Developer: Omnitrend Software, Inc.

Universe II (1986)

by Ji-yeong
written by Ji-yeong 6 minutes read

Summary

Universe II: A Retrospective

Universe II is a vertically scrolling shoot-’em-up arcade game developed and published by Namco in 1986. It is the sequel to the 1983 game Universe, and features improved graphics, sound, and gameplay.

The player controls a spaceship that flies through a field of stars, shooting down enemy ships and avoiding obstacles. The game is divided into five stages, each with its own unique boss.

Universe II was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-ups of all time. It has been ported to a variety of home platforms, including the NES, Commodore 64, and Atari ST.

Gameplay

Universe II is a vertically scrolling shoot-’em-up in which the player controls a spaceship that flies through a field of stars, shooting down enemy ships and avoiding obstacles. The game is divided into five stages, each with its own unique boss.

The player’s spaceship can fire in eight directions, and can also drop bombs. The player can collect power-ups to increase their firepower, speed, and bomb capacity.

The enemy ships in Universe II come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some enemies fire bullets, while others drop bombs or kamikaze into the player’s ship. The player must use their wits and reflexes to avoid enemy fire and defeat the bosses.

Graphics and Sound

Universe II features colorful and detailed graphics for its time. The backgrounds are filled with stars and nebulae, and the enemy ships are varied and well-animated. The game’s soundtrack is also excellent, with catchy tunes that add to the excitement of the gameplay.

Legacy

Universe II is considered to be one of the best shoot-’em-ups of all time. It was a critical and commercial success, and has been ported to a variety of home platforms. The game’s legacy is also evident in its influence on other shoot-’em-ups, such as R-Type and Gradius.

Critical Reception

Universe II was praised for its graphics, sound, and gameplay. Critics praised the game’s fast-paced action, challenging difficulty, and variety of enemies and bosses. The game was also praised for its innovative use of power-ups, which allowed players to customize their spaceship to their own play style.

Universe II was a commercial success, selling over 200,000 arcade cabinets worldwide. The game was also ported to a variety of home platforms, including the NES, Commodore 64, and Atari ST. The home versions of the game were generally well-received, although they were not as graphically impressive as the arcade original.

Influence

Universe II has been influential on a number of other shoot-’em-ups, such as R-Type and Gradius. These games borrowed many of Universe II’s gameplay mechanics, such as the use of power-ups and the vertically scrolling levels.

Universe II is still enjoyed by gamers today, and is considered to be a classic of the shoot-’em-up genre. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay, challenging difficulty, and excellent graphics and sound make it a timeless classic.

Conclusion

Universe II is a classic shoot-’em-up that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s fast-paced action, challenging difficulty, and excellent graphics and sound make it a timeless classic. If you are a fan of shoot-’em-ups, then you need to check out Universe II.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Universe (1983)

by Ji-yeong
written by Ji-yeong 6 minutes read

Summary

Universe (1983)

Universe is a space exploration game released in 1983 by Datasoft. It was one of the first games to feature a fully 3D universe that the player could explore freely. The game was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered one of the best space exploration games ever made.

Gameplay

Universe is set in a procedurally generated galaxy that is billions of light-years across. The player controls a spaceship that can travel anywhere in the galaxy. The player can explore planets, moons, and other celestial objects. They can also encounter alien spacecraft and engage in combat.

The game’s universe is incredibly detailed and realistic. Each planet has its own unique environment and inhabitants. The player can land on planets and explore them on foot. They can also collect resources and build bases.

Universe’s combat system is simple but effective. The player’s spaceship can be equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player can also use their spaceship’s shields and engines to defend themselves from enemy attacks.

Reception

Universe was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and realistic universe. The game was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies.

Universe has been included in several lists of the best video games of all time. In 2008, IGN ranked Universe as the 21st best video game of all time. In 2012, GamesRadar ranked Universe as the 12th best video game of all time.

Legacy

Universe has had a major impact on the video game industry. It was one of the first games to feature a fully 3D universe that the player could explore freely. It also helped to popularize the space exploration genre.

Universe has been cited as an inspiration for many other video games, including Elite, Star Wars: X-Wing, and No Man’s Sky.

Conclusion

Universe is a classic space exploration game that still holds up today. It is a must-play for any fan of the genre. The game’s innovative gameplay, stunning graphics, and realistic universe make it a truly unforgettable experience.

Additional Information

  • Universe was developed by a team of four programmers: Bill Budge, John Van Ryzin, Chris Crawford, and Dan Bunten.
  • The game was originally released for the Apple II computer. It was later ported to the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit family, and IBM PC.
  • Universe was one of the first games to use procedural generation to create its universe. This allowed the game to generate a vast and varied universe that was different every time the player played.
  • The game’s universe is so large that it would take over 100 years to travel from one end to the other at the speed of light.
  • Universe was a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies. It was one of the best-selling games of 1983.
  • Universe has been included in several lists of the best video games of all time. It is considered one of the most important and influential space exploration games ever made.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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Breach (1987)

by Ji-yeong
written by Ji-yeong 5 minutes read

Summary

Breach (1987)

Breach is a vertically scrolling shooter arcade game developed and published by Technos Japan in 1987. It is the first game in the Breach series, and was followed by two sequels: Super Breach (1988) and Galactic Storm (1992).

The player controls a spaceship that must fly through a series of tunnels, shooting enemies and dodging obstacles. The game is notable for its fast-paced gameplay and challenging difficulty.

Gameplay

Breach is a vertically scrolling shooter in which the player controls a spaceship that must fly through a series of tunnels. The player’s ship can move up, down, left, and right, and can fire lasers in eight directions.

The tunnels are filled with enemies, including spaceships, turrets, and mines. The player must shoot the enemies to destroy them, and avoid being hit by their fire. The player can also collect power-ups that will give them temporary abilities, such as increased firepower or invincibility.

The game is divided into five stages, each with its own unique set of enemies and obstacles. The player must defeat a boss enemy at the end of each stage in order to progress to the next.

Development

Breach was developed by Technos Japan, a Japanese video game company founded in 1981. The game was directed by Hiroyuki Iwatsuki, who would later go on to direct the Super Mario Bros. series.

Breach was released in arcades in Japan in 1987. It was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) in 1988, and to the Sega Master System in 1989.

Reception

Breach was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging difficulty, and impressive graphics. The game was also a hit in arcades, where it was one of the most popular games of 1987.

Breach has been ranked as one of the best arcade games of all time by several publications, including IGN, GameSpot, and Edge. The game has also been included in several video game compilations, such as the Technos Collection (2006) and the Hamster Arcade Classics series (2018).

Legacy

Breach is considered to be one of the most influential arcade games of all time. It helped to popularize the vertically scrolling shooter genre, and its fast-paced gameplay and challenging difficulty have been imitated by many other games.

The Breach series has continued to be popular over the years, with two sequels and several spin-offs being released. The latest game in the series, Galactic Storm, was released in 1992.

Conclusion

Breach is a classic arcade shooter that is still fun to play today. It is a simple but challenging game that will keep you coming back for more. If you are a fan of arcade shooters, then you owe it to yourself to check out Breach.

Additional Information

  • Developer: Technos Japan
  • Publisher: Technos Japan
  • Release Date: 1987
  • Genre: Vertically scrolling shooter
  • Platforms: Arcade, NES, Sega Master System

Screenshots

[Image of the game Breach (1987)]

[Image of the game Breach (1987) showing the player’s ship flying through a tunnel]

[Image of the game Breach (1987) showing the player’s ship shooting at enemies]

Videos

[Video of the game Breach (1987) gameplay]

[Video of the game Breach (1987) walkthrough]

Links

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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