Let's talk about Treasure

[wil327]

You know what? I really like a lot of Treasure games.

Ikaruga started me off, but then I quickly obtained a copy of Radiant Silvergun and Bangai-O. Kurt then recommended that I purchase a number of other Treasure games, which I did, and haven't been disappointed with any of my purchases.

So in light of that, I'm interested in hearing what you all think about Treasure...good or bad. Be honest.

[Gilder]

I like Treasure as a whole, but I will only talk about the games I've played of theirs:

Gunstar Heroes - Quite possibly my favorite Genesis game. I used to bring this to school (with my Nomad) and play during study hall. It was the only game me and my one friend played all the time with the second being General Chaos. Just simply incredible.

Dynamite Headdy - Cute concept, but didn't really keep my interest in it as much as their other games. A wonderful platform for the Genesis however.

Alien Solider - This game intimidates me every time I play it only because it's boss battle after boss battle after boss battle. Incredibly hard but equally awesome.

Bangai-O - Don't laugh, but this is my all time favorite Treasure game. The absurd humor mixed with the frantic action (nothing says awesome like clearing out 200+ enemies with a press of your button at the last possible second). I can play this game forever and still not be bored with it.

Light Crusader - A difficult Action-RPG that wasn't very interesting. As far as I'm concerned, this is Treasure's weakest (and pretty much unknown) game they've made.

Wario World - TOO SHORT!!! I've always loved the Wario games, and this isn't any different but it's just too short for my taste.

Those are sadly the only Treasure games I have played. To anyone whose played it, how is Sin & Punishment? (and maybe you should write up an article if it's that good )

[dpad]

I love Treasure. I'm amazed that they've kind of dropped off the face of the earth the past few years - the stuff they created for the Genesis, esp., rocks my world. Gunstar Heroes, Dynamite Headdy, Alien Solider - they did things with that hardware that still blows me away.

I haven't spent a ton of time with their 32-bit efforts - Guardian Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, Silhouette Mirage - but what I've experienced has been good The look of all 3 games, especially, is great.

I just downloaded and tried Bangai-o recently, and I have to admit it threw me for a loop. Looks interesting, but the style of play isn't really my cup of tea. I need more structure or something

Does anyone here have a list of the games Treasure has had a hand in? I feel like I've probably missed out on some through the years...

[Gilder]

Here you go dpad, and for anyone else who needs it (in alphabetical order and what system it was on for convience!):

Advanced Guardian Heroes - GBA
Alien Solider - Genesis
Astro Boy: Omega Factor - GBA
Bangai-O - N64, Dreamcast
Bleach: Souten ni Kakeru Unmei - DS
Dragon Drive: D-Masters Shot - GCN
Dynamite Headdy - Genesis, Game Gear, SMS
Gradius V - PS2
Guardian Heroes - Saturn
Gunstar Heroes - Genesis, Game Gear
Gunstar Heroes Treasure Box - PS2
Gunstar Super Heroes - GBA
Hajime no Ippo: The Fighting - GBA
Ikaruga - Dreamcast, GCN, Arcade
Light Crusader - Genesis
McDonald's Treasure Land Adventure - Genesis
Mischeif Makers - N64
Radiant Silvergun - Saturn,Arcade
Rakugaki Showtime - Playstation
Silhoutte Mirage - Playstation, Saturn
Silpheed: The Lost Planet - PS2
Sin & Punishment: Successor to the Earth - N64
Stretch Panic - PS2
Tiny Toon Adventures: Buster's Bad Dream - GBA (Europe Only)
Wario World - GCN
Yu Yu Hakusho Battle - Genesis

They've also had two cancelled projects:
Gunbeat - Arcade
Tiny Toon Adventures: Defenders of the Universe - PS2

[Deleted]

I'm not sure whether I'm a Treasure fan, but I do like their Gunstar Heroes and Alien Soldier Genesis games really, really, really much. Besides those, I've finished Stretch Panic for PS2. It's really an oddball since it can be beaten in about 20-30 minutes or so - not a really long game.

[Deleted]

GUNSTAR HEROES OWNS EVERYTHING.

'Cept for Castlevania, Contra, and Gradius. ;D

But believe it or not, my first ever Treasure game was Mischief Makers. I had much fun with it for quite some while. It was one of the more innovative N64 games I've ever had the pleasure of playing, and it took me quite the long while to get all of those Gold gems.

Then, when I FINALLY got a Genesis (after years of very shameful Sega dislike ), Gunstar Heroes was one of the first three games I got with it. I played it every day for... oh, say, six months afterwards? A bit of an exagerration, but I played it a LOT! A FRIGGIN' LOT, I tells ya! After Alien Soldier, Dynamite Headdy, Ikaruga, Bangai-O, and Gradius V, I pretty much loved them. Then I got a Saturn, and I hunted down Guardian Heroes like a dog. After playing the hell out of it until I had every single character available in the Vs. Mode, I then set my sights on the grand prize, the holy grail, THE GAME that I have wanted for... practically forever. One 4-in-1 Action Replay cart and 150 dollars later, I finally played Radiant Silvergun. My life is complete.

