Mystic Warriors (Arcade) Review

 

Inspecting countless arcades like a guard on the prowl for ninjas, not once did I encounter 1993's Mystic Warriors, the obscure spiritual sequel to the well-received and far more widely distributed Sunset Riders. Even if you never heard of this Konami run & gun until the thirty years delayed console release, the sturdy as a wooden dummy gameplay, swiftly paced stages, and unusual, hard-hitting soundtrack in particular makes this an ancient scroll well worth dusting off. 

Narrated like a cheesy martial arts movie, a random member of your diverse Party of Five is abducted by an evil organization. The remaining warriors possess different attributes, but control largely the same. Besides the standard Samurai, Ninja and Monk, you can also play as the more conspicuous wild haired Kabuki or half naked Kunoichi. Flailing like straight to VHS warriors, they sprint as if practicing agility ladder drills and enthusiastically grab power-ups and steaming Japanese cuisine found laying about. At first, the relatively large characters feel slightly awkward amongst the overwhelming action and occasionally cramped stages. Through repeatedly tossing shurikens and more powerful melee attacks towards thousands of soldiers and frequent, ridiculously equipped bosses, you'll discover previously unnoticed graphical details and enemy pattern insight. Rather than growing dull, this 50 minute whirlwind becomes increasingly engaging through replays.

While the graphics are highly pleasant; there's occasional awkwardness in how particular sprites clash. Characters are highly stylized, favoring pastel colors or deeper saturations of blue, yellow, violet and pink. They blend in perfectly with more scenic backgrounds, such as a blinding pink sunset where you battle skiing down a mountain, or a brilliantly lit underground minecart level. Almost wasting artistry, an impressively drawn pagoda is viewable for just mere seconds after toppling the final boss. However, modern buildings, infrastructure and vehicles borrow from the same harsh military aesthetic as an 80s Data East or Taito action game. Pea greens and weathered greys unwelcomely impose on the game's enchanting easter-egg palette.

The unique soundtrack is what really elevates the experience and differentiates it from other run & guns. Roughly half is comprised of the usual frenetic Konami arcade score, featuring the signature 'orchestra hit' sample. The rest is a spectacle in itself: electronic dance beats overlayed with Japanese folk and court instruments. The New Jack Swing sound and vocal shouts of "Great Airforce" would fit in perfectly with Sonic The Hedgehog 3's soundtrack, coincidentally released the same year.

Mystical Warriors' biggest disappointment is how Konami managed to drop the rice ball with it. A shame the game wasn't ported to a reasonably capable 16-bit system or sent to bolster the Saturn and PlayStation launches. Already worthy on its own merits, Konami could have easily marketed their own brand of far-eastern violence to ride the coattails of the pop culture dominating Mortal Kombat franchise. The standard Arcade Archives price of $8 is a bit steep, but if this elusive classic somehow manifested at your local 90s arcade, you would swear a ninja nabbed your entire token stash.