Popular Games by Treasure
Reviews of Treasure Games
Review Radiant Silvergun (Switch) - A Superb Shmup That's Still One Of The Very Best
No refuge
Making it business to boycott sensible business practices, Treasure’s commitment to dying consoles once cemented it as Japan’s most revered boutique developer. A practice that gave rise to some of gaming’s most significant works, Radiant Silvergun is a product of both spectacular overachievement and unapologetic showboating. Once...
Review Sin And Punishment (N64) - A Genuine Treasure And No Mistake
Run-and-gun fun
This review originally went live in 2007, and we're updating and republishing it to mark the arrival of N64 games on Nintendo Switch Online. Tiny Japanese developer Treasure has a back catalogue packed with classic titles, but one that sticks out more than most is Sin & Punishment. Released in the twilight days of the N64...
“Even though the ideal is high, I never give in”
Upon first release on Sega NAOMI-powered arcades back in 2001, Ikaruga polarised audiences. While it most certainly was a vertical scrolling shmup like one would expect from the spiritual sequel to Radiant Silvergun, it played nothing like it. In fact, it played like no shmup before it and even...
Review Sin and Punishment (Wii U eShop / N64)
On the rails and off the hip
It's no secret that many Japanese titles never see the light of day overseas. Countless games have been unreleased for fear of lack of public interest and fear of bad. This was the initial reason Sin and Punishment, released in 2000, never surfaced on the Nintendo 64 outside of Japan. The hectic shoot'em up only made...
Review Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh (Nintendo 64)
Insanity redefined
Bakuretsu Muteki Bangaioh (which translates as Explosive, Invincible Bangaioh — you might know it as Bangai-O) is a relatively obscure Japanese exclusive for Nintendo 64 that holds a rather interesting history. Released in 1999 and developed by Treasure — the same team that produced the Sin & Punishment games — it is...
Wish you weren't here
Nintendo is a company that's world renowned for its varied cast of versatile characters and Wario is certainly no exception. Since his first playable appearance in Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3, Wario has starred in a plethora of 2D platforming adventures spanning the Game Boy right through to the DS, each one seeing...
Latest Treasure News
Sunday9th Feb 2025
Poll Box Art Brawl - Duel: Wario World (GameCube)
Wa-haaaaaa!
Hello dearest pals, and welcome to another edition of Box Art Brawl! Before we dive into this week's battle, let's see how things panned out last time. The lovely Jim took the opportunity to crank out a few LotR quotes with a look at the GBA version of The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age. Unsurprisingly, the Western design absolutely...
Friday12th Jul 2024
News Four Critically Acclaimed Shmups To Get Physical Switch Release In Europe
Including Mushihimesama
Clear River Games has revealed that it's releasing four critically acclaimed Switch shmups in physical form in Europe. Three Cave classics — DoDonPachi Resurrection, Espgaluda II, Mushihimesama — and Treasure's celebrated Radiant Silvergun will all be getting a physical release across Europe soon. More details will be...
Tuesday7th Mar 2023
Countdown 3DS eShop Spotlight - 3D Gunstar Heroes
#12 - A real treasure
For the month before the 3DS and Wii U eShops close for new purchases on 27th March, each day we're going to highlight a specific eShop game for one of those consoles and give a short pitch as to why we think it deserves your love and attention — before it's too late. The chance to add these to your library will be gone for...
Saturday15th Oct 2022
News Superb Shmup Radiant Silvergun Is Getting A Physical Release On Switch
Update: Pre-orders on LRG go live
Update [Sat 15th Oct, 2022 06:55 BST]: Pre-orders for Radiant Silvergun have gone live on the Limited Run Games website. Original article [Thu 13th Oct, 2022 01:25 BST]: If you're a fan of shoot 'em ups, one game you can't go past on the Switch is Radiant Silvergun by Treasure. It made its debut in 1998 and was...
Tuesday20th Sep 2022
News Radiant Silvergun Is Back Up On The North American eShop
Update: You can now shmup to your heart's content
Update #2 [Tue 20th Sep, 2022 14:30 BST]: Treasure fans, shmup fans, rejoice — Radiant Silvergun is now available to purchase from the eShop once again! It appears that the game was re-uploaded to the store earlier today. The web store hasn't updated yet, but we've double-checked the eShop on the...
