#50 – Sunset Riders (Tie)
23 Points, 3 Lists, Top Vote: #14 Johnny Unusual Production Date:1991
Manufacturer: Konami
It's Contra crossed with Rolling Thunder, and set in the American Wild West.
Actually, this was a pretty darn good game. I should have had it on my own list, considering how much I played it. The full size version had four player co-op, a la TMNT (granted, Steve and Billy are effectively identical). Really great music, great gameplay, hilarious voice acting, the least realistically portrayed stampede ever, and quite possibly the most borderline offensive stereotypes ever jammed into one game. Mexicans, Indians, Women, a British guy, whatever the hell Paco Loco is, all portrayed pretty much exactly as you'd imagine, being a Japanese made game.
Unsurprisingly, the home versions had some changes. In particular, all Indians (Native Americans if you prefer) were removed, except Chief Scalp 'em (who is inexplicably renamed Chief Wigwam, 'cause somehow that's less offensive? I guess?). It's worth noting though that even in the arcade original, when you're about to kill Chief Scalp 'em, his sister runs out and pleads "Please, don't shoot my brother. He's only following orders." Well, I can agree not to shoot him any more. Can't do much about the 100s of bullets he's already taken. But he is the only enemy in the game you can't kill. Also, **** that stage, that was almost always where I got killed. Arrows are way harder to avoid than bullets.
Fun fact: Billy refuses to watch the dancing girls in the Saloon. Which is awkward, since when they tell you about Sir Richard Rose, he's standing way over in the corner. Also, there's a dead guy hanging over the railing, and the dancers seem totally okay with that.
Another fun fact: If someone is playing as Cormano when you beat El Greco, Cormano will catch his hat and put it on, replacing his own. Because naturally all Mexicans wear palette swapped Sombreros.
Here's a full, 4 player playthrough. Fair warning though, these guys suck at this game.
https://www.youtube.com/v/eYiu-SUVmacUp next, a six way tie for 47th...