Gunstar Super Heroes, Treasure's long-awaited GBA sequel to the classic 2D shooter Gunstar Heroes from the Sega Genesis, has arrived at long last - and the final payoff has without question lived up to the mountainous hype and expectation that diehard fans and game critics alike have built up over the many years in craving a second Gunstar adventure. The game plays like a dream, just like its 16-bit console predecessor, and pushes the GBA hardware to unthinkable new heights.

Continuing shortly after where the original Genesis title left off, Gunstar Super Heroes follows Red and Blue on a mission to stop the leader of a nefarious organization known as the Empire from resurrecting the God of Ruin, or Golden Silver if you recall. Spanning six unique stages and featuring various story paths depending on which character you choose and what difficulty you play on (Easy, Normal and Hard), the plot behind Gunstar Super Heroes is typical fodder for a shooter and as such really doesn't deliver that much of incredible interest. Complicated storylines aren't to be expected with this type of game though, and unfortunately neither is an emphasis on longevity; like most shooters, Gunstar Super Heroes is painfully short, only lasting a few hours. Sure, there are the multiple difficulties, two playable characters and multiple paths through the game, but since the story really doesn't matter there isn't much call for replaying over and over. Of course the simple fact that you'll want to keep playing once you're done anyway because the rest of the game is so brilliant is a definite plus, but a few extra stages and longer-lasting campaign would make plopping down the cash even easier than it already is.

Over the game's six stages you are constantly kept on your toes by an ever-changing diversity in gameplay styles. Though much of the game sticks to its 2D, side-scrolling shooter/platformer roots, there is an outstanding variety of challenges that keep the pace fresh and frantic at all times. In certain segments you man a helicopter from a top-down view while blasting away at other airborne foes and tanks on the ground, or stand atop a flying spacecraft while missiles and enemies attack from behind as you rotate the stationary craft to get a proper lock on your targets. Every section of each stage plays distinctly from the rest, so there's never a single moment of déjà vu or gameplay repetition whatsoever. There's even one section later in the game where you navigate a boardgame style area, with each space on the board being a completely new challenge to complete.

Each character also has three powerful weapons at their disposal, which are easily cycled through using quick taps of the L shoulder button. Both characters are equipped with the Fire (exploding ball of fire) and Chaser (laser darts that home in multiple targets) gun types, but each also has one unique weapon. Red has a Force plasma beam while Blue has a powerful Lightning blaster. While attacking enemies over time or through certain item pick-ups, each gun builds up separately for special Supercharge attacks that, when unleashed at the double-click of the R shoulder button, are devastatingly helpful to your cause. Other than the one unique weapon per character, Red and Blue play essentially the same, with additional melee abilities such as jump and slide kicks, uppercuts and sword slashes. In a touch of platforming gold, there are also bits of wall jumping to be had, along with shimmying across overhead ledges.

One thing Gunstar Super Heroes sure isn't short on is bosses - man does this game have a ton of them! And best of all, they are all thoughtfully designed in terms of pattern-recognition and overall challenge. Many of these bosses also take up most, if not all, of the GBA screen, and I'll be damned if they don't look jaw-dropping in the process. The same goes for the rest of the graphical showings as well; story sequences, as few and brief as they are, are beautifully complimented by fantastic character portraits and artwork, and in-game the 2D sprite-based visuals are colorful and crisp, with captivating backdrops and fluid character animations.

More impressive than anything however are the unbelievable special effects; explosion and gunfire effects have never looked so phenomenal on the GBA and this is definitely one honking treat of eye candy. My hat goes off to Treasure for what they were able to pull off with the GBA hardware, without sacrificing a single drop of frame rate or playability quality. I don't think I've ever seen a GBA game this technically impressive in all its years in existence, and that's quite a statement considering the massive library that the portable has produced over the years. For you GBA audiophiles, Gunstar Super Heroes sounds great too, featuring a solid dose of appropriate action-packed shooter tunes, thumping arcadey gunfire and explosion sound effects, and occasional one-liner voiceovers.

Though the adventure is ridiculously short and there's not much of a plot to get behind, Gunstar Super Heroes through both its gameplay and technical achievements is simply too brilliant and addictive a game to ignore. Every GBA (and DS) owner owes it to him or herself to track down a copy by any means necessary. Its ranging difficulty settings make it completely accessible to the most casual of gamers, while still satisfying the most diehard of fans with the brutal challenge served up in Hard mode, and its intense, super-quick shooter action and unprecedented technical mastery of the GBA all but cements Gunstar Super Heroes' place as one of the handheld's best titles yet.

Reviewed by Matt Litten for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).