Some video game companies are really great at doing certain types of video games. Capcom is good at fighting games, Rareware (at least WAS), good at Platform games, Sega is (mostly) good at speed-run games, Nintendo is good at a lot of DIFFERENT types of games, and Konami is good at co-op platform games. So I can't imagine, why Konami would decide to abandon the very thing that made their company a highly in-demand video game publisher in the FIRST place during the late 1980's and early 1990's. Sure, their formula was good on 8-bit systems and 16-bit systems; but just because technology eventually marched on, that doesn't mean that Konami couldn't have FOUND a way to replicate the same type of success on later generations of video game systems! But that's neither here nor there. The point of this review, is that this game is just about when Konami was at the peak of their video game making prowess. With successes like the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle: Arcade Game", and "The Simpsons: Arcade Game" already under their belt, Konami wanted to try to duplicate the success of "Contra", but as a Western video game! They not only succeeded, they succeeded very well! Whether you play the two-player or four-player version of the Arcade game, the premise of the game is the same. Playing as one of four western heroes, your job is to make it through each stage, and shoot down any and all of the bad guys that try to kill you. Thankfully, you're allowed to shoot in practically any direction you want; meaning that guys that try to sneak up behind you, or try to fire at you at an angle; can still be hit! You can get power-ups to double the amount of your fire-power (shooting two guns at once), pick up a stronger, faster gun, and even double up the fire-power of that gun! Occasionally, you'll have to jump up to higher and lower levels of the game screen, in order to avoid hazards that might be on one level! And with the exception of one boss, it is your duty to make sure that every bad guy heads for the last round-up; as they say in Western terms. And while there is SOME values dissonance with there being Native American bad guys and Mexican bad guys, at least the reason is MORE justified, as the setting IS the Wild West; where values dissonance was much more expected than in our times. The graphics are great, the controls are great, the music is great, and the sound is great. The only thing keeping the game from being perfect, is that it's a little difficult to beat on your own. The game is much more fun (and interesting), if you bring along a friend or three! Play this game for yourself, and see why this game is one of the best Western Shooter video games out there! Enough said, true believers!
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