Sunset Riders (SNES) Playthrough

A playthrough of Konami's 1993 run-and-gun shooter for the Super Nintendo, Sunset Riders.
This video shows two loops through the game as Cormano. The first is played on hard, and the second loop, beginning at 27:03, is a "very hard" mode that can't be selected from the option screen. There are no further loops after this: upon completing this loop, the game ends and resets to the Konami logo.
I didn't realize there was a secret, harder loop when I made my previous Sunset Riders video, so I made this one to give a more complete picture of the game's content.
In Sunset Riders, you play as one of four bounty hunters on a crusade to take down a line-up of six wanted criminals who have been terrorizing folks living on the edge of the nineteenth century American frontier. It's a port of the popular 1991 arcade game that mixed elements of Contra's shooter/platforming action with the the spaghetti western theming of the "Bury My Shell At Wounded Knee" stage from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Turtles in Time ( • Teenage Mutant Ninja T... ).
Sunset Riders has always occupied a special place in my gaming memories. I remember being ten years old playing this endlessly at the Navy Exchange's game room while my parents were in the store doing their shopping. I quickly fell in love with it, and I got quite good at it over the course of those weekly play sessions.
A year or so later, I was absolutely ecstatic when I read that it was coming out on the SNES. We never did find it to buy at a store, unfortunately, but when our local Hollywood Video got a copy, you'd best believe I rented it over and over again.
In true Konami fashion, the quality of the SNES version is outstanding, right about on par with Turtles in Time. The controls are spot on, the graphics are extremely faithful, the soundtrack has been improved, most of the conversations are still fully voiced, and the game even retains the arcade version's animated intro sequence. A few details have lost in the transition (Cormano no longer puts on the whip guy's hat), a few things have been censored (like the animations of people being burned to death), and some of the stages have been simplified and shortened, but for an eight megabit cartridge, the SNES version of Sunset Riders is a remarkably accurate recreation of the coin-op original, and it mops the floor with the Genesis game.
If you're a fan of the genre, Sunset Riders is an easy recommendation. It's a polished, action-packed blast-a-thon with a whole lot of personality, and it's easily my favorite run-and-gunner on the Super Nintendo.
_____________
No cheats were used during the recording of this video.
NintendoComplete (www.nintendocom...) punches you in the face with in-depth reviews, screenshot archives, and music from classic 8-bit NES games!

[@travisdrawsstuff]

"Bury me with my money" has lived rent free in my head for 30 years.

[@NintendoComplete]

This fantastic arcade port is by far my favorite run-and-gunner on the SNES. Konami nailed it yet again.

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

Same here, one of my favorite games alltime. I love all the versions but the arcade is my favorite

[@cormano64]

Back when "Konami" wasn't a slur.

[@wolfee2754]

@@cormano64wait what?

[@wolfee2754]

They need to bring this to the Switch

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

@@wolfee2754 Yes

[@yusakug]

One of the best arcade ports of the 16-Bit generation. I was so happy when I got this back in the day, being a huge fan of the arcade. Konami went above and beyond for this one, and it only makes me wish we could have gotten an awesome port of The Simpsons arcade from them, if only Acclaim didn’t have the console rights.

[@cormano64]

Cormano was my go-to because he was the only one to wear a pink poncho and sombrero in the whole game and nobody had anything to say about it. That he could dual wield shotguns might or might not have something to do with the silence.

[@jeanhenrique4665]

(ENG) THAT WAS A BANG! (JAP) それはすごいことだった！

[@joelubas1752]

Same here

[@KekszNET]

And your nick is also Cormano :)

[@alexisguzman296]

Growing up. There 2 giants in the gaming world. Capcom and Konami. They dropped so many hit games! Wished developers now a days would learn to make great games like those companies

[@Cowslippoetry]

This game's sound design is excellent, but the soundtrack is what really elevates the experience. Excellent stage bgms (a shame the stage 1 track got reused as much as it did, I feel like it's one of the weaker ones) and every boss had their own unique theme. Gotta give a special nod to that 8-second wanted poster theme, that's a universally recognized tune that never gets old.

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

The arcade music is even better, but yeah I agree the music is 11/10 in this game

[@EdsterIII]

I had forgotten just how fun this was. Wow. Great arcade port! This is a must have for any retro gaming collection!

[@shujinkoMK]

My favorite game of all time. The music, the gameplay, the graphics. Perfect. I still play it to this day on emulator from time to time

[@jeanhenrique4665]

"YOU GOT ME!" Absolute Crazy XD

[@MajinErick]

"Bury me with my money!" 😂 This game was all around amazing.

[@jeanhenrique4665]

Okay, I'll Take this! BYE-BYE!

[@terriblecoughing4767]

My brother bought this shortly after it's release. Thank you for bringing back some good memories

[@Dorian_Scott]

Regardless of the platform you choose to play it on, _"Sunset Riders"_ is still an awesome game. I love the old west theme, the music is catchy and its gameplay retains the fast-paced action that made Konami's own _"Contra"_ series a blast from start to finish. (0:21) And this opening cinematic is really impressive for SNES standards.

