Cannon Dancer Osman Reviews
Cannon Dancer: Osman isn't a perfect port due to some clunkiness, but it's the definitive way to experience a long-forgotten classic that can finally get its just due.
Cannon Dancer is an undeniably polished product and has Yotsui's action-cinema aspirations stamped all over it. Speed, dynamism, and full-bodied combat snap will keep bringing you back for more. While visually inspired and boldly artistic, it's a concise affair, as was Strider, buoyed by a refined control scheme and consistently interesting stage developments. While the finale is no Third Moon, and could have been improved with a few adjustments, it still qualifies as the Strider sequel you always wanted but never knew.
Cannon Dancer-Osman surprised me with how much fun I had, and I know it’s because I loved Strider so much. This game basically feels like Strider 2; but due to the creator leaving Capcom it obviously couldn’t be called that. It’s not the longest game and while its nice they included the cheats and things $29.99 is way too much for a game that last less than an hour. I loved this game but at that price I would honestly wait for a sale for this one if you are interested.
Cannon Dancer is an obscure underground cult classic that's finally going to find the audience it's 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 – but it won't prevent you from falling in love with all of the high-stakes action that precedes it.
The base game is one of the boldest, prettiest, most audacious arcade games of the era, even if it's eventually undermined by a late-game difficulty spike.
Whether you’re a fan of Strider or a keen retro gamer who’s happiest when jumping into an obscure and hard-to-find title, Cannon Dancer – Osman is definitely worthy of your time and money. Thanks to its electrifying action and strong visual design, it’s a blast from the past that’s genuinely entertaining from beginning to end.
Cannon Dancer – Osman is from the arcade game age. A time when games weren’t designed to be fair but came with glitzy and alluring visuals to get the attention of a passerby. It is honest about what you get; a flashy action platformer with a ton of personality and lurid visuals with an unclear meaning. The game is as brilliant and bright as a slot machine and is just as fair.
Cannon Dancer: Osman is a game that can be completed in a short amount of time. It is action-packed, with tons of martial arts attacks and enemies to take on. The story doesn't make much sense, so if a good story is important to you, you won't find that here.
Forgotten at the bottom of the chest, Cannon Dancer Osman is a historical piece rescued for new platforms for the first time. The visuals will please pixel art connoisseurs and the intense gameplay is as simple and fun as an arcade title should be. The many quality-of-life improvement options are welcome and even allow you to set up slightly different ways of playing, but this help can end up making enjoyment even shorter than it actually is. In the end, it is a game suitable for the nostalgic, the curious and those who propose to play repeatedly a very brief campaign, improving their technique with each quick attempt to reach the end.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
I absolutely love playing Cannon Dancer - Osman as it's one of the zaniest and most action-packed classic games ever created. At the same time, this re-release could have done much more to celebrate this arcade treasure.
Since it is a product of the arcade '90, the duration of the game is not really long. Games at that time became longer mainly due to the sky-high difficulty. Cannon Dancer is no exception to that rule. There's basically just under twenty minutes of gameplay once you've fully learned it and can actually play it without errors. It's in the replay value, because you'll never be able to do that flawlessly in one go. It is therefore entirely up to you to get the most out of it.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Depending on how hardcore your love is for '90s arcade action games you may want to hold off for a sale down the road, but if you have any affection for Strider or games of its ilk, then Cannon Dancer – Osman will likely be right up your alley.
It may have taken more than three decades for Cannon Dancer to make its way to our living rooms, but it was totally worth the wait. If you’re a fan of Capcom’s Strider or classic 90s arcade games in general – especially ones with a meaty challenge – then you owe it to yourself to check it out.
Not a bad port job, but horrible in value, so much so to the point I can only in earnest recommend this at a steep discount or if you are that desperate for a physical edition. The fact they couldn’t even throw in as much as a scanned flyer in-game speaks volumes.
Cannon Dancer: Osman should feel like a celebration of unearthing a lost gem. Instead, the lack of extras and personality in its presentation outside of the game gives it more of a "shop-bought replica" feel. It's a fantastic way to spend an hour and longer should you want to challenge it to the one-credit clear, but I don't think there is enough there for people who aren't retro enthusiasts or have a history with the "Strider" games. I love Cannon Dancer: Osman, but it's a tough one to suggest outside of its niche. If you fall within that niche you're guaranteed to have a smile from ear to ear. Outside of it, it feels like an overpriced, flash in the pan.
From the very first suplex all the way to the explosive boss-gauntlet final stage, I had a blast playing Cannon Dancer - Osman. It's such an amazing game and I have no idea how this game slipped past me in the arcades in the '90s, but I'm glad I got to experience this gem on my PS5.
Cannon Dancer is another cool port of a title that could have been left behind for only illegal emulators and awful translations but it got the deserved highlight for current consoles. Its responsive gameplay is sharp and the difficulty level leaves nothing to be desired for fans of a good challenge.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review