Monday27th Dec 2021
Feature Treasure Games That Need Switch Ports Or Sequels
We’re going on a Treasure hunt
The aptly-named Japanese studio Treasure — in spite of its fondness for focusing on less popular formats and its infrequent and occasionally Japan-only releases — has long been a developer famed throughout all of game-dom for the consistent originality and sheer quality that runs through its work. Formed in 1992...
Wednesday29th Sep 2021
News Japanese Developer Treasure Teases Future Releases For Switch Online
Gunstar Heroes and Sin & Punishment have already been locked in
One developer that showed up a few times during Nintendo's reveal of the N64 and Mega Drive NSO service was Treasure. The famous Japanese company - known for hits such as Ikaruga on the Dreamcast and GameCube - appears to have two games on the way to Nintendo's digital retro libraries...
Saturday25th Sep 2021
News Sin & Punishment For Nintendo 64 Now Has An Official Western Box Art
Thank the Switch Online service
After a recent rumour, Nintendo yesterday lifted the lid on N64 games for its Switch Online service. They'll be arriving "late" next month as part of an 'Expansion Pass' which also includes Sega Genesis (Mega Drive) titles. Fans have been spotting some smal
Saturday23rd Nov 2019
News Physical Copies Of Ikaruga For Nintendo Switch Are Now In "Active" Production
Get ready to shoot 'em up
Publisher Nicalis has been teasing a hard copy of Treasure's sublime shmup Ikaruga for Switch since it showed off a gigantic Switch game case at PAX West 2018. It sent fans of this iconic game – first published as an arcade title in 2001 – into an absolute frenzy. Roughly a year later, Nicalis officially
Monday3rd Dec 2018
News Treasure Considering Arcade Shmup Radiant Silvergun For Switch
Fingers crossed
The iconic Japanese developer Treasure might be bringing another shoot 'em up game to the Nintendo Switch eShop in the near future. Based on a Twitter reply to a fan last month, Radiant Silvergun has been in consideration for the Switch for some time now. Here's how it all unfolded in tweet form: Radiant Silvergun was released in...
Sunday1st Jul 2018
Random NieR: Automata Game Director Explains How He Was Inspired By Ikaruga
Total respect for Treasure's shmup
In celebration of the recent re-release of Ikaruga on multiple platforms including the Switch eShop, the Japanese publication Famitsu sat down with Yoko Taro - the director of the highly praised NieR: Automata - to discuss how exactly Treasure's sublime shmup has influenced his own work over the years...
Saturday9th Jun 2018
There’s no strict policy in place
When Masato Maegawa departed Konami in 1993, he co-founded Treasure – a Japanese company that became known for its classic action-style and shoot ‘em up games. Starting out with Gunstar Heroes and eventually moving onto projects like Sin and Punishment years later, the newest arrival is the re-release of...
Friday8th Jun 2018
Feature Nicalis On The Timeless Allure Of Physical Games And Bringing More Treasure Titles To Switch
"We're always listening to fan requests"
American publisher Nicalis has been around for longer than you might think, and has recently gained recognition for its efforts to publish physical versions of Switch games with extra treats for fans. Such goodies often include delightful trinkets such as soundtrack CDs or retro inspired instruction manuals;...
Tuesday10th Apr 2018
News Treasure Teases Both Ikaruga And Nintendo Switch Fans
Will this GameCube classic ever come to Switch?
Hardly a day goes by at Nintendo Life Towers when we don't daydream about Ikagura one day appearing on Nintendo Switch. Smooth 60fps in both docked and portable mode? Check. Optional TATE mode for both modes? Double check. We do like to daydream around here, but looks like we might not be the only...
Tuesday31st Oct 2017
News Treasure's Masato Maegawa Wants Sega To Make A Mega Drive Mini
It's time to give the SNES Mini some competition
It's fair to say that the NES Mini and SNES Mini have been very successful ventures for Nintendo, selling millions of units and creating a new awareness of the company's glorious past. However, when the NES Mini was announced it felt very much like Nintendo was playing catch-up; we'd already seen...
