There\u2019s a strong chance you\u2019ve never played Cannon Dancer, or Osman as it\u2019s perhaps better known to North American arcade goers. That\u2019s the beauty of this current retro renaissance, though: we\u2019re not only seeing the return of well-loved classics on contemporary consoles, but also obscure underground gems like this one from the Mitchell Corporation are becoming accessible for the first time. And even through a modern lens, this spiritual Strider successor holds up.<\/p>\n

Designed by a superstar group of ex-Capcom staff, including key creative figure Kouichi Yotsui, this chunky side-scrolling beat-\u2018em-up first released in Japanese arcades all the way back in 1996, but never received a home console version \u2013 until now. Ratalaika Games has handled the conversion, and so those who\u2019ve played ports like Gleylancer will be familiar with the features of its emulator wraparound, which includes various CRT filters, wallpapers, and other quality of life improvements.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll get both the original Japanese release and its North American counterpart, and there are two methods of play, with one unlocking key convenience features such as rewind and save states. Unlike the rest of Ratalaika Games\u2019 library, however, Trophies are disabled in this easier option, so you\u2019ll need to play through Challenge Mode to earn the gongs. You do get to choose a total of two enhancements here, which include extra credits or double jumps.<\/p>\n

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The game itself is a rollercoaster ride of vivid colours and seemingly unending imagination. With a cyberpunk-style Arabian theme, you\u2019ll play as a martial artist named Kirin, who punches his way through robotic armies and statue-esque deities. From the first explosive upper-cut through to the boss rush-esque ending, this romp is relentless, pitting you against charging trucks, giant sand monsters, and deadly open waters.<\/p>\n

The protagonist\u2019s acrobatic moveset and ability to scramble up sharp architectural inclines inspires memories of Strider, but launching seven years after Capcom\u2019s inspirational effort, the gameplay feels much tighter and more gratifying overall. Armed with a special karate kick and the ability to power up and place mimics of yourself in key strategic positions, this game makes you feel<\/em> incredibly capable \u2013 even when you\u2019re burning through several credits in 60 seconds.<\/p>\n

Despite having a sub-30 minute running time, the release fills every single frame with memorable moments, whether you\u2019re sizing up a crooked attorney at the top of his office tower building or boarding a boat with pirates \u2013 it\u2019s a thrill ride from start to finish. The difficulty does spike unfairly in the final stage, meaning many will struggle to see the credits without leaning into rewind and the other quality of life improvements, but this is a minor gripe in an otherwise outstanding campaign.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Conclusion<\/h2>\n

Cannon Dancer is an obscure underground cult classic that\u2019s finally going to find the audience it\u2019s always deserved. That we live in an era where games like this can be made easily accessible is worth celebrating, but even taken on its own merits, this spiritual successor to Strider is a breathless, brilliant affair. A sharp difficulty spike, common in the arcade releases of the era, feels unfair \u2013 but it won\u2019t prevent you from falling in love with all of the high-stakes action that precedes it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n