Same Name, Different Game: Sunset Riders (Plus 16-bit Wars History) Arcade vs. SNES vs. Genesis

The Super Summer rides into the sunset as Joe looks at arcade run 'n' gun Sunset Riders on both the SNES and Genesis. Along the way, we discuss the console war of the 16-bit era.
onthestick.com
/ samenamedifferentgame
SNDG logo by behance.net/Dev...
Box Art courtesy of thecoverproject...
Console photography by commons.wikime...

[@masterlee1988]

You have to beat the SNES version on hard to get a better ending that's like the arcade version, I managed to after playing it for over a month. I also paid 70 bucks for the SNES version 2 years ago.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

I was not aware of that! Good to know!

[@seanmyster6]

Just last week we got a digital rerelease of the original arcade version of Sunset Riders (in all of its uncensored glory!) as part of the Arcade Archives series, available on Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Hell yes, we did!

[@roguerifter9724]

I remember babysitting my twin cousins the night they got the Genesis version after regularly playing the SNES version whenever they came to my house for a year or so. Settling the argument over who got to use Cormano first was not fun because all three of us greatly preferred using Shotgun wielders in the game.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

That's exactly the problem with that one.

[@ConsoleWars]

As I start to watch this I wonder how many things you'll mention that I missed. lol.

[@ConsoleWars]

Looks like I didn't miss too much. And I like the history lesson podner.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Ha! You guys are pretty thorough. You don't usually miss much.

[@segaalltimer4143]

@@ConsoleWars Welcome to good video is the Same Name The Differences.

[@GameplayandTalk]

Great episode. It was nice to see not just the SNES and Genesis versions compared to themselves, but to the arcade original as well.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Thanks, Austin!

[@M.F.Hafizhan]

Loved the way el Greco gave his hat to Cormano upon being defeated. Makes me wonder if they had a history

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

It's implied!

[@GamevsGame]

i really am glad you mentioned the two different fire buttons on the genesis, was really annoyed firing always made me stand still in it. it's given me new hope to playing the genesis version... see ya 'round podner!

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Glad I could help!

[@GamevsGame]

informative as always!

[@Smoothie_The_Gamecat]

And just this early summer, we now have the arcade perfect version in the Arcade Archives collection for current consoles like PS4 and Switch.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Sure do!

[@Smoothie_The_Gamecat]

@@SameNameDifferentGame Fun tidbit, you can play the western or Japanese version

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

@@Smoothie_The_Gamecat Yeah, Hamster is good about that stuff, even when the ROMs are barely different (Double Dragon II, for example). But stuff like Life Force is a treasure-trove. It has Salamander, as well as both the US Life Force and Japanese Life Force (which are significantly different experiences).

[@NeoTurboManiac78]

Another great episode Joe. One of my favorite past times back in the days was comparing home ports of arcade games.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Thanks, man!

[@ratchetxrc]

I've been on a binge with your videos for the last few days. Thanks for making these!

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

These are legit the best comments. Thanks so much for being into it!

[@user-hx9gu5nh9p]

I could beat Sunset Riders arcade with 1 coin. It’s not an hard game if you stay focused, the enemies bullets travel relatively slow. The trick is mastering the dash slide to escape situations where you can’t jump over or dodge bullets. If you had the luck to play the 4-players cabinet you could pick the mexican guy with the wide range fire but it was more of a fire spam than an advantage in some situations. Superb arcade, funny and colorful!

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

It's a really great, and I feel generally underrated, arcade game.

[@sonicmario64]

The SNES version actually does have an ending; In order to get the proper ending, you have to beat the game on the hard difficulty setting, which was not uncommon when playing Konami games during the 16-bit generation.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

This is less surprising than I would like it to be.

[@Rodzilla97]

Sunset Riders is my fav snes game. Turtles in time a close 2nd top 25 snes games 1. Sunset Riders 2. TMNT 4: turtles in time 3. Wild Guns 4. Ninja Warriors 5. Pilot Wings 6. Super Metroid 7. The legend of Zelda: a link to the past 8. F-Zero 9. Star Fox 10. Super Castlevaina 4 11. Rendering Ranger R2 12. Contra 3 13. Super Mario World 14. Street Fighter 2 Turbo 15. Donkey Kong country 16. Super Mario Kart 17. the Firemen 18. Super Mario RPG 19. Batman returns 20. X-Men Mutant Apocalypse 21. Donkey Kong country 2 22. Aladdin 23. Yoshi's Island 24. Iron Commando 25. Chrono Trigger lovin that Gradius 3 SA-1 fix lately. space megaforce, mk2, smash tv, etc

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Sunset Riders rules!

