Summary
- Release Year: 1990
- Genres: Shooter
- Platforms: Nintendo Entertainment System
- Developers: Software Creations
- Publishers: Arcadia Systems
Silver Surfer (1990)
Released in 1990 for the Nintendo Entertainment System, Silver Surfer is a side-scrolling shooter game based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name. The game was developed by Software Creations and published by Nintendo.
The game follows Silver Surfer as he travels through space, battling against the forces of evil. The Surfer’s only ability is to move around the screen and to shoot directly in front of him. He can collect power-ups that increase his firepower, speed, and grant him special abilities.
Silver Surfer is known for its challenging gameplay and its innovative use of vertical scrolling. The game’s graphics are also impressive for the time, with detailed sprites and colorful backgrounds.
Gameplay
Silver Surfer is a side-scrolling shooter game in which the player controls the titular character as he flies through space, battling against the forces of evil. The Surfer’s only ability is to move around the screen and to shoot directly in front of him. He can collect power-ups that increase his firepower, speed, and grant him special abilities.
The game is divided into two types of levels: horizontal scrolling levels and vertical scrolling levels. In horizontal scrolling levels, the Surfer flies from left to right, shooting at enemies and avoiding obstacles. In vertical scrolling levels, the Surfer flies up or down, shooting at enemies and dodging obstacles.
The game’s difficulty is relentless, with enemies constantly spawning and firing at the Surfer. The Surfer has a limited amount of health, and if he is hit by too many enemy attacks, he will lose a life. The game is over if the Surfer loses all of his lives.
Power-Ups
The Surfer can collect a variety of power-ups throughout the game. These power-ups can increase his firepower, speed, and grant him special abilities.
- Firepower: The letter “F” power-up increases the number and power of the Surfer’s projectiles.
- Smart bombs: Smart bombs destroy everything on the screen, including enemies and obstacles.
- Speedup: The letter “S” power-up increases the Surfer’s movement speed.
- Orbs: Orbs are special power-ups that can be positioned to fire the Surfer’s weapon forwards, backwards, or sideways.
Bosses
The Surfer must battle a variety of bosses throughout the game. These bosses include:
- Golem: A large, rock-like creature that fires boulders at the Surfer.
- Dragon: A fire-breathing dragon that flies around the screen, shooting fireballs at the Surfer.
- Thanos: The Mad Titan, who is the main antagonist of the game.
Reception
Silver Surfer was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its challenging gameplay, innovative use of vertical scrolling, and impressive graphics. Silver Surfer was also a commercial success, selling over 1 million copies worldwide.
The game has been included on several lists of the best NES games of all time. In 2009, IGN ranked Silver Surfer as the 88th best NES game of all time. In 2012, GamesRadar ranked Silver Surfer as the 10th best NES game of all time.
Legacy
Silver Surfer is considered to be one of the best NES games of all time. The game’s challenging gameplay, innovative use of vertical scrolling, and impressive graphics have made it a favorite among retro gamers. Silver Surfer has also been cited as an influence on later side-scrolling shooter games, such as Gradius and R-Type.
In 2012, a remake of Silver Surfer was released for the Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network. The remake features updated graphics and sound, as well as new gameplay modes and features.
Conclusion
Silver Surfer is a classic NES game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging gameplay, innovative use of vertical scrolling, and impressive graphics make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
7.5/10
Art
Cover Art
Screenshots
