Star Force (1984): A Vertical Scrolling Shooter Classic

Star Force is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game developed and released by Tehkan (later known as Tecmo) in 1984. The player pilots a starship called the Final Star, and must shoot down waves of enemy ships and destroy enemy structures to progress through the game. Star Force was one of the first vertical scrolling shooters, and is considered to be one of the most influential games in the genre.

Gameplay

The player controls the Final Star, which can move up, down, left, and right, and shoot in eight directions. The player’s ship has two levels of weapon power, and can collect power-ups to increase its firepower. The game is divided into stages, each of which is named after a letter of the Greek alphabet. The stages become increasingly difficult as the player progresses, with more and more enemies and obstacles to contend with.

In addition to the main stages, there is also an additional level called “Infinity” (represented by the infinity symbol) which occurs after Omega. The Infinity level is infinitely long, and the player must face increasingly difficult waves of enemies.

Weapons and Power-Ups

The Final Star has two levels of weapon power: normal and charged. The normal shot is a single laser beam, while the charged shot is a more powerful spread shot. The player can collect power-ups to increase the range and power of their shots, as well as to gain temporary invincibility.

Enemies and Bosses

Star Force features a variety of enemies, including small fry ships, larger cruisers, and powerful bosses. Each type of enemy has its own unique attack patterns, and the player must learn how to defeat each one in order to progress.

The bosses in Star Force are particularly challenging, and require the player to use all of their skills and abilities to defeat them. Each boss has its own unique弱点, and the player must experiment to find the best way to defeat each one.

Legacy

Star Force was a critical and commercial success, and is considered to be one of the most influential vertical scrolling shooters of all time. The game’s simple but addictive gameplay, combined with its challenging difficulty, made it a popular choice for arcade-goers. Star Force has been ported to a variety of home platforms, and has been included in numerous retro game compilations.

Star Force has been praised for its innovative gameplay, its challenging difficulty, and its memorable graphics and sound. The game is still enjoyed by fans of vertical scrolling shooters today, and is considered to be a classic of the genre.

Conclusion

Star Force is a classic vertical scrolling shooter that still holds up today. Its simple but addictive gameplay, combined with its challenging difficulty, make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you’re looking for a classic arcade experience, then Star Force is definitely worth checking out.

Summary

Release Year: 1983
Genres: Arcade
Platforms: Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, SG-1000
Developers: Tehkan
Publishers: Centuri, Interceptor Software, Tehkan

Guzzler (1983): A Classic Arcade Maze Game

Guzzler is a coin-operated arcade maze game developed and manufactured by Tehkan Ltd., and licensed to Centuri for United States distribution in 1983. It was released as a conversion kit, including a new marquee and control panel, for existing Pac-Man arcade cabinets.

The objective of Guzzler is to navigate a maze filled with obstacles and enemies, while collecting power-ups and avoiding being caught. The player controls a small, round character that can move in four directions: up, down, left, and right. The maze is made up of walls, dots, and various obstacles, such as fire hydrants, traffic cones, and oil slicks.

There are three types of enemies in Guzzler: ghosts, spiders, and bats. Ghosts are the most common enemy, and they move randomly around the maze. Spiders are faster than ghosts, and they can shoot webs to slow the player down. Bats are the most dangerous enemy, and they can fly over obstacles and fire projectiles at the player.

The player can collect power-ups to help them defeat the enemies and navigate the maze. These power-ups include:

Speed Up: Makes the player move faster.
Super Bomb: Destroys all enemies on the screen.
Invincibility: Makes the player invulnerable to enemy attacks for a short period of time.
Key: Unlocks doors that lead to new areas of the maze.

Guzzler is a challenging and addictive maze game that requires quick reflexes and strategic thinking. The game is also known for its colorful graphics and catchy music.

Gameplay

The player controls a small, round character that can move in four directions: up, down, left, and right. The objective of the game is to navigate the maze, collect all of the dots, and avoid being caught by the ghosts.

The maze is made up of walls, dots, and various obstacles, such as fire hydrants, traffic cones, and oil slicks. The player can collect power-ups to help them defeat the ghosts and navigate the maze. These power-ups include speed boosts, bombs, and keys.

There are three types of ghosts in Guzzler: ghosts, spiders, and bats. Ghosts are the most common enemy, and they move randomly around the maze. Spiders are faster than ghosts, and they can shoot webs to slow the player down. Bats are the most dangerous enemy, and they can fly over obstacles and fire projectiles at the player.

The player can defeat the ghosts by eating a power-up and then touching them. When the player eats a power-up, the ghosts will turn blue and become vulnerable. The player can then eat the ghosts to score points.

The player can also collect keys to unlock doors that lead to new areas of the maze. The player must collect all of the keys in order to complete the game.

Development

Guzzler was developed by Tehkan Ltd., a Japanese video game company. The game was released in Japan in 1983, and it was licensed to Centuri for distribution in the United States. Guzzler was released as a conversion kit for existing Pac-Man arcade cabinets.

The development team for Guzzler was led by Kazunori Sawano, who also directed the development of Pac-Man. Sawano wanted to create a game that was more challenging and exciting than Pac-Man. He also wanted to create a game that would appeal to a wider audience, including both children and adults.

The development team for Guzzler spent over a year developing the game. They experimented with different maze designs, enemy types, and power-ups. They also worked to create a game that was both challenging and fun.

Release

Guzzler was released in Japan in 1983, and it was licensed to Centuri for distribution in the United States. The game was released as a conversion kit for existing Pac-Man arcade cabinets.

Guzzler was a commercial success, and it was one of the most popular arcade games of 1983. The game was praised for its challenging gameplay, colorful graphics, and catchy music.

Legacy

Guzzler is considered to be one of the classic arcade games of the 1980s. The game is still enjoyed by many people today, and it has been ported to a variety of home platforms.

Guzzler has been cited as an influence on a number of other video games, including Ms. Pac-Man, Pac-Mania, and Super Mario Bros. The game is also known for its innovative use of power-ups, which has become a staple of many video games since.

Conclusion

Guzzler is a classic arcade maze game that is still enjoyed by many people today. The game is challenging, addictive, and fun, and it has a timeless appeal.

Review Score

8/10

Developer: Tehkan

Star Force (1984)

Summary