[@IgnotusPerIgnotium]

That's classic Konami, great presentation, catchy music, tough as nails gameplay but worth it!

[@SomeOrangeCat]

In the 8 and 16-bit eras, Konami and Nintendo were a match made in heaven.

[@cherokeefit4248]

I love this game. I don’t know how people say contra 3 is hard when this game exists? lol this game on the hardest difficulty is ruthless.

[@NintendoComplete]

Ah, you think so? I found this way easier than Contra 3, mainly because of that short invincibility period you get when you jump between levels.

[@5179martin]

Contra 3 es más difícil que este juego.

[@rjcupid]

In my opinion, this is one of the highest quality games Konami ever produced and that says a lot given the legendary games they made during the 80’s and 90’s. I would say that Sunset Riders has one of the best soundtracks of the 16-bit era. I actually prefer this game over Contra III.

[@NintendoComplete]

Me too. I was surprised that it didn't review better back when it came out. I liked it better than Contra, too.

[@rjcupid]

@@NintendoComplete​​⁠​⁠​⁠ I never got the chance to play this game during the SNES era, I never saw it for sale or rent. I only found it in the early 2000’s at a used video game store. This is such an amazing co-op game. One of my favourite parts of this game is Cormano fist-pumping with his hat during the show at 13:31. Great play through Alex!

[@NintendoComplete]

@@rjcupid Thanks!

[@Phantom.Gaming64]

The golden age of Konami :) Back when they did excellent games.

[@spoonshiro]

An arcade classic gets a quite good home port! The Genesis version is also worth checking out as it's a very different game.

[@solarflare9078]

The Mega Drive's design is a bit of a downgrade, but the controls are more spot on, specifically the slide

[@alejandro6705]

The song is fantastic with the greco.

[@rickn4301]

Love this game on SNES. Good soundtrack too

[@solarflare9078]

Amazing port, but the only thing I dislike about this port are the inaccurate sliding mechanics compared to the arcade and Mega Drive ports. It made dodging a little more tricky at times

[@BiriBiri925]

Music in MD2 also better.

[@solarflare9078]

I’d say it’s a tie music-wise. The biggest letdown with the Mega Drive’s soundtrack is the lack of any orchestra hits, but it does nail the accuracy toward everything else

[@balbarith45]

Fun Fact. In the Paco Loco stage. Just before you enter the walk animation leading up to Paco Loco, there is a tree with a free 1 up behind it. The way you can tell is at 21:12 , there's a little pixel blinking. That's the 1 up.

[@NintendoComplete]

Oh that's really cool, I had no idea. Thanks!

[@SantyAktar]

Snes,video, game

[@balbarith45]

@@SantyAktar what does that have to do with the comment?

[@rcblazer]

I played the arcade version first, so I did notice changes like the removal of the female outlaws and tribals as enemies, along with the characters getting burned up and looking like a Looney Tunes character after getting blown up. Still, great fun, and an amazing port for the SNES!

[@moviemetalhead]

Hell yes! Bob was my go to SunsetRider. Played the ever loving crap out of my copy.

[@rebeccahamner8795]

I have to admit that I can’t beat this game on hard without my cousin. Well played 👍

[@NintendoComplete]

Thanks! :)

[@fahriakalin5936]

this one ate up so many of my quarters as a kid

[@cormano64]

Why would you put quarters on a SNES? 😨

[@PrekiFromPoland]

@@cormano64He played the arcade original.

[@simonmejia6896]

Contra in the old west! YEE-HAW!

[@Silpiobaire]

“Bury me with my SNES.”

[@tunnoton]

Cheerio, old chap!

[@Jayyy667]

Now this is one I wore out a controller to

[@thecowboy2]

There's another change to this port of the game that's surprisingly UNcensored. We don't see Richard Rose die in the arcade version (just a graphic of a rose losing its petals) but we see him keel over dead in the SNES version.

[@sobesons]

Great port.

[@VahanNisanian]

Good port, though the original Arcade game remains the definitive version; the Genesis version seemed like a different game. The SNES version censored the dancers, and in Stage 6, standard bandits replaced the Native Americans. A clear case where the original Arcade game is the best.

[@Dorian_Scott]

Despite the Genesis version's alterations and cut content due to its smaller ROM size, I still think it's just as great as the SNES & Arcade games.

[@solarflare9078]

And the Nintendo Switch version had all the minor censorships the SNES and Mega Drive ports had

[@VahanNisanian]

@@solarflare9078 That rots!

[@Rokabur]

Back when Konami still equalled quality.

[@volvoguy804]

I enjoyed Mystic Warriors, which is similar to Sunset Riders.

