City Hunter: Ryo Saeba's Video Game Review

What memories! That's right: the only City Hunter video game, inspired by the very first season of the anime of the same name, returns after a whopping 35 years to current-gen consoles (PS5, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, and Switch 2). More than just vintage, it's a side-scrolling action title that, on March 2, 1990, captivated countless Japanese fans on the PC Engine (TurboGrafx-16), which was a huge success in the Land of the Rising Sun.

Indeed, City Hunter never left those territories and therefore received no Western localization, nor was it released on other consoles of the era like the Super Nintendo or the SEGA Mega Drive. Those were different times, periods when games based on anime were not highly regarded outside of Japan, much to the chagrin of fans who awaited them and perhaps managed to import them from their local shop (oh, the nostalgia!). 

Today, the situation has changed; anime (and manga) are no longer considered products for "children," if you'll excuse the term, and their popularity is growing by leaps and bounds. And Ryo Saeba, the urban vigilante, the somewhat flirtatious sweeper of Shinjuku, is regaining his popularity and is even appreciated by younger viewers: after all, the series is over 40 years old, would you have ever guessed?

And today, thanks to Clouded Leopard and Red Art Games, the PC Engine's City Hunter is being re-released to those who missed it back then in an edition that not only polishes the graphics but also fixes some gameplay elements and enriches everything with (albeit minimal) extra content. Let's be clear from the start: the game, no matter how much care went into this re-release, remains what it was then, with all the limitations that this production brings with it.

We cannot approach this experience as if it were a modern production; the comparison would not hold up. Instead, we should see it as a nostalgic operation that introduces us to a bit of anime tie-in history and what they had to offer at the time. Is the package price a bit excessive? Perhaps, and the overall duration is in line with video games of those years (around 80 minutes). However, enthusiasts will still enjoy running through the various video game corridors as Ryo Saeba (or Hunter for those who loved the anime with the 90s Italian adaptation).

Like on PC Engine but with more grit!

In the city, in Tokyo's Shinjuku district, it is said that City Hunter exists: a mercenary, a vigilante tasked with defending people from bullying, even better if they are maidens. Oh yes, because Ryo Saeba is a sweeper who, even if he doesn't show it, takes his job very seriously. And so, between one case and another, between one too many hammer blows from his assistant Kaori and chasing skirts, Mr. Saeba never backs down from danger, brandishing his beloved Colt Python .357 Magnum.

Tsukasa Hojo's work is not only brilliant but also effectively combines humor with truly well-implemented, heart-pounding action. The success of the first season, as we already mentioned, inspired a 2D video game that at the time was not just difficult; it was simply cruel to gamers.

After all, do you remember video games from the PC Engine, Amiga, or Commodore 64 era that weren't? You started, you shot down corridors, you avoided bad guys, and... you never saved, to the chagrin of those who complain about soulslikes today. And City Hunter was like that back then, and not only that, you also had to deal with hitboxes that would make you throw your controller and console out the window in frustration.

And this is where modernity comes in, with implementations that have made City Hunter a title that anyone can complete, much to the disappointment of the true aces of the golden age. And this was made possible thanks to the Rewind feature, a strategic move that we find in almost all re-releases of old glories and that allows us to "trick" those overly brutal villains hungry for our health bar. 

In City Hunter, therefore, we will find ourselves facing a formidable technological corporation that appears to the public as a large electronics company. Unfortunately, however, as we will discover, there are some disturbing rumors that we will have to silence forever. And here the crusade will begin, in a 2D side-scrolling action game that, despite an absolutely basic formula, is enjoyable to play without too much fuss.

City Hunter: Not Exactly a Long-Lasting Experience

Ryo Saeba can explore 4 locations, run through these immense corridors, and shoot every ugly mug that moves on screen, including henchmen, robot ninjas, tough soldiers, and even a saber-toothed tiger. The movements are simple: one button shoots, and the other jumps. Forget dodges, parries, or flying kicks. Here, you'll have to rely on the few characteristics that made this genre of "scrolling shooter" famous.

However, Ryo can open doors, talk to NPCs, and act cocky just like in the anime. Advancing is very simple, but it will happen more often than expected to tread on already visited ground in search of a door that we couldn't previously open. In short, you'll go up and down the levels until you reach the awaited boss battle that will conclude the episode. The adventure can be tackled with a fairly satisfying arsenal of weapons, namely a pistol, a missile launcher, a grenade launcher, and a laser rifle, which we will unlock as we progress with our crusade.

City Hunter is not a game that puts a lot on the table; in fact, it limits itself to delivering a repetitive and overly scripted experience. However, there are many features that recall the anime: for example, the Shinjuku stallion (he defines himself as such in the game, and it's quite amusing) can open doors and spy on half-naked women. In this case, his remaining energy will recharge after his "mokkori," the Japanese flag-raising... well, you get the idea.

In the remastered version, in addition to slightly cleaned-up graphics, we find smarter and more reactive opponents and improved gameplay that corrects the technical problems of the past. Movements are more fluid, jumps are more precise, and the impact of hits is more immediate, not to mention the absence of lag, which is no small feat.

The most interesting, however, is the Hard Mode, defined by the developers as the definitive version. Here, things get serious: key items have been repositioned, opponents are more aggressive (they deal more damage), faster, and boss fights are truly tough. Furthermore, a completely new game sequence has also been added for an even more challenging mission.

In addition to the game, some extras have also been included that will make fans and collectors' mouths water: we're talking about the game case, the Japanese booklet to browse, a gallery from the anime, and the ability to listen to songs from a jukebox. And to complete the circle, there's the ending "Get Wild," a leap back in time that takes us back to carefree afternoons spent with the anime.