Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman
A cowboy samurai fights with gun and katana.
Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman is a 1999 action-adventure game for the PlayStation, developed by UEP Systems and published by Agetec. It stands out as the only UEP title not about snowboarding, mixing Eastern and Western styles in a strange world where a cowboy named Johnny, trained as a samurai after a near-fatal attack, returns as Zan to fight evil samurai. Reviews were mixed to positive, praising the unique premise, humor, and soundtrack, but criticizing the gameplay and controls.
Quick Facts
- Developer
- UEP Systems
- Publisher
- UEP Systems (JP); Agetec (WW)
- Director
- Makoto Sunaga
- Producer
- Kimiaki Kurashima
- Designer
- Tadayuki Konno
- Artist
- Masaki Shimizu
- Programmer
- Kiyoshi Tsukada
- Composer
- Atsunori Namba; Yoshichika Shimamura
Facts from the source article.
Gameplay
Zan fights using a revolver named "Johnny No More" in his left hand and a katana named "Demon Slayer" in his right. The player can rescue hostages, perform combos combining sword and gun attacks, and execute "All Button Events" where all controller buttons must be pressed quickly to fill a bar within a time limit. These events include one of seven finishing moves for each of the nine boss enemies, ranked from lowest to highest: "Weak", "Yeah", "Neat", "Cool", "Groovy", "Wicked", and "Bitchin'". Zan has a bar that raises several levels to activate "Hustle Mode", increasing his sword length, attack power, and speed. Successful actions award extra score, and at the end of each level the player receives a ranking from "Chicken" to "Super Ultra Sexy Hero". High rankings unlock features such as playing as Sapphire, Zan's Japanese stepsister.
Plot
During the Wild West period, young sheriff Johnny investigates an abandoned gold mine where people have been kidnapped. He is ambushed by a masked samurai who cuts an X-shaped scar into his face, but is saved by Suzuki, a samurai master and friend to Johnny's late father. Johnny seeks revenge, and Suzuki agrees to train him in Zipang. Fully trained, Johnny declares himself the Super Ultra Sexy Hero, Zan, and returns home to find his town overrun by ninjas and wooden men. This is the work of the Jackal, an organization of samurai and ninja looting the Wild West. Zan takes up his blade and gun to uncover the Jackal's plan and battle Loki, the samurai who nearly killed him.
Development
Development on Rising Zan began around April 1998, following the European launch of Cool Boarders 2. The game drew from various TV shows, most notably Super Sentai, which shaped both the enemies and their distinctive way of speaking. A unique feature is its opening theme song, which includes full sung lyrics in both the American and Japanese releases and also plays after each stage. The Japanese track, Samurai Gunman Zan the Zan, was performed by Hironobu Kageyama, with music by Atsunori Namba and arrangement by Yohgo Kohno; it was issued as a single in Japan, complete with a karaoke version. The American opening, Johnny No More, aims for the feel of a 1950s or 1960s Western TV show. Composed and sung by David Nowlin and Greg Weber (who voiced Zan), it appears on the Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman Original Soundtrack as the Overseas Theme Song, alongside its Japanese counterpart.
Reception
Rising Zan landed in the "average" zone on GameRankings. Critics liked its offbeat humor and fresh concept, but they hammered it for sloppy execution and technical flaws. NextGen's Jeff Lundrigan summed it up: "You want to like it, but it's just not as fun as it ought to be." In Japan, Famitsu gave it a 29 out of 40. Years later, GamesRadar+ called it a game with "untapped franchise potential," arguing that a title like "Samurai Gunman" alone justified a sequel. Official UK PlayStation Magazine praised its "excellent plot and occasional flashes of brilliance," yet ultimately found it "nothing special."
Frequently Asked Questions
Who directed Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman?
Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman was directed by Makoto Sunaga.
Who designed Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman?
Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman was designed by Tadayuki Konno.
Who composed the music for Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman?
The music for Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman was composed by Atsunori Namba and Yoshichika Shimamura.
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