Electronic Gaming Monthly's Top 17 Treasure Games

Stretch Panic (PlayStation 2)

#17

“It's not often that a game totally shocks me, but this one made me speechless. Here's a title where you're rewarded for grabbing obnoxiously huge breasts. At first, I thought I had been blessed to be on this review (a genuine breast-grabbin' simulator!), but once I got past the novelty, I was considerably less amused. This game is just plain whacked. It's very odd, both visually and gameplay-wise. And it's not easy to play, either. The blind camera makes it hard to control your character and aim your weapon, and some of the bosses are frustrating (though, a bit innovative).” (4.8 out of 10)

Light Crusader (Genesis)

#16

“Light Crusader is a hard game to judge. It excels in terms of graphics and the ingenuity of gameplay. However, even the most hardened players will find the perspective difficult to get used to. I've never seen puzzle elements mixed with action quite this way. Light Crusader is weak in the story department, particularly where you must find out where to go next. The interface is nice when using items, but the combat did not work. Light Crusader needs more action scenes and less puzzles.” (6.25 out of 10)

Silpheed: The Lost Planet (PlayStation 2)

#15

“Being a big fan of the Sega CD version of Silpheed and of Treasure in general, I was really looking forward to this PlayStation 2 shooter. Unfortunately, this update does little to advance the series other than adding some gorgeous graphics to what was already a pretty stale game engine. Although there are a lot of weapons to earn as you play, there's just no depth. Not a power-up to be found, and the PS2 version of Silpheed doesn't even bother with the special weapon system from the Sega CD game. Basically, you fly and shoot. That's fun for a little while, but Silpheed just doesn't have anything that makes it worth more than a rental fee.” (6.7 out of 10)

Wario World (GameCube)

#14

“Wario's mindless punching gets real old real fast. Enemies respawn so quickly that pummeling them gives you no advantage. I liked the first two worlds when I thought of them as a platformer with training wheels – just what the Cube kiddies need, right? Well, sort of. About halfway through, the training wheels come off, and your safe neighborhood street becomes an icy mountain road at night – a perilous journey only the most seasoned jumping-puzzle zealots will enjoy. Wario World might keep you entertained – if you like that sort of self-flagellating frustration.” (6.8 out of 10)

Advance Guardian Heroes (Game Boy Advance)

#13

“The original Guardian Heroes stood out because of its stunning visuals, huge characters and over-the-top action-heavy battles. Unfortunately, the tiny GBA screen isn't exactly the best place to try to replicate this kind of experience. But Advance Guardian Heroes at least manages to come pretty close. In typical Treasure fashion, the screen is almost always littered with enemies, and the challenge level is absurdly high for a beat ‘em up. Still, unless you're a big fan of the genre, the endless button mashing can get pretty tiring.” (7.4 out of 10)

McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure (Genesis)

#12

“Yes, it's Ronald McDonald in his own video game, but guess what? It's pretty good, too. The levels are big with plenty of items to find, and the various appearances by Ronald's crusty, yet benign, friends are a nice touch.” (7.4 out of 10)

Bangai-O (Dreamcast)

#11

“Treasure makes the niftiest shooters in town, and this is yet another example of their expertise. With Robotron-style controls and super sprite-madness, this funky shooter is aimed directly at the hardcore gamer who likes a stiff challenge. The graphics are definitely 16-bit quality, but run in high-resolution and sport a level of 2D detail that will make you yearn for the days when games like this were commonplace. Not that Treasure ever does anything commonplace. Don't be put off by the extremely tiny characters, or you'll be missing a wicked little game.” (7.5 out of 10)

Dynamite Headdy (Game Gear)

#10

“A very faithful portable version of Headdy, with great graphics and excellent control. Some of my colleagues don't find Headdy very creative, but I disagree – for the Sega systems, he is one of the more original characters to appear! Huge levels (involving more than just bashing enemies) await. The guys at Treasure are certainly on the right track. Let's see some more.” (7.6 out of 10)

Dynamite Headdy (Genesis)

#9

“Another unique title from the folks at Treasure. The main character, Headdy, has several excellent attacks (using different ‘heads'), and the levels are very colorful, with some knockout visual effects (like the rotating platforms and the giant blimp dog boss). This is a top action title for the Genesis.” (7.6 out of 10)