Wednesday6th Jan 2016
News Masato Maegawa Talks Shoot 'em Up Designs and Sin and Punishment
A blast from the past
The shoot 'em up genre is one that's seemingly been around for nearly as long as video games have. While they do certainly have a limited appeal, these types of games offer up what could certainly be argued as the purest arcade experiences, with lightning fast reflexes and pattern recognition being absolute musts. Treasure is...
Monday31st Aug 2015
News Sin & Punishment Confirmed to be Blasting it Up on Wii U This Week in Europe
An absolute Treasure
Around about this time on a Monday we'd normally be posting the European Nintendo Download Update, but unfortunately for us it's a public Holiday that the big N seems to be observing. It's a bitter pill to swallow, we know, but we'll all just need to wait an extra 24 hours. We do know two games that are coming to Wii U in...
Thursday27th Aug 2015
News Double Dose Of Sin & Punishment Arrives On North American Wii U Virtual Console Tomorrow
Get ready for an intense, adrenaline-pumped thrill ride
If you happen to live in North America and are yet to experience Treasure’s brilliant Nintendo 64 title, Sin & Punishment, along with its sequel, Sin & Punishment: Star Successor, on the Wii, then you’re in for a treat as of tomorrow – with both games releasing on the Wii U’s...
Monday29th Jun 2015
Matters Of Import 3D Gunstar Heroes Is Hyperactive Run And Gun Action At Its Finest
Another classic to treasure on your 3DS console
Gunstar Heroes charged onto the Sega Mega Drive in 1993, significantly marking the début of quirky developer Treasure, having been formed from ex-Konami staff wanting to go it their own way. Often seen floating near to the top of many 'best game ever' lists, Gunstar Heroes is a bona-fide classic of...
Wednesday24th Jun 2015
News 3D Gunstar Heroes Brings New Modes And Local Co-Op To 3DS
Launches this week in Japan
This week 3D Gunstar Heroes hits the 3DS eShop in Japan, and it's bringing with it a host of new features. In addition to being in stereoscopic 3D and offering the usual range of screen filters, the game will also include a brand-new "All Spec" mode which grants immediate access to all 14 weapons available in the game...
Thursday30th Apr 2015
Video Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies Shines On Wii U
A pleasurable experience
For the latest Wii release to get another chance on the Wii U eShop, Nintendo has given us something a little different in Treasure's Sin & Punishment: Successor of the Skies, or Star Successor as it's known in North America. A sequel to an N64 game that never even made it out of Japan (until a Virtual Console release on...
Thursday2nd Apr 2015
News Pandora's Tower And Sin And Punishment Coming To The European eShop This Month
Early bird discount applies, too
It has been confirmed during the recent European Nintendo Direct that the Wii classics Pandora's Tower and Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies will be coming to the Wii U eShop in Europe on the 16th and 30th April respectively. Both games will be subject to a 25 percent discount during their first week on...
Wednesday18th Mar 2015
Video Did You Know That Gunstar Heroes Shipped With A Fruit Roll-Up?
The Sega Channel takes a look at Treasure's first release
Gunstar Heroes is unquestionably one of the greatest games ever to grace Sega's 16-bit Mega Drive / Genesis system. It was also the first title from Treasure, a studio formed by former Konami employees that would find greater fame producing the likes of Radiant Silvergun, Ikaruga and Sin...
Wednesday18th Feb 2015
Videos show them off and hopefully point to similar Western releases
After a two week absence for Wii downloads on the eShop, this week's European Nintendo Download Update details confirmed the arrival of Kirby's Adventure Wii in the region. With that confirmed, focus for Wii fans inevitably turns to the remaining games that have already been...
Friday9th Jan 2015
News Gamer Proposes To Girlfriend During Mischief Makers Speedrun Livestream
Awesome Marriages Done Quick
This year, gamers all over the globe got together for Awesome Games Done Quick, a gaming marathon that raises money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation. The event has delivered many memorable moments -- including our very own Marcel blasting through Shovel Knight -- but one of the most heart-warming has to be this...
