Ristar

リスター・ザ・シューティングスター (Risutā za Shūtingu Sutā)Genesis, Game Gear, Windows, iOS +41995

  1. JP1995
  2. NA1995
  3. EU1995
  4. RU—

In the West the game is simply Ristar; in Japan it was released as リスター・ザ・シューティングスター (Ristar the Shooting Star). The easiest legal way to play it today is the SEGA Mega Drive app in Nintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack.

Ristar is a platformer that Sega released for the Mega Drive in Europe in January 1995 and in Japan on 17 February 1995, with North America following the same month. It was directed by Atsuhiko Nakamura, with art by Yuji Uekawa and music by Tomoko Sasaki.

Its roots go back to Sega's early-1990s search for a rival to Mario. A rabbit character that grabbed things with its ears was shelved, and the work that followed produced Sonic. A later prototype called Feel, whose hero picked things up with his arms, eventually became Ristar.

The Japanese and Western versions tell noticeably different stories, and a separate Game Gear game with its own levels came out in 1995. No sequel was made, although designer Akira Nishino said a character design for one existed. The Genesis game was later reissued on Steam, Sega Forever, Nintendo Switch Online and the Sega Genesis Mini 2.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Ristar Genesis February 1995 Sega 1
EU Ristar Genesis January 1995 Sega 1
JP リスター・ザ・シューティングスター Genesis Feb 17, 1995 Sega 1
WW Ristarseparate version with different levels and mechanics Game Gear 1995 Sega 2
WW RistarSteam Windows 2010 Sega 3
WW RistarSega Forever; also Android iOS 2017 Sega 3
WW RistarNintendo Switch Online + Expansion Pack Switch Oct 25, 2021 Nintendo 4
WW —Sega Genesis Mini 2 / Mega Drive Mini 2 (North American and European editions) Other Oct 27, 2022 Sega 1

Also known as: リスター・ザ・シューティングスター JP3Ristar the Shooting Star JP3Feel JP1

Box art by region

  • Ristar box art, North America release
    NA Ristar
  • Ristar box art, Europe release
    EU Ristar
  • リスター・ザ・シューティングスター box art, Japan release
    JP リスター・ザ・シューティングスター

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • TextJPNA/EU

    In the Japanese story the planet is Neer, with the star mother Oruto and the villain Riho; the international version renames the planet Flora, removes Oruto and makes the kidnapped character Ristar's father, a legendary hero.1

  • ContentNA/EU

    The boss Itamor is a cat robot in Japan but an ice monster abroad, because the Japanese 'cat tongue' joke about hot food does not translate.1

  • GraphicsNA/EU

    Western versions make small graphical changes so the characters look more serious, rename levels and add cutscenes such as a skiing sequence.1

All differences (4)

Where to play legally today

  • Nintendo Switch Online Subscription

    Ristar (SEGA Mega Drive - Nintendo Switch Online)

    Mega Drive/Genesis version

    Checked: 2026-10-135ec.nintendo.com

Reception

Reviews were generally positive (89% on GameRankings), though the game was overshadowed by the arrival of the Saturn. Later reviews of the Virtual Console release were warmer, with IGN giving 8/10 and Nintendo Life 9/10.1

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ru.wikipedia.org
  3. 3ja.wikipedia.org
  4. 4en.wikipedia.org
  5. 5ec.nintendo.com
  6. 6ja.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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