano Wild). The controls are identical to
the arcade version aside from the addition of two shooting buttons instead of just one: one button allows
the player to walk and shoot at the same time, while the other shoot button keeps the character still when
pressed down, allowing the player to change their aim only.[8]
Only four of the eight bosses from the arcade version are featured (Simon Greedwell, Paco Loco, Chief
Scalpem, and Sir Richard Rose), and each of the four chapters are divided into two stages. Each boss
dialogue is worded in a text bubble instead of voiced. The power-up icons have also been replaced as
well. Unlike the other versions, the player can cause a dynamite stick to explode by shooting it. To access
the bonus stages, the player must collect a Star-shaped item located in either stage of each chapter. The
bonus stages also differ from the ones in the arcade version: the player chases after a moving wagon on
horseback, while the woman in the wagon tosses bonus coins and extra lives at the player's path.[8]

In addition to the standard game mode, the Mega Drive/Genesis version features a two-player versus
mode. The players must shoot each other until one of the players runs out of health.[8]

Super NES
In contrast to the Genesis version, the Super NES version of Sunset Riders features relatively few
changes. Subtitles have been added to the voice acted cutscenes, and the barfly that kisses the player
character in Stage 1 as well as the saloon dancers from Stage 4 are dressed more conservatively compared
to the arcade version. In addition, there is only 1 woman you can rescue in Stage 4, and you do not get a
bonus upon rescuing her. Hunter dogs, which were present in the first segment of the final chapter in the
Genesis version, were removed. The Native American enemy characters from Stage 6 were removed and
replaced with regular outlaws, leaving only Chief Wigwam (originally named Chief Scalpem in the
arcade version) as the stage boss. The dynamite-tossing female bandits were replaced with male bandits
as well.

Reception
Contemporary reception
Review scores
Score
Publication
Arcade Sega Genesis SNES

Electronic Gaming Monthly 39/50[9]

GameFan 187/200[10]

GamePro 16/20[11]

HobbyConsolas 78%[13] 86%[14]

Mean Machines Sega 84%[15]

Sinclair User 82%[16]

Super Play 87%[12]

Zero [17]

MegaTech 87%[18]

SNES Force 89%[19]

Contemporary
In Japan, Game Machine listed it on their December 15, 1991 issue as being the third most-successful
table arcade unit of the month.[20]

Sunset Riders was well received by the video game press upon release. Sinclair User gave the arcade
game an 82% score, opining it "plays very well and should prove an interesting challenge for your finely
honed arcade skills."[16] In a more reserved review, Zero rated the arcade original a 3 out of 5, calling it a
"fairly fast shoot'em up with a sense of humour."[17]

The "rather splendid" Super NES version was given an overall score of 87% by Dan Jevons from Super
Play, who described it as "another winner from Konami's stable".[12] It also received an 89% score in
SNES Force, with an 88% and an 89% from two reviewers.[19] Hobby Consolas gave the scores of 86%
to the Super NES version and 78% for the Sega Mega Drive version,[14][13] while Mean Machines Sega
rated the latter as 84%, noting it as "surprisingly good".[15]

Retrospective
Retrospective reception
Aggregate score
Score
Aggregator
Sega Genesis SNES

GameRankings 70% (1 review)[21] 80% (6 reviews)[22]

Review scores
Score
Publication
Sega Genesis SNES

Nintendo Life 8/10[23]

Arcade Attack 80%[24]

Retro Game Age 8/10[25]

Sega-16 7/10[26]

Retrospectively, Jamie O'Neill from Nintendo Life awarded the Super NES version eight stars out of ten,
writing it "is bright, colourful, fantastically well animated, with superb music and sound. It understands
its place as a Western game and within the run-and-gun genre, by combining imaginative characterisation
and humour, with well-paced action set-pieces, plus variety in its gameplay."[23] Retro Game Age gave it
the same score as well, opining "Sunset Riders remains a fun romp that still presents some challenge to
get through and is just as fun to play now as it was almost 20 years ago."[25] Nick Gibson from Sega-16
rated the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis port a 7 out of 10,[26] while it was rated 80% by Arcade Attack.[24]

IGN ranked it as the 88th best game for the Super NES.[27] In 2018, Complex listed the game 36th in
their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time."[28]
See also
Mystic Warriors
Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa
List of Western video games