And now, you know, the REST of the story.

[megamoronx]

I like Treasure. Not all their games are the best but I dig their philosophy.

I got Gunstar Heroes Advance recently. I really like it, BUT it's too short and isn't much more than a remake outside of a couple levels. Still it's a mind blowing experience most of the time.

[Discoalucard]

Jeremy Parish is doing his next Retronauts article on Treasure. He hates the bastards, but is requesting people to write in about their own thoughts.

www.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3148855

(read the bottom left)

I could write huge essays about this but will need to restrain it to a paragraph. Maybe I'll just post here instead.

[shido]

Treasure are one of the best developers out there.
Their best games are Gunstar Heroes, Radiant Silvergun, Dynamite Headdy and Guardian Heroes. They only disapointed me with their sequels, Advance Guardian Heroes and Gunstar Super Heroes (Wich is quite funny because they were against making sequels for ten years, and its one of the reasons they left Konami).

[Protodude]

I'm surprised no one's mentioned Astro Boy for the GBA yet. That's by far one of my favorite GBA games.

[wil327]

I agree about Astro Boy on the GBA, totally forgot about that one.

Still, though, I have to admit that my absolute favorite is Ikaruga.

[Fletch]

I will admit that not every game they make is the best, most at least show some sign of genuine innovation. While I have yet to play all of their games, my opinions on the one I have are as follow:

Gunstar Heroes: Played it once at a friend's house and never forgot it. If I could have only one video game, this would be near the top of my list.

Dynamite Heady: Fun, but the game gets way too hard by the time you get to the garden. It does have one of the weirdest secret endings ever though.

Alien Soldier: A blast to play, but sometimes is too difficult for it's own good. Have yet to beat that game without cheating.

Silhouette Mirage: Have the Playstation which is much harder then it really needs to be. Kinda kills some of the fun in the game.

Mischief Makers: Love the crazy story and chucking things to death. Though getting the gold gem on the race stage is an utter bitch to do.

Sin and Punishment: Actually the most recent title of their I've played. The game is really fun and I'm surprised it's not up there with their Sega accomplishments. After all, what other game gives you a gunblade done right and has you saving the earth from the earth (and I don't mean that in a philosophical sense either)?

Ikaruga: My only complaint with the game is it is too short. I really wish I had a vertical screen to play it on so I can experience it in it's true glory.

Astro Boy: This game kicks more ass then it has any right too. Not only is it a really good game but it's a great tribute to the works of Osuma Tezuka. I also love how they reused the ending song from Gunstar Heroes when you're flying to the sun in the final stage.

Advance Guardian Heroes: The only Treasure game I've played that left me completely in the cold. I wish there were more bosses then just all the old Guardian Hero characters.

Stretch Panic: Okay, I lied. I was underwhelmed by this game too, but at least I only payed $20 for it.

Gradius V: Love it, but there is one question that haunts me: why are there no Maois? Did the Parodious games use them all up?

Gunstar Super Heroes: Not quite as good as the original. I found some of the fights to be far too easy and I wish Golden Silver would do more then just stand there as the gems attack. Still, there are some really cool parts and the animation is top notch. I also like how the dialog between characters is slightly different between the two selectable characters for all difficulties no less. It's nothing mind shattering but it's nice that it's there.

I one day hope to play their Saturn games either through honest means or emulation. I wish there was more information available on some of their more obscure titles. The only thing I know about Rakugaki Showtime is that apparently it got pulled from the shelves for copyright infringement or something and Marina from Mischief Makers is a cameo.

Also, the no sequels rule is bunk. As I understand it the rule was made up by Game Fan magazine. Treasure's real policy is that they will only make sequels if all the original team members want to make one.

-James

[dartagnan1803]

Tiny Toons: Busters Bad Dream
DID make it to print and release in the states. . .it was just so far under the radar as Conspiracy Ent. was pushing their 'Land Before Time-Advance' around the time of release.

It's even listed here
www.gamestop.com/product.asp?product%5Fid=914297


In any case, it's the first game made by the director of Astro Boy: Omega Factor, and the influence shows. The only real downside is the bland repetitive stages. But the gameplay is nice enough to justify the $15 it costs (that's how much it cost me) to get a legit copy on Ebay.

[Fletch]

Well from what I heard part of the reason for the repetitiveness is THQ only allowed them to use the smallest GBA (memorywise, that is) cartridge available.

-James

[Malroth]

...Treasure did a McDonalds game? Yikes, bet they do their best to sweep that one under the carpet.