Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth (1998)

by Nish
written by Nish 8 minutes read

Summary

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth (1998)

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is a vertical scrolling shoot ’em up arcade game developed by Hudson Soft and released in 1998. It is the third game in the Star Soldier series, following Star Soldier (1986) and Super Star Soldier (1990). The game was ported to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1999.

The story of Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is set in the year 2098, where Earth is under attack by an alien force from the planet Zeograd. The player takes control of Commander Parker Deehan of the Special Interception Airforce (SIA), who pilots the F98 Star Soldier fighter craft into battle against the Zeograd forces.

The game features a variety of levels, each with its own unique enemies and challenges. The player must use the Star Soldier’s weapons and abilities to defeat the enemy forces and progress through the game. The game also features a number of boss battles, which are typically more difficult than the regular levels.

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth was praised for its graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay. The game was a commercial success, and it is still considered to be one of the best vertical scrolling shoot ’em ups ever made.

Gameplay

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is a vertical scrolling shoot ’em up game. The player controls the F98 Star Soldier fighter craft, which can move up, down, left, and right. The player can also fire lasers and bombs.

The game features a variety of levels, each with its own unique enemies and challenges. The player must use the Star Soldier’s weapons and abilities to defeat the enemy forces and progress through the game. The game also features a number of boss battles, which are typically more difficult than the regular levels.

The player can collect power-ups throughout the game, which can upgrade the Star Soldier’s weapons and abilities. The player can also collect medals, which can be used to purchase new weapons and abilities.

Weapons and Abilities

The F98 Star Soldier fighter craft is equipped with a variety of weapons and abilities. The player can use the following weapons and abilities to defeat the enemy forces:

  • Laser: The Star Soldier’s primary weapon is a laser cannon. The laser can be fired in a straight line, and it can be used to destroy enemy ships and ground targets.
  • Bombs: The Star Soldier can also drop bombs. Bombs can be used to destroy large groups of enemies or to damage bosses.
  • Spread Shot: The Star Soldier can fire a spread shot, which fires lasers in a wide arc. The spread shot can be used to destroy multiple enemies at once.
  • Homing Missiles: The Star Soldier can fire homing missiles. Homing missiles lock on to enemy ships and follow them until they are destroyed.
  • Barrier: The Star Soldier can deploy a barrier, which protects it from enemy fire. The barrier can be used to block enemy bullets and missiles.
  • Overdrive: The Star Soldier can activate overdrive, which increases its speed and firepower. Overdrive can be used to quickly defeat enemies or to escape from danger.

Enemies

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth features a variety of enemies, including:

  • Grunts: Grunts are the most common enemy in the game. They are small, weak ships that can be easily destroyed.
  • Fighters: Fighters are more powerful than grunts. They can fire lasers and bombs, and they can also dodge the player’s attacks.
  • Bombers: Bombers are large, slow-moving ships that can drop bombs. Bombs can cause a lot of damage, so it is important to destroy bombers quickly.
  • Bosses: Bosses are large, powerful enemies that appear at the end of each level. Bosses have a variety of attacks, and they can be difficult to defeat.

Power-Ups

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth features a variety of power-ups, which can upgrade the Star Soldier’s weapons and abilities. The following power-ups can be collected throughout the game:

  • Weapon Power-Ups: Weapon power-ups increase the power of the Star Soldier’s weapons.
  • Speed Power-Ups: Speed power-ups increase the Star Soldier’s speed.
  • Bomb Power-Ups: Bomb power-ups increase the power of the Star Soldier’s bombs.
  • Barrier Power-Ups: Barrier power-ups increase the strength of the Star Soldier’s barrier.
  • Overdrive Power-Ups: Overdrive power-ups increase the duration of the Star Soldier’s overdrive mode.

Medals

Medals can be collected throughout the game. Medals can be used to purchase new weapons and abilities. The following medals can be collected:

  • Bronze Medal: Bronze medals are awarded for completing a level.
  • Silver Medal: Silver medals are awarded for completing a level without losing a life.
  • Gold Medal: Gold medals are awarded for completing a level with a high score.

Bosses

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth features a number of boss battles. The following bosses appear in the game:

  • Gigantic: Gigantic is the first boss in the game. It is a large, slow-moving ship that fires lasers and bombs.
  • Mega Gigantic: Mega Gigantic is the second boss in the game. It is a larger, more powerful version of Gigantic.
  • Super Gigantic: Super Gigantic is the third boss in the game. It is the largest and most powerful version of Gigantic.
  • Zeograd: Zeograd is the final boss in the game. It is a massive, powerful ship that fires a variety of lasers and bombs.

Reception

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth was praised for its graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay. The game was a commercial success, and it is still considered to be one of the best vertical scrolling shoot ’em ups ever made.

The game was praised for its beautiful graphics. The backgrounds are detailed and colorful, and the enemy ships are well-designed. The game also features a catchy soundtrack that adds to the excitement of the gameplay.

The gameplay of Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is fast-paced and challenging. The player must use all of the Star Soldier’s weapons and abilities to defeat the enemy forces and progress through the game. The game also features a number of boss battles, which are typically more difficult than the regular levels.

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth was a commercial success. The game sold over 1 million copies worldwide, and it was one of the best-selling arcade games of 1998. The game was also ported to the Sega Saturn and PlayStation in 1999.

Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth is still considered to be one of the best vertical scrolling shoot ’em ups ever made. The game is praised for its graphics, soundtrack, and gameplay. If you are a fan of shoot ’em ups, then you should definitely check out Star Soldier: Vanishing Earth.

Review Score

8/10

Profile photo of Nish

Nish is a software engineer by day and avid gamer who loves to play video games after he puts his two boys to bed. His insights delve into the mechanics, and storytelling of the games he plays with the aim to share his passion with the audience. He loves to travel back to his native India and travel the country on his restored Royal Enfield Bullet 350, a relic from a simpler time, like some of the games he plays.

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