Notes

a. Japanese: サンセットライダーズ, Hepburn: Sansetto Raidāzu

References
1. "Release dates" ([Link]
cember%201993/page/40/mode/2up). Edge. No. 3. p. 40.
2. "Super NES Games" ([Link]
m/consumer/downloads/snes_games.pdf) (PDF). Nintendo of America. Archived from the
original ([Link] (PDF) on June
11, 2014. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
3. Akagi, Masumi (2006). アーケード ゲームリスト国内 海外編
TV • (1971–2005) [Arcade TV
Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971–2005)] (in Japanese). Japan: Amusement
News Agency. pp. 27, 122. ISBN 978-4990251215.
4. McFerran, Damien (March 19, 2020). "Konami's Cowboy Classic Sunset Riders Is Galloping
To Switch This Week" ([Link]
c_sunset_riders_is_galloping_to_switch_this_week). Nintendo Life. Retrieved November 30,
2025.
5. Konami. Sunset Riders (Arcade). Level/area: Operator's manual, page 2.
6. "Sunset Riders (Registration Number PA0000536977)" ([Link] United
States Copyright Office. Retrieved July 7, 2021.
7. Cook, John (October 28, 1991). "Arcades: Konami" ([Link]
zine-38/page/n93). The One. No. 38 (November 1991). EMAP Images. pp. 94–95.
8. Konami. Sunset Riders (Sega Genesis). Level/area: Instruction manual.
9. "Review Crew" ([Link]
Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 53. EGM Media, LLC. December 1993. p. 44.
10. Halverson, Dave (Skid); Brody (December 1992). "Viewpoint" ([Link]
mefan_Volume_01_Issue_02_December_1992/page/n7/mode/2up). GameFan. Vol. 1,
no. 2. pp. 8–9.
11. Nihei, Wes (February 1993). "Genesis Pro Review: Sunset Riders". GamePro. No. 43. p. 50.
12. "Out-of-Print Archive • Super Nintendo reviews • Sunset Riders" ([Link]
[Link]/articles/reviews/SNES/[Link]). Retrieved March 20,
2016.
13. "Mega Drive: Sunset Riders" ([Link]
onsolas-018/86). Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). No. 18. March 1993.
14. "Hobby Consolas 028" ([Link]
8#page/n109/mode/2up). January 1994. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
15. "Mean Machines Sega Magazine Issue 07" ([Link]
a-magazine-07/MMSega_07_Apr_1993#page/n67/mode/2up/). April 1993. Retrieved
March 20, 2016.
16. Cook, John (November 18, 1991). "Coin Ops: Sunset Riders" ([Link]
clair-user-magazine-118/page/n61). Sinclair User. No. 118 (December 1991). United
Kingdom: EMAP. p. 62.
17. Stokes, Doris (December 1991). "Dosh Eaters: Sunset Riders" ([Link]
ro-magazine-26/Zero_26_Dec_1991#page/n91/mode/1up/). Zero. No. 26. United Kingdom:
Dennis Publishing. pp. 91–92 (92). Retrieved March 20, 2016.
18. "Game Index" ([Link] MegaTech.
No. 42 (June 1995). May 31, 1995. pp. 30–1.
19. "SNES N-Force Magazine Issue 06" ([Link]
NESForce_06_Nov_1993#page/n49/mode/2up/). November 1993. Retrieved March 20,
2016.
20. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型 ゲーム機
TV (Table Videos)". Game
Machine (in Japanese). No. 417. Amusement Press, Inc. December 15, 1991. p. 25.
21. "Sunset Riders review score" ([Link]
[Link]/genesis/586500-sunset-riders/[Link]). Archived from the original (http
s://[Link]/genesis/586500-sunset-riders/[Link]) on May 5, 2019.
22. "Sunset Riders" ([Link]
om/snes/588706-sunset-riders/[Link]). Archived from the original ([Link]
[Link]/snes/588706-sunset-riders/[Link]) on May 5, 2019.
23. Nintendo Life (December 20, 2009). "Sunset Riders Review - SNES - Nintendo Life" (http://
[Link]/reviews/2009/12/sunset_riders_retro). Nintendo Life. Retrieved
March 20, 2016.
24. "Sunset Riders (Mega Drive Review)" ([Link]
[Link]/sunset-riders-mega-drive-review/). Archived from the original (htt
p://[Link]/sunset-riders-mega-drive-review/) on August 28, 2016.
Retrieved March 20, 2016.
25. "Sunset Riders (SNES)" ([Link] Retro Game Age.
February 4, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
26. "Sega-16 – Sunset Riders" ([Link] November 27,
2004. Retrieved March 20, 2016.
27. "Sunset Riders" ([Link] IGN. Retrieved
March 20, 2016.
28. Knight, Rich (April 30, 2018). "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time" ([Link]
[Link]/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/). Complex. Retrieved
February 6, 2022.

External links
Sunset Riders ([Link] at the
Killer List of Videogames
Sunset Riders ([Link] at MobyGames

Retrieved from "[Link]