Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman offers a unique blend of melee and ranged combat that keeps each encounter fresh and engaging. Players control Zan, formerly known as Johnny, switching seamlessly between his Zipang sword techniques and old-West six-shooter to dispatch waves of ninjas. The dual-weapon system encourages experimentation: you might slice through minor foes with a swift katana slash, only to switch to your pistol to pick off distant archers or stun enemies before closing in. Combos feel fluid and responsive, with light and heavy attacks chaining into a variety of special moves.

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Each level presents a new assortment of challenges, from tight corridors swarming with stealthy assassins to open arenas where ranged threats abound. Enemy types vary not just in appearance but in behavior—some ninjas dart in for sudden strikes, while others hang back to launch projectiles. This forces you to adapt your fighting style on the fly, blending swordplay, gunfire, and occasional platforming segments. The boss battles punctuate the action, introducing pattern-based encounters where you must learn attack cues and timing to avoid devastating blows.

One of the most memorable gameplay elements is the 30-second “punishment” phase after defeating a boss. In this time-attack segment, you unleash as much damage as possible to trigger over-the-top finishing moves. The more you deal, the flashier the kill-cams become, ranging from dramatic decapitations to comedic humiliations. It’s a quirky mechanic that rewards mastery and encourages replaying levels to perfect your performance. Overall, Rising Zan’s gameplay loop is simple to grasp yet layered enough to satisfy action fans looking for creative combat options and speedy, arcade-style thrills.

Graphics

Visually, Rising Zan is a product of its era, sporting early-3D graphics that balance polygonal charm with exaggerated character designs. The environments range from dusty frontier towns and wind-swept canyons to bamboo forests cloaked in shadow, each backdrop rendered with vibrant colors and stylized textures. Though polygons may appear blocky by modern standards, the game’s art direction compensates with bold silhouettes and memorable set pieces, such as wooden drawbridges collapsing under siege or ninja banners fluttering ominously in the wind.

Character models capture Zan’s hybrid identity perfectly: he sports a classic samurai topknot and flowing kimono overlaid with a cowboy’s duster coat, complete with spurs and six-shooter holsters. Enemies are equally diverse, featuring everything from masked foot soldiers to towering mechanical contraptions infused with Zipang magic. Animations can be stiff at times, particularly on slower hardware, but Zan’s signature moves—like his spinning slash or pistol-whip—land with satisfying impact thanks to well-timed particle effects and stylized combat poses.

Cutscenes utilize a blend of in-engine cinematics and comic-book-style panels, creating an animated storyboard feel that punctuates key plot moments. The transitions between gameplay and story sequences are smooth, maintaining visual consistency. While you may occasionally spot texture pop-ins or frame drops during intense onscreen action, these technical quirks are part of the game’s old-school PS1 pedigree and rarely detract from the overall colorful and imaginative presentation.

Story

At its heart, Rising Zan tells a playful, high-spirited tale set in a fantasy version of the American frontier. Young Sheriff Johnny dreams of upholding justice, but his life takes a dramatic turn when the Jackal Organization of elite ninjas descends upon his hometown. Though Johnny bravely fights, he is overwhelmed and left for dead. Rather than succumbing to defeat, he is rescued and trained by Suzuki, a master of the mythical Zipang arts who was once his father’s comrade.

Under Suzuki’s rigorous tutelage, Johnny undergoes a profound transformation—body, mind, and soul. He sheds his old identity to become Zan, the Super-Ultra-Sexy-Hero, wielding both the lethal precision of a samurai and the fast-draw speed of a gunslinger. The narrative unfolds across each stage, delivered with tongue-in-cheek humor and over-the-top character interactions. Cutscenes lampoon classic Western and ninja film tropes, while Zan’s cocky one-liners add a layer of self-aware charm that never takes itself too seriously.

While the main plot drives you from one ninja stronghold to the next, the story is sprinkled with colorful side characters—ranging from a pastry-obsessed innkeeper to a former Jackal agent seeking redemption. Optional dialogue segments and hidden collectibles hint at deeper lore surrounding the Zipang arts and Zan’s mysterious lineage. The result is a fun, breezy narrative that complements the action without bogging you down in excessive exposition, making it perfect for players seeking lighthearted escapades with a dash of samurai mythology.

Overall Experience

Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman offers an unforgettable mashup of Western and Eastern influences wrapped in a delightfully campy package. Its fast-paced combat, quirky humor, and unique boss finishers deliver a satisfyingly retro action experience. Though it bears the hallmarks of a PS1 title—complete with occasional frame rate dips and polygonal edges—its colorful art style and charismatic hero make it easy to forgive technical limitations.

Replay value comes from mastering the combat system, hunting for hidden secrets in each level, and perfecting those 30-second punishment phases. Completing alternate pathways and unlocking secret moves will keep completionists busy, while casual players can breeze through the main campaign enjoying Zan’s antics and more flamboyant finishing moves. The game’s difficulty curve remains approachable, ramping up enough tension in later stages without resorting to unfair cheap shots.

For fans of action-adventure games that don’t take themselves too seriously, Rising Zan is a cult classic gem worth exploring. It may not boast AAA production values, but its heart, humor, and inventive blend of swordplay and shooting carve out a gameplay niche all its own. Whether you’re in it for the flashy combos, the off-the-wall story, or simply the retro charm, Zan’s journey to restore law and honor to his town is a wild, entertaining ride from start to finish.

Retro Replay Score

7.1/10