Summary
Beambender (1997)
Beambender is a vertically scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game developed by Visco Corporation and published by SNK in 1997. It is the sequel to Fury3, and features similar gameplay, with players piloting a ship and destroying waves of enemies while reaching checkpoints. Beambender introduces new features such as the ability to reflect敵人’s beams back at them, and a variety of power-ups that can be collected to enhance the player’s ship.
The game is set in a futuristic cityscape, and the player takes control of one of four different ships, each with its own unique abilities. The player must navigate through eight stages, destroying敵人’s ships and reaching checkpoints in order to progress. The game features a variety of敵人’s, including small fry, mid-bosses, and large bosses.
One of the unique features of Beambender is the ability to reflect敵人’s beams back at them. This is done by holding down the fire button and moving the joystick in the opposite direction of the incoming beam. This can be a very effective way to defeat敵人’s, especially bosses.
Another new feature in Beambender is the variety of power-ups that can be collected. These power-ups can enhance the player’s ship in a variety of ways, such as increasing its firepower, speed, or防御力. Power-ups are dropped by defeated敵人’s, and can also be found hidden in the environment.
Beambender was a critical and commercial success upon its release. Critics praised the game’s fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy soundtrack. The game was also a hit with arcade-goers, and it quickly became one of the most popular shoot-em-ups of the era.
Beambender has been ported to a variety of home platforms, including the Sega Saturn, PlayStation, and Nintendo Switch. The game has also been included in several retro game compilations.
Gameplay
Beambender is a vertically scrolling shoot-em-up in which the player controls a ship and must destroy waves of敵人’s while reaching checkpoints. The game features eight stages, each with its own unique背景and敵人’s.
The player’s ship can fire a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player can also collect power-ups to enhance their ship’s firepower, speed, or防御力.
One of the unique features of Beambender is the ability to reflect敵人’s beams back at them. This is done by holding down the fire button and moving the joystick in the opposite direction of the incoming beam. This can be a very effective way to defeat敵人’s, especially bosses.
Another new feature in Beambender is the variety of power-ups that can be collected. These power-ups can enhance the player’s ship in a variety of ways, such as increasing its firepower, speed, or防御力. Power-ups are dropped by defeated敵人’s, and can also be found hidden in the environment.
Development
Beambender was developed by Visco Corporation, a Japanese video game developer founded in 1984. Visco is known for developing a number of arcade shoot-em-ups, including Fury3, Aero Fighters, and Undercover Cops.
Beambender was directed by Shin Nakamura, who had previously directed Fury3. Nakamura wanted to create a shoot-em-up that was both challenging and fun to play. He also wanted to introduce new features that would set Beambender apart from other games in the genre.
One of the new features that Nakamura introduced was the ability to reflect敵人’s beams back at them. This was inspired by the 1986 arcade game Darius, which featured a similar mechanic. Nakamura felt that this mechanic would add an extra layer of strategy to Beambender.
Another new feature that Nakamura introduced was the variety of power-ups that can be collected. These power-ups can enhance the player’s ship in a variety of ways, such as increasing its firepower, speed, or防御力. Nakamura felt that this would give players more options for customizing their ship to their own play style.
Beambender was released in arcades in Japan in 1997. The game was ported to the Sega Saturn in 1998, and to the PlayStation in 2000. The game was also included in the SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 compilation for the PlayStation 2 in 2008.
Reception
Beambender was a critical and commercial success upon its release. Critics praised the game’s fast-paced action, challenging levels, and catchy soundtrack. The game was also a hit with arcade-goers, and it quickly became one of the most popular shoot-em-ups of the era.
Beambender has been praised for its challenging gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy soundtrack. The game has also been criticized for its short length and repetitive level design. However, overall, Beambender is a well-made and enjoyable shoot-em-up that is sure to please fans of the genre.
Legacy
Beambender is considered to be one of the best shoot-em-ups of the 1990s. The game has been ported to a variety of home platforms, and it has been included in several retro game compilations. Beambender is still enjoyed by fans of the genre today.
The game’s unique features, such as the ability to reflect敵人’s beams back at them, have been influential in the development of other shoot-em-ups. Beambender is a classic shoot-em-up that is still enjoyed by fans of the genre today.
Review Score
8/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
