Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman (1999). Play online

Summary

Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman (often shortened to Rising Zan) throws the usual PlayStation fare out the window, putting a katana‑wielding samurai and a six‑shooter cowboy in the same hands. Zan’s left hand spins the revolver “Johnny No More” while his right slices with the “Demon Slayer” sword, letting you stitch together melee‑gun combos that feel absurdly satisfying.

Every level is peppered with hostages to rescue, frantic “All Button Events” that force you to mangle every button for a timed bar, and a boss showdown that culminates in a 30‑second blitz where the damage you rack up decides which of seven ranked finishing moves you unleash. Your overall score feeds into a quirky ranking system that ranges from “Chicken” up to “Super Ultra Sexy Hero,” and topping the highest tier unlocks playable Sapphire, Zan’s Japanese stepsister.

The game leans heavily on its tongue‑in‑cheek humor, drawing inspiration from shows like Super Sentai and even offering full opening songs in both English (by David Nowlin and voice actor Greg Weber) and Japanese (sung by Hironobu Kageyama). When you fill the Hustle Mode bar, Zan’s sword extends, his attack power spikes, and he tears across the screen at breakneck speed.

Critics praised the off‑beat premise and comedy, noting its 69% GameRankings score, while many complained about imprecise controls. Still, with a mix of goofy style and genuinely inventive set‑pieces, Rising Zan remains a memorable oddball in the PlayStation catalog.

Storyline

Rising Zan: The Samurai Gunman drops you into a bizarre mash‑up of the Wild West and feudal Japan. Young sheriff Johnny of Tsuka Town is ambushed in an abandoned gold mine by a masked samurai who slashes an X‑shaped scar across his face. He’s rescued by Suzuki, a friend of his late father, who takes Johnny to Zipang to train as a samurai. After mastering the blade, Johnny returns home as the self‑styled Super Ultra Sexy Hero, Zan, wielding gun and katana together. He discovers his town overrun by ninjas, wooden golems, and the Jackal organization, and must confront the mysterious Loki, the samurai who nearly killed him, to stop their plans.