[@sammylane21]

Too the big K didn't have any of the hero cowboys cameo in TURTLES IN TIME, even though they were in a state using the old west.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, even seeing Billy or Cormano in the background of the train stage would have been cool.

[@menhirmike]

The Arcade version just popped on on the Nintendo Switch by the way.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

NICE.

[@yorkshirepud6676]

Bought this for SNES its a repro as the Nintendo board is insane price here, Great game, Great review Pardner!!

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, it's ridiculous how much it costs these days.

[@Trialwolf]

Really great episode. I picked up the SNES version of Sunset Riders earlier this year and had a great time playing, really enjoy the soundtracks to this game.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Thanks! Yeah, it's super fun and I love the soundtrack.

[@BestOfBernieMentions]

Gonna guess Chief Scalp 'em name was changed in the SNES version not because it was offensive but because it's violent sounding. Remember SNES = no gore.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Oh, that actually makes sense.

[@BestOfBernieMentions]

@@SameNameDifferentGame love the channel btw!

[@SNARC15]

Sounds like what Konami did with Lethal Enforcers on the SNES. Changing two stage names such as Chinatown Assault becoming Downtown Assault and the Drug Dealer became The Gunrunners.

[@bnjay29]

I remember that commercial! The play it loud campaign. Such memories. Loved the video. It's the first one I watched. I'll definitely be watching the rest.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Glad you liked it! Thanks so much for watching!

[@AxiomofDiscord]

Hard to compete against the Genesis when you are porting a 68K game and yet it gets the edge this time.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, it really feels like the Genesis version should have been better.

[@Rodzilla97]

not just the edge, but a first round KO. that said, the genesis version is still kinda cool, and decent fun

[@mr.monster91666]

Damn a hundred bucks! I should have really kept my cartridge. Well at least I can still play it on my Super NES classic now that i modded it

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, that's the way to go, honestly, if you don't have your cart anymore.

[@Guernicaman]

Konami should seriously consider doing an arcade collection compilation similar to what Capcom did a couple years ago.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

There was one on the DS that was very good, but it only had '80s stuff from them.

[@Guernicaman]

On the Stick - What was the name of the Capcom Arcade Collection on PS3 & Xbox 360 (as well as Xbox One through backwards-compatibility)? Konami should take a look at that & come out w/a similar games collection for modern consoles. Would love it if they made their XBLA titles Xbox One compatible while they're at it too, but that might be harder, since licensing & rights may have expired by now (i.e. The Simpsons Arcade, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles & X-Men Arcade).

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

They did one called Capcom Arcade Cabinet, but I think it was only as a download, so I don't know if it's XBone compatible or not.

[@Guernicaman]

Yes! That's it. Capcom Arcade Cabinet. And I can confirm it's backwards-compatible on Xbox One (I own it & it's on my external drive), so technically the games on it are available for that console as well. It's a pretty cool game collection, but I wish they made a "volume 2" (w/the likes of Bionic Commando, Captain Commando & more). Other Capcom arcade/console games that are backwards-compatible include Ducktales ReMastered, Final Fight Double Impact (which includes Magic Sword) & Dungeons & Dragons Chronicles (which includes Tower of Doom & Shadow Over Mystara).

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Nice! Yeah, Capcom has done a pretty good job with their old stuff. So glad D&D hit modern systems. The only previous home port was on the Japanese Saturn!

[@segaalltimer4143]

1991 Arcade, 1992 Genesis, 1993 SNES.

[@C0nd0rJ03]

Not as sad of a porting case as Mystic Warriors! Basically Sunset Riders 2, but with ninjas instead of cowboys. It even had a sunset riders cameo in the first stage! Also, i dont think has gotten a home port to this day, which stinks

[@ootwii]

very excellent video..I can't wait to see what's next....I wish I had this game...

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Thanks! I'm really excited about the next episode, hope you're not let down!

[@GamevsGame]

also, it's a shame Pepsiman only had a release on the PS1... otherwise i would have expected your shirt to be foreshadowing of a future episode on it

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Well... it is an old game. That some might consider... obscure...

[@GamevsGame]

+On the Stick damn how you tantalize me! Literally though of OOG not long after I posted this... Then again you could do a 5 Reasons to own a PS1 and all of them are Pepsiman.

[@NostalgicRoe]

I was lucky enough to have this game on the SNES as a kid. Still have it CIB. Awesome game that spent a lot of time with. Just really addictive gameplay. I used to have the bonus shooting stages memorized and my brother was lucky to get any points!

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Super solid port. Thanks for watching, Roe!

[@ScottALowe]

Now I'm glad I passed on a $40 copy of the Genesis game I saw a while back.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, probably not worth it. Not a terrible game, but you could get 4 or more better Genesis games with that 40 bucks.

[@parkinsaw]

Isn't the game rare on both consoles?

[@wrestletube1]

This is a game that because the playability code itself is fine in both versions some homebrewer can make a proper version for both systems now but hasn't as of yet in 2017.

[@BigBadJohnDiesel]

I realize this is an old video. Great comparison! I think Konami could have put more effort into the Genesis version! The SNES version was the king king of the console versions.

[@dentonfroese9961]

Nice work, podner.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Well played.

[@luckyspray]

In fact Bob uses a Rifle and Cormano a dual barrel shotgun.

[@CheapJabroni]

You’re theme song is pretty boss

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Thank you! You can check out the band that did it at whitewrenchconservatory.bandcamp.com

[@professors84]

I was lucky enough to pick the SNES version of Sunset Riders up in the early 2000s. Well before the market on NES and SNES games got insane. Man I miss those days. Anyway, another great video. I love the closing segment - I have such an affinity for the poorly aged, tone dead Play It Loud campaign. At the time it felt like Nintendo was finally fighting back against Sega's mudslinging, plus they had the games to back it up by then.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, the collecting bubble on 16-bit stuff is terrible. And, yeah, I also have a sort of eye-rolling love for the Play It Loud campaign. It's so '90s.

[@Max-uf9ls]

Worth to say that SNES version compared to arcade version is much harder to beat the bosses, for example Chief Scalpem (Chief Wigwam in SNES) throws 3 knives in Arcade and in SNES 4 knives and are much faster, bullets are faster and in the Smith Brothers stage one of them throws more and quicker bombs in the SNES version than arcade. The bad part is the animation, removed and changed parts, for example the flames better designed in arcade version than SNES and some other things, the bosses' enemies are better in arcade, the speech bubble on bosses like Dark Horse were removed, the dynamite warnings in Arcade shows 2 (5 seconds in total before it blows up) in SNES only shows an ! symbol 2 seconds before blows up, the Indians were removed, and the female that tosses the dynamite in SNES was replaced for a male character.

[@gameboypunk660]

I saw a repro cart containing Sunset Riders and Wild Guns for $40 plus shipping and considering prices of those games are really expensive the repro seems the way to go.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

I literally just ordered a SNES Everdrive yesterday. It's so expensive to collect for the system these days.

[@bartoman2]

I always hated the darker colors in the genesis version, still fun to play tho

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

It is a little muddy, yeah.

[@matthewlane518]

Love the shirt. Pepsi for TV game😃

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

PEPSIMAN!

[@UltimateMovieMaster]

I want to say a few things Got the snes version last year for around $45, one of the best deals I've gotten on eBay. From what I've played it's pretty good, I never get very far due to the difficulty. Regarding the console wars I was born at the start of the 5th console generation and didn't start playing games until the very end of that, so for me the snes vs genesis era is this far away thing. Sorry if that makes anyone feel old. And finally there's the racism. I'm white as all hell but I am a member of a tribe so imagery like natives getting gunned down, and the literal red skin, is really fucking uncomfortable. Then there's imagery that likely has its roots in blackface. It's really unfortunate that a good game like this has to be tied to this kind of bullshit.