[@garygarner482]

Back in the day where an hour long game took months too complete, three lives, then its "GAME OVER.". IM a half of a century old and never played this game until today. I grew up playing space invaders,pac man, zaxxon, atlantis, missle command, frogger, then out comes THE NINTENDO ENTERTAINMENT SYSTEM. Mario, contra, Castlevania, ninja gaiden, dash galaxy, never had the n-64,but my bro in law had the Genesis with sonic spinball, NBA JAM," IS IT THE SHOES- LOL. THEN I BOUGHT the sega Saturn, with RESIDENT EVIL. THEN I BOUGHT THE PLAY STATION ONE, AND TWO. Gaming systems just keep getting better, and better.

[@Bloodreign1]

Are modern gaming systems really better? Seems like the developers, outside of maybe SNK's return have games that feel absolutely soulless. The only good thing about them, the Arcade Archives series, and this game happens to be on that (the arcade version at least). I wouldn't say they are getting better, they are becoming a bigger, and bigger cash grab, not only are you paying for a game that is half finished and often needs patches, but then there's the DLC issue, with any new things added costing you more money on top of what you already paid for a half broken game.

[@DavanP88]

Makes me laugh when you squatted down waiting on the dynamite to explode, on the poco loco level lol.

[@kennylc]

Just seen this game for sale of Facebook marketplace for £550. Cannot believe what folk are willing to pay .

[@alexyipgamingforlife7652]

played this when i had the snes bk in the day brilliant game it was

[@Mia-dt3gl]

Fantastic arcade port.

[@UndercoveredeD]

5:26 Хахахахахаха! Там ящики с динамитом были в повозке?

[@jeanhenrique4665]

"DRAW PILGRIM!" Still laughing in 1991 XD HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

[@darkerfalcon3747]

Like Axelay. Even Axelay after clearing the hard mode has an extra harder loop (Very Hard) unselectable in the options

[@jayteeguerrero5919]

We were so innocent back them

[@androidemylena]

Baby tiger singer🙂

[@oxygeninterface]

37:41 ~ such a scenario would NEVER take place in a modern video game.

[@noenemys2]

That's my first cowboy game ever! My red dead SNES lol.

[@ramgladore]

Bury me with my money!

[@zarggstv]

4:39 zyzz Pose epic

[@AgentofLADON]

Everyone loves Cormano. Is it the hat options?

[@germanalfaro6342]

14:54 lol Nintendo's censorship, with the intro by El Greco, in the original arcade he says: Die Gringo.

[@moviemetalhead]

It's funny how you say this as if it was some sort of revelation that Nintendo censored some ports of its games. This was well known back then, as it is now.

[@solarflare9078]

Sadly, this censorship carried over to the Mega Drive and Nintendo Switch ports.

[@YukaTakeuchiFan]

You fight well, "podner" :3

[@mokokchunglagaherowatz5497]

I enjoyed it lot 🥳

[@pureflix8086]

*BURY ME WITH MY MONEY!* 😐

[@Dorian_Scott]

I always thought he said *_"Murray Me With My... Money"_*

[@NintendoComplete]

HASTA LA BYE BYE!

[@krazziejrboi]

Classic along with cowboy moo mesa

[@victormartinez8099]

mis favoritos cormano y bob

[@novostranger]

Weird that this port has never been released in Japan

[@AnDrewz94]

recuerdos de mi infancia 🤗 para ser sincero nunca pude pasar historia de vaqueros 😞 era muy difícil el modo hart, no se ustedes pero cuando yo era niño y jugaba en modo hart y apenas veia a los vaqueros ya me estaban disparando 2 o 3 balas cada 1 y por todos lados 😂😂 , aquí no veo eso, por que será... de todos modos que elegantes recuerdos 👻

[@emersoduarte4348]

4:28: Bury me with my money

[@Vaughny-Plays]

Billy Is My Only One Main Character

[@precise216]

country contra😂awesome

[@BiborkaSara]

is there a pal version?

[@TAGanimation]

Do you have a "playthrough" for Golden Sun?

[@NintendoComplete]

Nope.

[@LilBrujoFH18]

I have the sega port sadly 😢

[@solarflare9078]

It’s not a bad game, but it’s quite inferior to this SNES port

[@NintendoComplete]

Oh, I'm sorry. That's a bitter pill to swallow.

[@DarylApole]

Cormano = Roberto Duran

[@GaryBeltz]

Bury me with my money! No way it's all mine

[@gameboyadvance45]

i hate censored parts in snes version

[@JosepCalvetSanchis]

The music of the megadrive ver is better

[@patrickhawthorneLS]

The snes version is good,the megadrive version is better however,the megadrive version is missing levels The snes sliding is wrong,the snes bullets are too big and the censorship is silly

[@BlodziRandom]

51:56 x-x

[@androidemylena]

He want milk!

[@supersexysega]

Fantastic port minus the censorship and sliding mechanics.

[@QF_Dan72]

Say what you want but imo, this is the best game to ever exist on the SNES

[@12978fghdiu23gewsduf]

Hands Down Best. DK Country games a close 2nd

[@zzzcool4]

4:36 when u clock out after a crappy day at the office