Over 30 Years Later, This Game’s Boss Fights Still Live Rent-Free In My Head

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I’ve grown to really enjoy video games with rich, immersive stories. However, I only feel like playing them when I’m in the right headspace.

Sometimes, I love to unwind by playing old-school, over-the-top arcade games, the kind that were popular in the nineties. They’re a great way to switch off and escape from my thoughts.

There’s a strange calm I find when I’m battling through waves of enemies or a massive boss – it’s a peaceful feeling despite all the chaos on the screen. In those moments, nothing else matters except my score, my ship, my shooting, and the enemies I’m facing.

I really enjoy how wildly creative the enemy designs are in these games. While you often see standard spaceships, there’s usually a lot of unique and bizarre stuff too. For me, *Gunstar Heroes* perfectly captures all of this – it’s a fantastic, classic game for the Sega Mega Drive.

This fast-paced, action-packed game was Treasure’s first project, and in my opinion, it remains their greatest achievement.

The Gunstar Brothers, Red and Blue, are on a mission to rescue their brother Green, who has been captured by the evil Empire. While the story isn’t groundbreaking, it provides a perfect excuse for plenty of exciting, fast-paced action across the galaxy, and that’s all that really matters.

The game’s first four main sections can be played in any order, and they each offer a unique experience. One has you riding a strange mine cart through underground tunnels that can switch between the floor and ceiling. Another takes place in the notorious Dice Palace, where the characters must escape a challenging, Mario Party-inspired ordeal.

I’m highlighting these two areas specifically because the boss fights in them are the most unforgettable I’ve experienced in any game. The Seven Force battle is particularly well-known and likely familiar to fans of the genre.

Piloting a transforming ship that cycles through seven distinct forms under the empire’s command, Green really showcased the game’s impressive sprite work and animation during this battle. I felt it was a clear demonstration of the visual quality.

Seven Times The Creativity

Every form the enemy takes – whether it’s the massive, gun-shaped Blaster Force or the constantly charging Soldier Force – feels completely unique, both in how it looks and how it fights. They’re so different, it’s like facing seven separate bosses. The first time I fought this enemy, it was a truly mind-blowing experience, and it still impresses me even now.

Okay, so Green just pulled off something insane! At first, it looked like a total mess – honestly, like one of my disastrous attempts at building IKEA furniture. But then, somehow, it all came together and was amazing. Seriously, Treasure, that was brilliant!

At the very end of Black’s Dice Maze, you’ll find the Black Beat Stepper. This boss fight takes place in a small, rectangular arena and really captures the feel of the stage. The Black Beat Stepper is a little, round, metal ship or suit that moves around on long, spring-like legs.

Black controls the character, using a dice roll to decide both their movement and attack within the arena. The arena itself dynamically reacts to these actions.

When Black is defeated, he begs and throws you a gem from the stage, but it turns out to be a fake that detonates. You have to defeat him completely to get the real gem. It’s a sneaky final trick from a cunning opponent, and a fitting conclusion to the level.

As the player gets closer to the enemy’s base, the game adds a clever detail: the stages now show things from the player’s point of view. We see the previously defeated villains monitoring our approach, almost like a security camera, and each one is sent to try and stop us in a new boss fight.

So, when I finally got to the main boss, I walked into the room they’d been chilling in, watching everything. Usually, I *hate* those parts where you have to fight all the previous bosses again – it feels like a cheap trick. But honestly, this one was actually pretty good. They did it right!

The way we fight each boss is different this time around – for example, we don’t use Seven Force against Green – which keeps things fresh and avoids repetition.

I initially played Gunstar Heroes for its fast-paced shooting and unique weapon switching, but what really kept me hooked were the bosses. Each one is different, provides a good challenge, and has a distinct personality thanks to the amazing sprite art of that time.

I have fond memories of battling all the unique enemies in this game, from the strangely shaped Bravoo Man to the famous Seven Force – who you even get to fight in space again! I remember all their moves, and I still enjoy every fight. The Genesis version included some valuable collectibles, and though it wasn’t featured on TheGamer’s list, it’s a wonderful experience nonetheless.

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2025-10-10 05:10