Bonanza Bros.

Bonanza Bros.

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1990 for the System 24 arcade hardware, Bonanza Bros. is a charming, isometric stealth-action game that transports players into a stylized, 1930s-inspired crime caper. Created by designer Hiroshi Kawaguchi, the game stands out for its split-screen cooperative play and distinctive visual presentation. Players take on the roles of the titular brothers—Mobo and Robo—who are hired by Chief Richter of the Capital City police to infiltrate a series of heavily guarded buildings, mansions, and banks. Their mission is not to destroy or evade the law entirely, but rather to recover stolen loot and secret documents to prove the corruption of the city's elite. Blending British music-hall aesthetics with silent-movie slapstick comedy, this cult classic received numerous home ports, including the Mega Drive/Genesis, PC Engine, and various Sega compilation discs.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Bonanza Bros. is played across a fixed, multi-layered vertical perspective where players navigate multi-story environments via elevators, stairs, and drop-downs. The core objective on each of the ten sprawling stages is to collect a specific quota of stolen items—ranging from gold bars and paintings to safes—while avoiding hostile guards, patrol dogs, and automated security cameras. Characters are armed with a stun gun that temporarily incapacitates enemies, allowing the brothers to either slip past or kick the dazed guards off ledges for bonus points. Players can also hide behind pillars and plant traps to outsmart the opposition. The game features a strict time limit per stage, forcing a delicate balance between aggressive looting and cautious stealth. If playing cooperatively, coordination becomes vital as both brothers share the screen, often leading to hilarious accidental sabotage or synchronized heists.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause