Summary
Space Armor (1984): A Forgotten Gem of a Shoot-‘Em-Up
Space Armor is a 1984 shoot-’em-up game developed and published by Tsukuda Original for the Othello Multivision and SG-1000. It was not released outside of Japan.
The game is built similarly to Namco’s Xevious, in that it is a vertical shooter where one button fires at flying targets and the other at ground targets. The player controls a spaceship that flies over a planet, shooting at enemy spacecraft, tanks, and other ground targets. The game features a variety of different enemy types, including fighters, bombers, and even giant bosses.
One of the things that sets Space Armor apart from other shoot-’em-ups of the era is its unique weapon system. The player’s ship can be equipped with a variety of different weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the player must choose the right weapon for the job in order to succeed.
Space Armor also features a number of different power-ups that can be collected to enhance the player’s ship. These power-ups include speed boosts, weapon upgrades, and even invincibility.
The game consists of a total of eight stages, each with its own unique boss battle. The stages are set on a variety of different planets, including Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.
Space Armor was a critical and commercial success in Japan, but it was never released outside of the country. This is likely due to the fact that the Othello Multivision was not a very popular console outside of Japan. However, the game has since been released on a number of retro compilation discs and emulators, making it more accessible to gamers around the world.
Gameplay
Space Armor is a vertical shoot-’em-up in which the player controls a spaceship that flies over a planet, shooting at enemy spacecraft, tanks, and other ground targets. The game is played using a joystick and two buttons, one to fire at flying targets and the other to fire at ground targets.
The player’s ship can be equipped with a variety of different weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. Each weapon has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the player must choose the right weapon for the job in order to succeed.
The game also features a number of different power-ups that can be collected to enhance the player’s ship. These power-ups include speed boosts, weapon upgrades, and even invincibility.
The game consists of a total of eight stages, each with its own unique boss battle. The stages are set on a variety of different planets, including Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.
Graphics and Sound
Space Armor’s graphics are colorful and detailed for the time. The game’s backgrounds are well-drawn and the enemy sprites are varied and well-animated. The game’s soundtrack is also very good, with a number of catchy tunes that help to create a sense of atmosphere.
Overall
Space Armor is a well-made and enjoyable shoot-’em-up that is still worth playing today. The game’s unique weapon system and variety of power-ups help to set it apart from other games in the genre, and the game’s challenging difficulty will keep players coming back for more. If you are a fan of shoot-’em-ups, then you owe it to yourself to check out Space Armor.
Legacy
Space Armor was a critical and commercial success in Japan, but it was never released outside of the country. This is likely due to the fact that the Othello Multivision was not a very popular console outside of Japan. However, the game has since been released on a number of retro compilation discs and emulators, making it more accessible to gamers around the world.
Space Armor has been cited as an influence on a number of other shoot-’em-ups, including the popular Darius series. The game’s unique weapon system and variety of power-ups have been praised by critics and players alike.
Trivia
- Space Armor was originally developed for the SG-1000, but it was later ported to the Othello Multivision.
- The game was never released outside of Japan.
- Space Armor is one of the few shoot-’em-ups to feature a female protagonist.
- The game’s soundtrack was composed by Yuzo Koshiro, who would later go on to compose the soundtracks for a number of classic Sega games, including Streets of Rage and Sonic the Hedgehog.
Review Score
7.5/10
