A great shooter classic from the Genesis days, Gunstar Heroes, has recently received what aims to be the ultimate and definitive romhack to experience the game.

Romhacker RyuHayabusa, in collaboration with BillyTime! Games and Marcomix, worked together to assemble an improvement hack for the original Gunstar Heroes for the SEGA Genesis / Mega Drive. This improvement hack implements features from other releases, as well as unreleased content from other regions being properly translated and localized, and many other features.

The changelog for the romhack is the following:

• ROM is converted to be region-free.
• The Gunslinger mode from the 3DS version has been backported. Press (down+weapon select) to switch between free and fixed mode. Like on 3DS, this works best if the player is not currently firing. Requires 2 weapon slots filled. Also works while the game is paused.
• A brand new manual which restores the markedly different Japanese story, as well as the character bios.
• Relocalized cutscenes. Most notably, Green’s backstory from the Japanese version is restored.
• Every Gunstar Heroes advertisement included as a bonus.
• An extra patch which adds an EXP system. Players deal extra damage per level. A new level is reached every 200,000 points. Caps at level 6, or 1,000,000 points.

Those interested in trying out this improvement hack can do so by downloading the patch from Romhack Plaza, and providing their own ROM to patch it.

"Gunstar Heroes: Ultimate Edition" page entry at Romhack Plaza

 

[SDA]

Saw this one on RH Plaza. Looks like a very good ROM hack.

 

[BlueFox gui]

damn this is fucking awesome

 

[Robert Newbie]

I appreciate how much work went into this. Backporting content from later releases always gets my attention, since that shows some real dedication. It's interesting that this was another game to get a different storyline for the English release, similar to Bare Knuckle III/Streets of Rage 3.

 

[slaphappygamer]

I love this game. I have fond memories of playing this 30 years ago. Definitely brings me back. I love that about games.

 

[Exnor]

Awesome

 

[RedColoredStars]

At first glance I thought it was an announcement for the return of Guitar Hero. This is not anywhere near as exciting as that would have been. Sigh.

 

[CoolMe]

At first glance I thought it was an announcement for the return of Guitar Hero. This is not anywhere near as exciting as that would have been. Sigh.

The gaming world desperately needs a Guitar Hero/Rock Band revival right now, with the classic control scheme, co-op/ online multiplayer etc. a new game from either would be great rn

 

[Robert Newbie]

The gaming world desperately needs a Guitar Hero/Rock Band revival right now, with the classic control scheme, co-op/ online multiplayer etc. a new game from either would be great rn

You're going to buy Rocksmith 2014 Edition on Steam/uPlay and you're going to like it.

 

[DKB]

Wow. I just played he GBA version, which I didn't know even existed until very recently. So, hyped for this.

 

[Reploid]

Wow. I just played he GBA version, which I didn't know even existed until very recently. So, hyped for this.

It's more of a sequel

 

[CaliousKai]

As a huge gunstar fan this is just incredible work my compliments to the creators

 

[Cris1997XX]

Why did BillyTime add this stupid EXP system...? Neither the original game or the GBA sequel have such a feature, I wonder why he even bothered

 

[Lumstar]

Why did BillyTime add this stupid EXP system...? Neither the original game or the GBA sequel have such a feature, I wonder why he even bothered

The original game was balanced for co-op play. Several bosses are irritating bullet sponges when fought solo.