Gunstar Super Heroes on GBA, Japanese version of Future Heroes. Spectacular action, constant challenges and Treasure's inventiveness on show. One of the best portable run and guns.
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Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Description
Action game developed by Treasure and published by Sega in the United States in September 2005. Heroes battle armed robots across explosive levels with a weapon fusion system combining two of four available weapons. Spectacular bosses, intense Treasure-signature gameplay and two-player link cable mode. Spiritual sequel to Gunstar Heroes on Mega Drive, released in the West as Gunstar Future Heroes.
Original Japanese edition of Treasure's GBA Gunstar, released in September 2005 under the Gunstar Super Heroes title, an editorial exclusivity that serves as the reference for Treasure enthusiasts attached to native versions. Sega rigid case with a dedicated Japanese obi, Treasure cover art more expressive than the PAL Future Heroes version. Sega Japan run was short, and a copy with intact Super Heroes obi remains a landmark for portable Yaiba Kamikaze completists.
Memorable bosses
A boss festival from Treasure, this odyssey chains guardians of boundless inventiveness: machines that metamorphose, articulated colossi and duels of frantic pace, never twice the same. The action blends gunplay, melee and zany ideas with mad generosity. The technical virtuosity and the creativity of every encounter make it a dazzling showcase of the studio's craft.
An underrated gem
Treasure dishes up another helping of explosive run-and-gun, with a weapon-fusion system and a frantic pace worthy of Gunstar Heroes. Released at the very end of the console's life, it was swept away by the Nintendo DS wave. Spectacular and snappy, it'll satisfy fans of dense arcade action, even if its short length can frustrate.
Is Gunstar Super Heroes still worth playing in 2026?
Gunstar Super Heroes, released as Gunstar Future Heroes in Europe, marks the return to GBA of the team behind the Mega Drive run and gun. Treasure delivers a shorter but densely choreographed run, each chapter pushing a specific device all the way before moving on. The bosses are brisk, the animation fluid and the writing brims with humor. For fans of brisk, expressive Japanese 2D action, this is one of the system's overlooked peaks and a fine companion to the original Gunstar Heroes.
