Chances are you’ve never played Cannon Dancer or Osman. Probably because he is well known to his North American arcade fans. But that’s the beauty of this current Retro Renaissance. Not only are beloved classics revived on modern consoles, but also lesser-known underground gems like this one from Mitchell and his Corporation are being accessible for the first time. And even through a modern lens, this spiritual successor to the Strider holds up.
Designed by a superstar group of ex-Capcom staffers, including main creative figure Koichi Yotsui, this chunky side-scrolling fighting game was first released in Japanese arcades in 1996, but the home console version was later released. I never received it. now. Ratalaika Games handled the conversion, so anyone who’s played a port like Gleylancer will be familiar with the emulator wraparound’s features, including various his CRT filters, wallpapers, and other quality-of-life improvements. I guess.
Both the original Japanese and North American versions are available. There are two ways to play, one unlocks important convenience features like rewinding and saving states. However, unlike the rest of Ratalaika Games’ library, trophies are disabled in this easy option, so you’ll need to play Challenge Mode to earn the gong. There are a total of 2 enhancements to choose from here, including extra credits or double jumps.
The game itself is a roller coaster ride of vibrant colors and endless imagination. Play as a martial artist named Kirin in a cyberpunk style Arabian theme. Kirin smashes armies of robots and gods like statues. From the initial explosive uppercut to the boss-his rush-esque ending, this rampage relentlessly pits you against charging trucks, giant sand monsters, and deadly open oceans.
The main character’s acrobatic movesets and ability to scramble down steep slopes of buildings evoke memories of Strider, but the gameplay, released seven years after Capcom’s inspirational effort, is much tighter overall. It feels satisfying.With special karate kicks and the ability to power up and place your mimic in key strategic positions, this game will challenge you to felt Incredibly capable â even if you’re consuming a few credits in 60 seconds.
Although running for less than 30 minutes, this release delivers every frame, whether you’re checking the size of a crooked lawyer at the top of an office tower building or you’re on a boat with pirates. is filled with memorable moments. It is thrilling from the beginning. end. The difficulty spikes unfairly in the final stage, meaning that many people struggle to see the credits without resorting to rewinding and other quality-of-life improvements, but this is otherwise excellent. It’s a small complaint about the campaign.
Conclusion
Cannon Dancer is an underground cult classic that has earned the audience it deserves. It’s admirable that we live in an age where games like this are so easily accessible, but even considering its own merits, this spiritual successor to Strider is a breathtaking glorious event. The sudden difficulty spike that was common in arcade releases of this era feels unfair, but it doesn’t keep you from getting lost in all the high-stakes action that preceded it.
