Gunstar Super Heroes is a new game based on a traditional Sega sidescroller. With unlimited ammo and unlimited enemies, this is a fine way to kill time in line.

You choose from two team members - Red or Blue. Both are young boys. One is the honorable, straightforward type and the other is the rebel, whiny type. Really, it has little effect on gameplay besides the dialogue spoken and a few other situations.

The plot is pretty meaningless. In essence you have to go through level after level of enemies, slaying them all with your choice of 3 weapons. One shoots straight blue beams, one shoots circular red ones, and the third shoots zig-zag green ones. You can pop between them at whim and as all have infinite ammo, you can just blast away.

The sound is fine, a loop of tinny music that keeps you moving along through the missions. Sometimes you're jumping on platforms, sometimes you're running down tunnels. You spin in circles, look for enemy weak spots, and the "GO" arrows keep you moving in the right direction.

I wish they could have had room to put an actual health bar for yourself and your enemy. Instead they show a countdown of actual digit numbers (say 100 vs 42) and you have to watch those count down to zero. Since you are often in massive 100-on-1 battles with hordes of creatures, it'd be easier to glance up at a bar vs reading a tiny number.

Also, some of the backgrounds are exceedingly (and unnecessarily) busy, meaning that the character doesn't stand out very well against them. It's hard to see your character amidst all the color-jumble behind him. A game should be a challenge of skills, not a challenge of picking out the pixel-pieces that represent you.

Finally, the game is REALLY short. I think they could have fit several more mission levels easily into the set, to give us more playing time.

That all being said, Gunstar Super Heroes is quite a fun mindless blasting game that's easy to put down and pick up. It's perfect for playing on a bus or train ride, or while you wait around for any reason.

Well recommended.

Rating: 4/5

Buy Sunstar Super Heroes from Amazon.com