Sunset Riders FTW

As the release of Rockstar Games' "Red Dead Redemption" is getting so much press at the moment (and rightly so... we at the Because Association are very much looking forward to the free-roam online multiplayer!), I though it might be a good time to refresh your memory of/introduce you to the best cowboy/western video game ever made (possibly until today): Sunset Riders. Check out the video above to see some awesome 4-player arcade action.

I have not been at all interested to play Gun, and had not even heard of Red Dead Revolver (until its sequel was announced), so was not really in need of or had an interest in another western-influenced game. However, all the articles I have read about Red Dead Redemption have piqued my interest and would have made it a Day One purchase if I had the chance to leave the office for a lunch break today. In the meantime I have been playing Sunset Riders on my Nokia N900 using the DrNokSNES emulator.

I first played Sunset Riders on a family caravan holiday, and was hooked straight away. Konami have made some great games in the past, and I would put this near the top of the list alongside International Superstar Soccer and Contra. The game is essentially a platform shooter with all the American Old West features you would expect (outlaws, saloon bars, wide-brimmed hats), some clever set pieces (buffalo stampedes) and challenging boss battles. It still has a lot to offer, and if you can find a physical copy for SNES or SEGA Mega Drive (or an emulator) it is well worth playing.