Thursday24th Jul 2014
News Gaist Crusher God Is Getting A Beastly Serving Of Monster Hunter 4 Content
Joining the hunt
Gaist Crusher God launches in Japan on September 4th, and Capcom has today announced that the game will get crossover content from Monster Hunter 4. Players will be able to do battle with famous beasts from the popular title, each boasting a revised look so that they fit snugly into the Gaist Crusher world. Characters will also be...
Wednesday18th Jun 2014
News Capcom and Treasure Team Up Again for Gaist Crusher Sequel
Don't hold your breath for a Western release
Back in January, we took a look at Capcom's Gaist Crusher. Developed by renowned Japanese game studio Treasure, the title — perhaps most accurately described as Diet Monster Hunter — is part of a multimedia franchise spanning manga, anime, and a line of collectible toys. Gaist Crusher met with a...
Friday4th Apr 2014
News Sin & Punishment Developer Treasure Working With Capcom On Sequel To Gaist Crusher
Still no sign of a Western release
Japanese video game developer Treasure, best known for critically acclaimed titles such as Sin and Punishment and the Sega Mega Drive classic Gunstar Heroes, is working with Capcom on a sequel to the 3DS action game – based on the manga, animation and toy series of the same name – Gaist Crusher. Gaist Crusher...
Tuesday14th Jan 2014
First Impressions Shouting Shounen in Capcom’s Gaist Crusher
We go hands-on with this hyperactive Treasure-developed 3DS title
Gaist Crusher is one of those multimedia extravaganzas where right from the start there’s a TV series, manga and other merchandise all lined up and ready to drain the wallets of anyone unable to withstand the assault. This 3DS offering — developed by none other than the legendary...
Friday25th Oct 2013
News Sega Genesis Owners Very Nearly Missed Out On Treasure's Gunstar Heroes
Sega of America almost passed on the legendary run-and-gun title
Localising Japanese games for western release is a costly process, and even today we still see a lot of titles remaining Japan exclusives and therefore tantalisingly out of reach. Back in the '90s it was very much the same deal, with many amazing 16-bit games failing to make the jump...
Friday2nd Aug 2013
Weirdness These Gaist Crusher 3DS Add-Ons Aren't Particularly Stylish
Lumps of plastic to bolt onto the 3DS? Check...
Not so long ago we brought you the news that Treasure — best known for brilliant titles such as Sin & Punishment: Star Successor and Gunstar Heroes — is working with Capcom on Gaist Crusher for the 3DS. It's a title that'll aim to combine the in-game action with a broader branding effort,...
Monday22nd Jul 2013
News Sin & Punishment Studio Treasure Is Working On Gaist Crusher With Capcom
Big things expected from 3DS action title
Capcom's Gaist Crusher is part of a concerted effort to create a new money-spinning brand which fuses the mediums of video games, animation and toys, and the forthcoming 3DS title is shaping up to be a significant title for 2013. It has been revealed by Treasure — the talented team behind Sin &...
Wednesday31st Oct 2012
News Sin And Punishment Developer Treasure Working On 3DS Exclusive
3D action shooter inbound
Veteran studio Treasure - the team behind the amazing Sin and Punishment: Star Successor - has confirmed that it is working on a 3DS exclusive. Speaking to UK magazine gamesTM, Treasure CEO Masato Maegawa revealed the exciting news: We are making a new game on Nintendo 3DS now. Not multiplatform, but exclusive to 3DS...
Wednesday27th Oct 2010
News Nintendo Declares the Best Sin and Punishment Player Ever
Or something like that anyway
What better game to use in determining who can score the highest than one of the more difficult shooters available? Last month, Nintendo of America launched the official competition to find the nation's gamer who can score the highest on Sin and Punishment: Star Successor's third lev
Wednesday15th Sep 2010
Competition Prove Your Sin and Punishment 2 Skills in New Official Competition
Prizes and pride at stake
Sin & Punishment: Star Successor is a classic: hugely difficult, but a classic nonetheless. Anyone currently honing their best scores may want to take a look at this new official Nintendo competition for North America – sorry, rest of the world! – to prove they're the best. The challenge asks players to score as...
