Treasure
Notable Games
Company History
Treasure Co., Ltd. was founded on June 19, 1992, in Tokyo, Japan, by former Konami developers led by Masato Maegawa. The studio emerged from frustration with large publisher constraints, seeking creative freedom to develop action games with exceptional technical accomplishment and design ambition.
The founding team left Konami after working on titles including Contra series. At Treasure, they pursued distinctive visions without compromise. Gunstar Heroes (1993) for Sega Genesis immediately established the studio's reputation: the game featured unprecedented sprite manipulation, multiple weapon combinations, and relentless action that set new standards for run-and-gun games.
Subsequent titles reinforced Treasure's reputation: Dynamite Headdy (1994), Alien Soldier (1995), Guardian Heroes (1996), Radiant Silvergun (1998), and Ikaruga (2001). Each demonstrated technical mastery and design originality. The studio became synonymous with quality action games among enthusiast audiences.
Treasure developed for various publishers including Sega, Enix, and Nintendo. Sin and Punishment (2000) for Nintendo 64 achieved cult status. Bangai-O appeared across multiple platforms. The studio's reputation enabled collaborations while maintaining distinctive identity.
The company operates with a small team, limiting output but ensuring quality control. Treasure releases are infrequent but eagerly anticipated by fans who appreciate the studio's uncompromising approach.
Behind the Scenes
The Treasure founders departed Konami seeking creative control impossible at large publishers. Maegawa and colleagues wanted to push hardware beyond typical limits without corporate interference. Treasure's small scale enabled this focus.
Gunstar Heroes demonstrated immediate ambition. The Genesis/Mega Drive wasn't designed for the game's sprite scaling and rotation effects. Treasure's programmers achieved results through optimization and creativity that made the hardware exceed manufacturer specifications.
Design philosophy emphasized player skill and system mastery. Treasure games rewarded practice and understanding — players who learned mechanics deeply experienced different games than casual attempts revealed. Scoring systems provided goals beyond simple completion.
Radiant Silvergun and Ikaruga represented shoot-'em-up evolution. Radiant Silvergun experimented with non-random enemy placement and weapon variety. Ikaruga introduced polarity switching — absorbing same-colored bullets while avoiding opposite colors — creating unique rhythm-action hybrid within shooter structure.
Guardian Heroes blended beat-'em-up action with RPG progression and branching paths. Multiple endings, character leveling, and six-player multiplayer demonstrated willingness to expand genres rather than simply execute them.
The studio's business model emphasized quality over quantity. Rather than annual releases, Treasure shipped when satisfied with results. This approach limited revenue but built fervent fan bases willing to pay premium prices for each new title.
Nintendo collaborations produced distinctive results. Sin and Punishment utilized Treasure's action expertise for intense rail shooter gameplay. The relationship enabled projects that suited Treasure's strengths while reaching Nintendo's audience.
About Treasure
Treasure is an active game development company founded on June 19, 1992 and headquartered in .
Known for creating iconic titles such as Gunstar Heroes, Ikaruga, Radiant Silvergun and more, Treasure has left an indelible mark on the video game industry.