Gunstar Super Heroes (Game Boy Advance)

#8

“So which audience is developer Treasure trying to reach with Gunstar Super Heroes, exactly? It's hard to say. On one hand, it's packed with nods and references to the Genesis classic. On the other hand, it's more a remake than a sequel, yet lacks some of the defining features fans have come to associate with the Gunstar name. So, old-schoolers are likely to find it something of a letdown, while newcomers won't appreciate its delicate subtleties. Fortunately, anyone and everyone can appreciate the amazing graphical tricks Treasure has pulled out of its hat. Does it live up to its legacy? Not really ... but it sure is pretty.” (7.7 out of 10)

Gradius V (PlayStation 2)

#7

“And I thought Ikaruga was hard. Gradius V ups the ante with never-ending parades of colossal bosses, creative stages that conspire to crush your ship, and hundreds of horrible little bullets to dodge. Newcomers will find an attractive shooter that teaches twitch-game skills you never had. Returning Gradius fans get a killer love letter to the series that's so hard you'll weep for your atrophied hand-eye coordination. Whatever your skill level, though, good luck finishing the last three levels without unlimited continues.” (7.8 out of 10)

Mischief Makers (Nintendo 64)

#6

“Mischief Makers is a bizarre, well-done platform game that won't appeal to everyone. Its cute gameplay heavily relies on puzzle solving and mechanics, in addition to the normal reflexes needed for platform games. It took me awhile to get into the game, but once I learned many of its nuances, it grew on me the more I played it. If you're looking for a challenging, unique platformer, Mischief Makers fits the bill.” (8 out of 10)

Silhouette Mirage (PlayStation)

#5

“Calling Silhouette Mirage an old-school shooter would be doing it a disservice, because you've never played anything like this before. The clever, downright wild gameplay takes getting used to. Still, the first few levels baby step you into the game nicely, and you'll get the hang of your enormous arsenal of moves in no time. Despite its grating digitized voices, Silhouette Mirage delivers all the killer bosses and solid gameplay I'd expect from a Treasure title.” (8 out of 10)

Guardian Heroes (Saturn)

#4

“Until now, fighting games have been just that – a title revolving around combat. Guardian Heroes, on the other hand, blended the fighting action into a well-rounded RPG that has multiple paths and endings depending on your selection in the game. I also like the feature of your characters going up in skill level with experience. This adds a unique fun factor to the title and supplies the players with hours of constantly changing action. Guardian Heroes is a great title for players looking for a game a little out of the norm.” (8.1 out of 10)

Ikaruga (GameCube)

#3

“Like Keanu Reeves said in ... well, every movie he's ever been in: ‘Whoa!' Ikaruga's onslaught of baddies, bullets and bosses push your reflexes to their limits, while its brilliant black/white-switching and combo-scoring systems make for surprisingly deep gameplay. As you learn patterns and develop skills, playing Ikaruga evolves from just hoping to survive to wanting to beat the game to finally just HAVING to perfect each stage. My only major gripe is that, despite being infinitely replayable, it could use more levels. Still, if you value mastery and high-score bragging rights, this will blow your socks off your ass.” (8.3 out of 10)

Astro Boy: Omega Factor (Game Boy Advance)

#2

“Fanboy-favorite developer Treasure has put together a masterful side-scroller in Omega Factor, packed with intense action, beautiful graphics, tons of cool cameos and references from not only countless famous Astro Boy stories, but also other classics by old-school animator and Astro Boy creator Osamu Tazuka. If you consider yourself even a small fan of his work, you'll have a blast playing this. Astro Boy may seem a bit too easy at first, but don't be fooled. Unlocking all of the hidden characters and stages takes a lot of skill and effort.” (8.8 out of 10)

Gunstar Heroes (Genesis)

#1

“This game kicks ass! Offhand, I can't think of another game that offers a blend of action and shooting like this one! The weapons are cool with enough variety and the levels are huge, plus filled with detail. Then there's the bosses. Once you fight these beauties, you'll wonder why game companies never did this before! There's nonstop enemies and plenty to shoot at. It looks like the Genesis can still kick butt!” (9 out of 10)