Wednesday21st Jul 2010
News Oh Look, Australia Gets to Sin and Punish Too
JB HiFi does what Nintendon't
Nintendo might not think that Treasure's Sin and Punishment 2: Star Successor is worth the effort to bring over to Oceania, but somebody sure does. That somebody is retailer JB HiFi, who have taken it upon themselves to stock the game in limited quantities for sale exclusively through their brick-and-mortar stores...
Wednesday19th May 2010
News You're Probably Not Good Enough to Beat Sin and Punishment 2 on Hard
So say the game's developers
In a recent interview with Official Nintendo Magazine, Sin and Punishment: Successor of the Skies producer Masato Maegawa claims his new game is so unrelentingly difficult that he doesn't expect anybody to finish it on the most difficult setting. I think that the Easy Mode is the perfect difficulty for anybody to be...
Sunday16th May 2010
News Preorder Sin and Punishment, Get Bonus Points and Poster
That's a sweet deal
Although Treasure fans the length and breadth of Europe are already enjoying the company's latest blasterpiece, those of you across the pond in North America are probably cursing Nintendo's decision to delay to Sin and Punishment: Star Successor. It might be time to reconsider however, as Gamestop is giving not one but two...
Friday23rd Apr 2010
News Nintendo's Upcoming U.S. Release Schedule Gets Updated
Metroid: Other M and Sin & Punishment: Star Successor get pushed back
Summer is slowly on its way and with it, brings the annual wave of big releases. Sadly though, the pace at which the tip of this wave is arriving is rubbing off on some highly anticipated games. Nintendo has just informed us that whilst some titles have been marked with release...
Friday26th Feb 2010
First Impressions Sin and Punishment 2
Blasting, slashing, stunning – trailer inside!
It took forever (well, nearly) for Treasure's seminal N64 game Sin and Punishment to see a Western release, but thankfully the sequel isn't due to take anywhere near as long to find its way to your Wii disc tray, with a European release date of 7th May. When Nintendo offered us the chance to play it...
Wednesday24th Feb 2010
News Sin & Punishment 2 Coming June 7th
Sequel to Nintendo 64 classic is on its way
Nintendo and Treasure have just announced that the sequel to the cult classic Nintendo 64 shooter will be hitting North American store shelves on June 7th. Sin and Punishment: Star Successor will use the Wii Remote to create an unprecedented level of play control and interaction within the game. You can...
Sunday27th Dec 2009
News Sin and Punishment 2: New Video and Preview from Official Nintendo Magazine
You wait half a year for some information and suddenly a video and preview show up all at once
Sin and Punishment 2 was announced as far back as October last year, despite that screens and information about the sequel to the N64 shooter have been a little thin on the ground. However for this months Christmas Issue, Official Nintendo Magazine in the...
Wednesday4th Nov 2009
News Sin & Punishment Team Talks N64 Development Hell
The console "didn't work at all"
The paradigm shift from 2D to 3D that game developers faced in the 32/64-bit era was so drastic that not only did developers have to grapple with new tech but also figuring out how on earth their games would work in a new dimension. It didn't always work out so well, but when it did it was magical. Nintendo CEO...
Tuesday13th Oct 2009
News Sin and Punishment 2 Comes into Focus
Famitsu reveals new details, with more to come!
Thanks to Nintendo's lovely Virtual Console service, thousands of lucky Western Wii owners have experienced the wonders of Treasure's seminal shooter Sin and Punishment, its first appearance in the West after years out in the Japanese N64 wilderness. Then, as the delicious icing on the cake, a sequel...
Tuesday2nd Jun 2009
News Sin & Punishment 2 E3 Trailer
Sin & Punishment sequel really shaping up!
For you Sin & Punishment fans out there, we just got our hands on the brand new E3 trailer for the upcoming Wii sequel Sin & Punishment 2. Here's a snippet from the official press release that accompanied the trailer. Players engage in nonstop shooter action as they're propelled through this...
