Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Playthrough of Mystic Riders, Irem’s colorful fantasy-themed horizontal shoot ’em up released for arcades in 1992. Known in Japan as Mahou Keibitai Gun Hoki, it runs on Irem’s M92 hardware and offers a striking contrast to the darker atmosphere of games such as R-Type. Instead of spaceships and alien machinery, Mystic Riders sends two young magic users flying on broomsticks through a world of ghosts, skeletons, dragons, gargoyles and other supernatural creatures.
Rating: 8.5/10
Mystic Riders is immediately appealing because of how different it feels from Irem’s better-known shooters. The basic structure is traditional horizontal shmup action, but several unusual mechanics give it a personality of its own. Your standard magic attack can be powered up, while different weapon types change how your shots behave and give you options for handling both tightly packed enemies and larger targets.
The defining feature is the broomstick. It is not merely your character’s means of transportation; it can be thrown away from you like a boomerang in eight directions. The broom can strike large enemies several times during its journey and is especially effective at close range against bosses. It also has defensive value, as it can intercept many incoming projectiles. This turns what initially looks like a simple cute-em-up into a surprisingly tactical shooter where positioning and timing matter almost as much as raw firepower.
Another useful technique is the evasive spin, triggered through a quick directional movement. It provides a brief window of safety and gives skilled players another way to survive dense attacks instead of relying entirely on memorization. Together with instant respawning after death, this makes Mystic Riders much more forgiving than many classic Irem shooters without making it trivial.
There are six stages, each with a strong visual identity. The environments move through magical towns, forests, floating islands, underwater scenery, castles and more hostile fortress-like areas. Irem’s pixel art is excellent throughout, with large expressive enemies, smooth animation and detailed backgrounds. The game may look cheerful at first glance, but its monster designs often carry the darker edge associated with Irem, particularly the giant skeletons, grim reapers and grotesque bosses.
The two-player mode is another strong point. Mark and Zeal can play simultaneously, and the extra broom attacks and magic filling the screen make co-op particularly lively. Even in single-player, however, the game remains very manageable and rarely feels as punishing as R-Type or R-Type II.
The soundtrack is less memorable than the visuals. Its lighter fantasy themes suit the setting, but much of the music stays in the background rather than becoming a major attraction. The boss theme is the exception, bringing a darker and more dramatic tone that complements the large supernatural enemies particularly well.
A complete first loop is fairly short, which is probably Mystic Riders’ biggest weakness. After clearing all six stages, the game sends you through a second, harder loop with increased pressure before offering its final conclusion. The second run adds challenge rather than major new content, so players interested mainly in seeing every environment may find one loop sufficient.
Mystic Riders is one of Irem’s most overlooked arcade shooters. Its imaginative fantasy presentation immediately stands out, but the broom throw, evasive movement and flexible weapon system are what keep it from being merely an R-Type-style shooter with a cute coat of paint. It is accessible, creative, visually impressive and highly enjoyable, making it an easy recommendation for fans of early-1990s arcade shmups.
Playthrough of Mystic Riders, Irem’s colorful fantasy-themed horizontal shoot ’em up released for arcades in 1992. Known in Japan as Mahou Keibitai Gun Hoki, it runs on Irem’s M92 hardware and offers a striking contrast to the darker atmosphere of games such as R-Type. Instead of spaceships and alien machinery, Mystic Riders sends two young magic users flying on broomsticks through a world of ghosts, skeletons, dragons, gargoyles and other supernatural creatures.
Rating: 8.5/10
Mystic Riders is immediately appealing because of how different it feels from Irem’s better-known shooters. The basic structure is traditional horizontal shmup action, but several unusual mechanics give it a personality of its own. Your standard magic attack can be powered up, while different weapon types change how your shots behave and give you options for handling both tightly packed enemies and larger targets.
The defining feature is the broomstick. It is not merely your character’s means of transportation; it can be thrown away from you like a boomerang in eight directions. The broom can strike large enemies several times during its journey and is especially effective at close range against bosses. It also has defensive value, as it can intercept many incoming projectiles. This turns what initially looks like a simple cute-em-up into a surprisingly tactical shooter where positioning and timing matter almost as much as raw firepower.
Another useful technique is the evasive spin, triggered through a quick directional movement. It provides a brief window of safety and gives skilled players another way to survive dense attacks instead of relying entirely on memorization. Together with instant respawning after death, this makes Mystic Riders much more forgiving than many classic Irem shooters without making it trivial.
There are six stages, each with a strong visual identity. The environments move through magical towns, forests, floating islands, underwater scenery, castles and more hostile fortress-like areas. Irem’s pixel art is excellent throughout, with large expressive enemies, smooth animation and detailed backgrounds. The game may look cheerful at first glance, but its monster designs often carry the darker edge associated with Irem, particularly the giant skeletons, grim reapers and grotesque bosses.
The two-player mode is another strong point. Mark and Zeal can play simultaneously, and the extra broom attacks and magic filling the screen make co-op particularly lively. Even in single-player, however, the game remains very manageable and rarely feels as punishing as R-Type or R-Type II.
The soundtrack is less memorable than the visuals. Its lighter fantasy themes suit the setting, but much of the music stays in the background rather than becoming a major attraction. The boss theme is the exception, bringing a darker and more dramatic tone that complements the large supernatural enemies particularly well.
A complete first loop is fairly short, which is probably Mystic Riders’ biggest weakness. After clearing all six stages, the game sends you through a second, harder loop with increased pressure before offering its final conclusion. The second run adds challenge rather than major new content, so players interested mainly in seeing every environment may find one loop sufficient.
Mystic Riders is one of Irem’s most overlooked arcade shooters. Its imaginative fantasy presentation immediately stands out, but the broom throw, evasive movement and flexible weapon system are what keep it from being merely an R-Type-style shooter with a cute coat of paint. It is accessible, creative, visually impressive and highly enjoyable, making it an easy recommendation for fans of early-1990s arcade shmups.