[@ravagingwolverine]

Sunset Riders was Konami at its worst on the Genesis. Other games like Hyperstone Heist might have lacked effort in spots compared to the SNES counterpart, but Sunset Riders was a hack job, even if it plays fine. The root of the problem is that they went with a 4-megabit cart in a time when 8 and 16-megatbit carts were common. Sunset Riders for the SNES happens to be an 8-megabit cart, so it has a lot more room to work with. A shame Konami went with such a tiny cart. Aside from that, my biggest problem with the Genesis version is that I have trouble seeing the bullets. Makes it way harder for me, in a bad way. The SNES port is very good. I last played it just a few weeks ago. A few years back, I looked into the topic of Genesis/Mega Drive worldwide sales. I believe they sold closer to 40 million units or more. The common figure of 29 million worldwide was always based on a US figure of 14 million which was commonly stated when I checked. Those numbers came from a 1994 report when the Genesis was still for sale and doing well. I found the same late-90s report cited in this video that said Sega sold 20 million units or so in the US. That gives the Genesis an extra 5 million units on top of the 29 million worldwide total. I think there were more uncounted units in different regions which would get them into the high 30s or low 40s. Anyway, very nice comparison video. I really enjoyed it. Fun game too.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Thanks for watching! I didn't know that about the cart sizes. That's really weird. Strider was 8 Meg and that was years earlier. As for the sales figures, yeah, it can be hard to say for sure, but my point was mostly that the Genesis did very well in North America that generation.

[@segaalltimer4143]

There is only 3 versions.

[@marlanvittorin]

6:10 - Funny but tragic. I hate when this happen.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Hahaha, yeah, someone always has to let the dynamite explode in their hand.

[@Sinn0100]

I love this game! I first got it on the Sega Genesis and finally the Snes version. I grew up during the 16-bit generation and I loved all of them. They will never re-release this game again. You have to remember, we live in a time that people are perpetually in full faux outrage mode over everything. The leftist and PC cultured idiots would lose their minds over this game. They wouod stage marches and full blown riots over this while claiming everything is racism. Thank you for showing the truth about Nintendo in the 1990's. They joined Senator Liberman in trying to hand control of what games we Americans can have. Thereby essentially stepping on and making a mockery of our First Amendment Rights. This is what caused me to hate Nintendo as a company. Senator Liberman and a Nintendo rep went school to school holding PTA meetings informing parents of how "evil" Sega was. My mother actually spoke to that son of a bitch and she almost tossed my Genesis and games because of it. I had to prove to her that they were lying. They told her that Sega was teaching me how to abuse women...I'm sorry, I know you run a clean show...but fuck senator Liberman. She made me play every single game in front of her (which is goid parenting, but under the guise that I am growing up to abuse women...it pisses me off still today) as the Sword of Damocles hung iver it. In the end Street Fighter 2 was a close one and Mortal Kombat had to go back to my friends (a friend lent it to me as I was more of a Street Fighter and SNK fan).

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Eh... I wouldn't be surprised to see Sunset Riders see another release. People are more sensitive about issues of race now, but people are also pretty good at compartmentalizing things from bygone eras (even though the depiction of Native Americans in this game at the time probably wasn't cool). As for Lieberman, well... yeah, I wrote a letter to Senator Kohl in those days, because I was upset about how they were going about this stuff. Nintendo viewed themselves at the time as a toy company, and were willing to cozy up with the senators holding the hearings to make Sega look bad, which, obviously, didn't last, since MK2 had the full gore, and that was even before the ESRB came around.

[@wrestletube1]

Both stopped properly about 1996 but the Megadrive did have those extra 2 years at the start but did that mean it was more sucessful though? Lets find out by watching the rest. Agree the 2 first Nintendo big boys and handhelds did have the biggest and best librarys out there that the N has ever had. But then again what was the good and crap ratio like though it was probably a bit of both as you are more likely to run into a turkey of a game due to the amount it has no impact on how good the systems were though unless it was a part of a full blown war on the library segment.

[@RetroJaegerv2]

Dude what about Capcom and Palcom or Namco with namcot? I think that Nintendo allowed other companies also some "third party" names

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Palcom was Konami! It's what they used in Europe instead of Ultra.

[@RetroJaegerv2]

ure right, my bad :)

[@pferreira1983]

The arcade original is the best. I don't think they really made a faithful port. If only the PAL Mega Drive version didn't go for such money... 😢

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

I mean, aside from a few factors (chief being the lack of four player) the SNES comes pretty close.

