Nightmare Busters (2013). Play online

Summary

Nightmare Busters finally showed up on the SNES in late 2013, making it the first brand‑new cartridge for North America since Frogger’s 1998 arrival. The run‑and‑gun shooter feels ripped straight from Contra or Gunstar Heroes, offering both solo play and a drop‑in co‑op where you control leprechaun brothers Flynn and Floyd. They blast enemies with playing‑card projectiles and swap to magic attacks, while a slide‑and‑dash system lets them dodge pits, spikes and fast‑moving foes.

Weapons are tucked in chests and barrels, ranging from fire‑cards and an energy axe to a thunder‑burst and shock sphere, and collecting up to a hundred dominoes grants an extra life. The art team leaned on a European animation style, and the soundtrack was penned by Michel Golgevit and Olivier Rabat, though some reviewers found the audio a bit rough.

Originally showcased at Shoshinkai 1994, the title lingered in development after Sony and Nichibutsu dropped it, only to be revived by Super Fighter Team in 2012. Its limited first run sold out within weeks, prompting a second press and a 2015 collector’s edition that paid homage to classic SNES packaging.

Storyline

Nightmare Busters follows the leprechaun twin brothers Flynn and Floyd as they set out on a daring quest. The pair travel through surreal dreamscapes, battling bizarre enemies while protecting the innocent minds of children. Their ultimate goal is to confront the diabolic Tyrant, a malevolent force intent on infiltrating children’s dreams. By stopping the Tyrant, Flynn and Floyd aim to prevent the transformation of sweet dreams into terrifying nightmares.