Cannon Dancer Osman Image
Metascore
75

Generally favorable reviews - based on 9 Critic Reviews What's this?

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  • Summary: Set in the near future of the 21st century, the world is controlled by a single corrupt government and under the threat of a evil sorceress, Abdullah the Slaver. Luckily, a lone assassin and top class agent named Kirin offers his skills as weapons for hire.

    Kirin must infiltrate the city to
    Set in the near future of the 21st century, the world is controlled by a single corrupt government and under the threat of a evil sorceress, Abdullah the Slaver. Luckily, a lone assassin and top class agent named Kirin offers his skills as weapons for hire.

    Kirin must infiltrate the city to defeat several enemies, panic and terror. But once inside the cult's main temple, he gets attacked by the police force and left to die... Only thanks to his inner strength can he break free from his chained imprisonment and start moving with a single goal in mind: getting revenge against Jack Layzon, the Judicial Affairs Director that hired him initially.

    But this is far from enough: Three other members of the Teki wants him dead for personal reasons...
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Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 9
  2. Negative: 0 out of 9
  1. Apr 14, 2023
    91
    It’s pretty cool to see a port of this relatively obscure action-platformer make its way to consoles nearly 30 years after its original release. My only real complaint is that I wish there was a little more to the overall package in the way of supplemental material, background info, concept or flyer art, cabinet shots, etc. The cheats and enhancements are cool, and borderline necessary considering the overall difficulty of the game, but for the asking price I’d expect just a little more. Depending on how hardcore your love is for 90’s 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.
  2. Apr 12, 2023
    80
    Old-school 2D action fireworks: short, crisp, iconic. The technical implementation of the retro exotic is exemplary - we'd love to see more of it for modern consoles.
  3. Apr 18, 2023
    80
    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. It never got a console port and would have been a nice fit on the Saturn, but having it come out now when the market is more open to spiritual successor-style games, it almost feels like the best possible timing. It’s a near-perfect Strider clone with more visual flash than anything that series ever had thanks to its stunning pixel art and lush animation. The soundtrack is also full of killer tracks and anyone who loved any Strider game should check out Cannon Dancer as soon as possible.
  4. Nintendo Force Magazine
    Mar 18, 2024
    75
    While Cannon Dancer – Osman is a wild piece of gaming history, the casual and curious may want to wait for a sale before traveling back in time to '90s Kalamazoo. [Issue #66 – July/August 2023, p. 21]
  5. Apr 13, 2023
    70
    Cannon Dancer: Osman is a wild ride with high replay value, showing off some of the best of the 90s’ in its outlandish presentation and precise 2D action gameplay. It’s a great game to have restored and preserved for a new audience and is a fascinating missing piece in the Strider continuity. That being said, it’s a short and sweet gameplay experience that feels far too expensive as a home release, especially given the lack of meaningful extra content. This is one definitely worth picking up on sale.
  6. Apr 24, 2023
    66
    Although this is a proficient port of Mitchell’s 1996 arcade title, the pricing feels prohibitive. As such, only the most fervent Strider fans should consider a purchase of Cannon Dancer – Osman until a sale arises. This six-stage jaunt is likable, at least until the last level, but it also feels inferior when measured against Capcom’s classic title.
  7. Apr 18, 2023
    60
    Cannon Dancer is a fun action game for the short time it lasts, offering the extra dose of Strider thrills that you may have never known existed. It’s great to see it available on home consoles at long last. The problem is that it’s priced like a celebration, but the bare bones way it’s presented feels like anything but. With the same old Ratalaika emulation front-end and no extra materials or even any context for the game, it feels like the publisher has thrown a decent burger patty between two slices of Wonderbread and is charging the price of a steak. Really hard to recommend to any but the dedicated fans.

See all 9 Critic Reviews