feudal_bros_rerelease_switch_ps5
Image: Sunsoft

Do you miss Aero the Acro-Bat? How about Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel? Do you remember either? Do you even want to play as them again? Do you know what Meet the Lord! You Are Number One! is? Well, regardless of your answers to any of those questions, veteran studio Sunsoft has launched a physical compilation of some classic releases for PS5 and Nintendo Switch.

Now available from online retailers and on the high street, the succinctly titled Aero The Acro-Bat Legacy + Sunsoft Lost Gems features six games from the studio's 16-bit era, including mascot platformers Aero the Acro-Bat (1993), Aero The Acro-Bat 2 (1994), Game Boy Advance port Aero the Acro-bat: Rascal Rival Revenge, and spin-off release Zero the Kamikaze Squirrel (1994)

The compendium also features two of Sunsoft's lesser-known Super Famicom releases. First up is the bizarre beat 'em up Deae Tonosama: Appare Ichiban (Meet the Lord! You Are Number One!) (1995). Localised in the West as Feudal Bros., this top-down beat 'em up sees a flamboyant dandy prince team up with a psychotic Japanese warlord as the mismatched pair embark on an absurd journey across the globe.

Armed with roses, fans, and the ability to become musclebound versions of themselves, the duo battle cherubs, astronauts, elephants, fakirs, and martial arts masters for reasons known neither to them, the player, nor probably the developer. It's not very good. In fact, it's terrible, but it's undeniably one of the games of all time.

aero_the_acro-bat_legacy_ps5_switch
Image: Sunsoft

The second title is Shounen Ninja Sasuke (1995), localised in the West as Justice Ninja Casey. The 2D brawler follows the titular young ninja on a mission to rescue a kidnapped princess, set against the backdrop of feudal Japan. Justice Ninja Casey is a fairly repetitive title, but does spark joy with its cute character designs and varied locations.

The latter two titles never arrived in Western territories following their Super Famicom releases and have been localised for the first time as part of this collection. Despite the shaky quality of these "lost gems", they may, ironically, be the key selling point of the compendium - especially for classic gaming completionists as well as collectors of physical media. Strange days.

Aero The Acro-Bat Legacy + Sunsoft Lost Gems is now available on PS5 and Nintendo Switch.