Gunstar Heroes (Japan)

Getting Started

When you boot up the Japanese cartridge, the title screen appears in English text, but the menus are a mix of Japanese and English. Press Start to proceed. You will see a mode select: choose between Single Player or Two Player (co-op). The second player can join anytime by pressing Start on their controller. After selecting the mode, you pick a stage from a map screen; stages can be chosen in any order at first. The game automatically sets the difficulty to Normal unless you hold a button during startup (not necessary for first playthrough).

The core loop is straightforward: run right, shoot everything, collect weapon orbs dropped by enemies. Each enemy drops a colored orb that changes your shot type. You can carry two weapons at once; picking up a third orb replaces the first one. Experiment by combining different colors to unlock special shots like the spread gun, homing laser, or the powerful lightning whip. There is no health bar - if you get hit, you lose your current weapon loadout. Boss fights often have multiple phases, so learn attack patterns and keep moving.

If you get stuck, remember that you can replay earlier stages to practice and that the weapon combination system makes a huge difference. The game is tough but fair; checkpoints are generous for the era. The Japanese version does not have a save state, but the game is short enough to beat in one sitting after learning the patterns. Use the Z button to switch between your two stored weapons quickly during combat.