- Platform: PS, Xbox, Switch
- ESRB Rating: T for Teen
- Publisher: ININ Games
- Release Date: April 13, 2023 Metadata by Giant Bomb
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Say what you will about the modern games industry, but it’s hard to deny that there’s more to play than ever these days. What’s more, it’s easier than ever to find and enjoy the classic games of yesteryear, though the legitimacy of your means of doing so might vary a tiny bit. Case in point: Cannon Dancer, aka Cannon Dancer – Osman, a side-scrolling action game that hit the arcades nearly three decades ago in 1996…and nothing else since.
It’s got something of a cult following thanks to its pedigree (and arcade emulation), and has been nearly impossible to find a legitimate version of the game…until now. At long last, we’ve finally got a proper home port of Cannon Dancer. Rejoice!
via YouTubeCannon Dancer’s closest relative is Strider, a point that should become abundantly clear within a few seconds of starting the game (both share several developers, including the same director, Kouichi Yotsui). We follow martial artist and assassin Kirin, whose signature attack is a mighty roundhouse kick that bears a strong resemblance to Strider Hiryu’s Cipher blade.
You’ll spend your time with Kirin kicking people in half, in other words. Two relevant points: first, that’s probably not great for your shoes, and second, Kirin’s basically Chuck Norris.
As in Strider, Kirin’s capable of clambering around on walls, sliding, leaping about like a gazelle and so on. Your most powerful ability, though, is straight out of the NES Ninja Gaiden games. By collecting power-ups, Kirin’s able to leave behind shadow clones that mimic his attacks. This enables you to set up areas where you can deal damage while remaining out of danger. It’s a great way to deal with Cannon Dancer’s various bosses, many of which would just love to trap you in bullet hell-styled attack patterns.
This is a pretty faithful port of Cannon Dancer, as the many of us who’ve been exposed to the game via MAME over time are likely to attest. In an effort to help the softer, squishier cadre of modern players wrap their brains around the game, the port offers cheat–er, accessibility option–er, enhancements such as allowing Kirin to automatically dodge attacks while attacking or jumping.
You’re even able to earn achievements while continuing to use these! Cannon Dancer’s not a particularly tough game from the start thanks to the incredible power of your shadow clones, but players who still have trouble now have a way out.
There’s a fair number of presentation and display options as well, including the usual aspect ratio options, scale filters and customizable borders, as well as a gross CRT shader. Cannon Dancer’s unique cyberpunk-Middle Eastern setting sets it apart from its contemporaries as well, and many of the levels and setpieces really have to be seen to be believed. Given its vintage it plays arcade-perfect on every platform, and it’s easy to recommend the Switch port here since it can handle the game with no issues whatsoever, plus its straightforward gameplay makes for great bite-sized sessions.
It’s a little shocking that it took almost thirty (!) years for Cannon Dancer – Osman to make its way home in a legitimate fashion, but it’s finally here and with all its original bells and whistles. Fans of classic side-scrollers (and, of course, Strider aficionados) owe it to themselves to check this one out. It’s a solid arcade experience, albeit a short one, of the sort we don’t see that often in the modern world.