[@pferreira1983]

@@SameNameDifferentGame The SNES version unfortunately also has the censorship issues. Normally a console port improves upon the arcade release but in this case both versions are incomplete. It's a shame. Hopefully we one day get a proper port by Konami.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

@@pferreira1983 I'm honestly not all that bothered by the changes. Especially the changes to the native American characters. But it's out on Switch and PS4 now, and I'm pretty sure there aren't any changes.

[@pferreira1983]

@@SameNameDifferentGame That's cool! Wasn't aware of that. If it's on Steam I'll wishlist it. By the way how are you Joe? You alright?

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

@@pferreira1983 Not sure if it's on Steam. But I'm fine, yes!

[@fixxxer3456]

Wow you actually pronounce it SNES instead of S.N.E.S.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

I do! It seems to annoy some folks, but old habits die hard.

[@ChrisBarrett1]

@@SameNameDifferentGame The first time I've heard an American pronounce it the correct way. 😉

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

@@ChrisBarrett1 Whoa, I didn't say SNEZZZZ.

[@ChrisBarrett1]

@@SameNameDifferentGame Ah yeah, not completely right. 😜

[@MellowGaming]

Always wanted this game. Shame it's pretty unlikely to get a re-release anywhere these days because, well, Konami is Konami and Konami is (currently) the worst. Oh well, at least there'sm a new version of Wild Guns coming for our wild west themed fun.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Konami is totally the worst now. It's so sad.

[@MellowGaming]

It's a shame. I'd love it if they just sold off the console rights to some of their games to the likes of Way Forward. They made a great Contra.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

But if they sold their IP, they couldn't make Metal Gear Pachinko!

[@MellowGaming]

That's why i specified console rights. They'd never give up on pachinko. Too many gambling dens and yakuza ties they need to pay off.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

Yeah, I doubt they'd do that, though. They honestly need to have a Midway situation for their IP to end up in good hands, and I don't feel good about rooting for a company that employs hundreds and hundreds of people to go under, but... ugh.

[@KillyRR]

The arcade version just came out on the PS4s Arcade Archive Series and its only 6.99^^ I think its also on....the current Nintendo system...forgort the name of that trash system sorry

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

I didn't realize there were still tryhards having console wars in 2020. I thought we all grew out of that. Guess I was wrong.

[@KillyRR]

@@SameNameDifferentGame Meh it has nothin to do with console wars. Nintendo is a scummy company who threaten to sue their fans for making amazing fangames. What are you a Nintendo apologist? I just wanted you to know that this awesome game is now on PS4 and Nintendo. All you focused on was that i called Nintendo trash. Oh by the way i have multiple Nintendo systems (SNES, GC, NDS) ;) I dont care on what system people play on i just dislike Nintendo and that new system for several reasons. I really like your vids but insulting people is just childish :(

[@yorkshirepud6676]

I wish all games came on carts to this day, l realise the cost and l know lots would pay it with a system like Japan had go into the store copy EPROM down the game, l would have a fine collection, also games now need to be QC tested for play through by a third party company with the cost paid by the game company, far too many half made games are released now and not Indy but so called AAAs, no wounder l turn on my SNES or emulate with my nvidia shield!

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

I get the nostalgia for it, but half-made and bad games came out on carts, too. I mean, there are a million games with game-breaking bugs that couldn't be fixed back in the day. Battletoads on NES literally cannot be completed with two players, you know?

[@yorkshirepud6676]

@@SameNameDifferentGame Battle toads no, l have most all the SNES games on sd2snes I'll look, but its my nice collection of Original Board Super Nintendo carts l love most, maybe because lam old lol, watching these videos really takes me back keep going!!

[@isabellesousa476]

Alguém br;-;

[@DFunct905]

It's offensive to have tribes of Indians in a game about the Wild West?! Lolwut?

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

It's offensive to cast them all as dangerous savages with names like "Scalpem," yes.

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

The four heroes are pretty clearly portrayed as virtuous lawmen bringing justice to the wild frontier. And there's all of the innocent (white) townspeople.

[@milltownhayes4100]

mk is better in genesis????? are you drunk..blind...or what????

[@SameNameDifferentGame]

No, I've actually played them both.