The original Gunstar Heroes, crafted by fan-favorite developer Treasure for the Genesis, is one of the games (if not the game) that defines the concept of an "old-school gem." Despite the intervening years, playing today is just as fun as it was back in 1993.
The best feature was far and away the weapon combo system. Enemies dropped four types of power-ups: force (rapid fire), lighting (shoots through walls), seeker (homing), and fire (close range). Any combination of two made a new weapon, and finding the right mix for each situation proved to be an incredibly entertaining mechanic. (One that was surprisingly replicated only by Kirby 64: The Crystal Shards to the best of my knowledge.)
Flash forward to the new GBA version, and that defining feature is inexplicably MIA. Instead, Red and Blue have three weapons each--one unique, one explosive, and one homing. As you score more hits, a power gauge fills up, allowing for powerful attacks with a double-tap of the right shoulder button. This is functionally similar to Astro Boy: Omega Factor, another GBA offering by the same developer.
In the original, Red was able to shoot while moving but couldn't aim in every direction, and vice versa for Blue. With the update, both can move and shoot as they please... the only real difference is that Red carries a rapid-fire weapon while blue carries a beam weapon. Of course, there are also some altered story sequences, but dramatic elements have never been more than a blip on the radar for this series.
Despite the core being changed, Gunstar Super Heroes stays quite true to the levels of the originals. Those same four bosses are back, waiting at the end of stages that are nostalgic tributes to the original. Tons of enemies still fill the screen as you blast your way through, and the larger enemies still have multiple jointed parts. You really have to admire just how much Treasure has gotten out of an aging system.
Regardless of these nitpicks - this is still a fun game from start to finish, perfect for a handheld platform. I just don't think people will be talking about it a decade down the line.
Gunstar Super Heroes is a rated E (Everyone 10+) by the ESRB for Fantasy Violence and Suggestive Themes.
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