Publisher: Micomsoft

Dragon Spirit (1987)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 6 minutes read

Summary

Dragon Spirit: A Blazing Adventure Through Myth and Mayhem

Released in 1987 by Namco, Dragon Spirit is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game that captivated players with its exhilarating gameplay, stunning visuals, and epic fantasy storyline. Step into the shoes of Amul, a valiant soldier transformed into a powerful blue dragon, and embark on a perilous quest to rescue the kidnapped Princess Alicia from the clutches of the evil serpent demon, Zawell.

A Realm of Enchantment and Danger

The kingdom of Mitgult serves as the backdrop for Dragon Spirit’s enchanting world. This realm is steeped in myth and magic, where dragons soar through the skies and ancient evils lurk in the shadows. As Amul, you will traverse nine distinct stages, each teeming with formidable enemies and treacherous obstacles.

From the lush forests of Stage 1 to the fiery depths of Stage 9, Dragon Spirit’s environments are a feast for the eyes. Intricate pixel art brings to life towering mountains, cascading waterfalls, and sprawling castles, all rendered in a vibrant and eye-catching color palette.

The Might of a Dragon

As Amul transforms into a majestic blue dragon, players gain access to an arsenal of devastating attacks. Unleash scorching flames from your gaping maw, incinerating enemies in your path. Drop powerful bombs to obliterate ground targets and clear a path through hordes of foes.

But Amul’s abilities extend beyond his innate dragon powers. Throughout his journey, he can collect up to thirteen additional power-ups, each bestowing unique enhancements. From homing missiles and spread shots to protective barriers and invincibility, these power-ups add an extra layer of strategy and depth to the gameplay.

Confronting Zawell’s Minions

Standing between Amul and Princess Alicia are nine of Zawell’s mightiest beasts, each guarding a stage and posing a formidable challenge. These colossal bosses showcase Dragon Spirit’s impressive sprite work and intricate attack patterns.

From the towering behemoth of Stage 1 to the serpentine leviathan of Stage 9, each boss encounter is a unique and exhilarating experience. Players must adapt their strategies, master the bosses’ attack patterns, and exploit their weaknesses to emerge victorious.

The Final Showdown

After vanquishing Zawell’s minions, Amul finally confronts the serpent demon himself in a climactic showdown. Zawell is a fearsome opponent, wielding powerful magic and summoning lesser demons to his aid.

To defeat Zawell and rescue Princess Alicia, Amul must summon all his strength and unleash his full arsenal of attacks. The final battle is a true test of skill and perseverance, requiring players to remain focused and execute their moves with precision.

Legacy and Impact

Dragon Spirit left an indelible mark on the arcade gaming landscape. Its innovative gameplay, stunning visuals, and epic storyline set a new standard for vertical scrolling shooters. The game’s distinctive blue dragon protagonist became an iconic symbol of the genre.

Dragon Spirit’s legacy extends beyond its initial release. It has been ported to numerous home platforms, including the Nintendo Entertainment System, Commodore 64, and Sega Genesis. The game has also been featured in various compilations and retrospectives, ensuring that its timeless appeal continues to reach new generations of gamers.

Conclusion

Dragon Spirit is a true arcade classic that combines thrilling gameplay, stunning visuals, and an epic fantasy storyline. As the valiant blue dragon, Amul, players embark on a quest to rescue the princess and vanquish the forces of evil. With its challenging bosses, diverse power-ups, and enchanting world, Dragon Spirit remains a beloved and enduring title in the annals of gaming history. Whether you’re a seasoned arcade enthusiast or a newcomer to the genre, Dragon Spirit is an unforgettable experience that will ignite your imagination and leave you yearning for more.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

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Galaga ’88 (1987)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 7 minutes read

Summary

Galaga ’88: A Detailed Retrospective

Galaga ’88 is a vertically scrolling shoot-’em-up arcade game developed and published by Namco in 1987. It is the sequel to the 1981 game Galaga, and features similar gameplay, but with a number of new additions and enhancements.

Gameplay

The player controls a lone starfighter that must defend Earth from waves of invading aliens. The aliens are arranged in formations that scroll down the screen, and the player must shoot them all before they reach the bottom of the screen. The player’s ship can fire in eight directions, and can also drop bombs to destroy ground targets.

Galaga ’88 introduces a number of new enemies and behaviors not seen in the original Galaga. Some enemies can combine into larger enemies, while others arrive in eggs, explode in a shower of fireworks, or grow with multiple hits. Certain enemies drop small formations of tiny creatures that wiggle their way down the screen, and still others can act as escorts to incoming groups of enemies and then quickly dive at the player before leaving the game.

Stages

The game is divided into a series of 29 stages, each with its own unique layout and enemy formations. The stages are grouped into eight worlds, each with its own distinct visual style and music. The first two worlds are relatively easy, but the difficulty ramps up quickly as the player progresses through the game.

Dimensional Travel

One of the most unique features of Galaga ’88 is its dimensional travel mechanic. After completing a certain number of stages, the player’s ship will travel to a new dimension. The new dimension will have different visual effects and music, and the enemies will be more difficult to defeat.

Bosses

Galaga ’88 features a number of challenging boss battles. The first boss is a giant bee that shoots lasers and drops bombs. The second boss is a giant octopus that fires ink and spawns smaller enemies. The third and final boss is a giant UFO that fires a variety of weapons and can teleport around the screen.

Reception

Galaga ’88 was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its challenging gameplay, variety of enemies, and catchy music. It was also one of the first arcade games to feature dimensional travel, which was a groundbreaking innovation at the time.

Legacy

Galaga ’88 is considered to be one of the greatest arcade games of all time. It has been ported to a number of home platforms, and has inspired numerous sequels and spin-offs. The game is still popular today, and can be found in many arcades and retro gaming collections.

Detailed Analysis

Gameplay

Galaga ’88’s gameplay is simple to learn, but difficult to master. The player’s ship can only move left and right, and can fire in eight directions. The player must use their ship to destroy all of the aliens on the screen before they reach the bottom of the screen.

The aliens are arranged in a variety of formations, and each formation has its own unique behavior. Some aliens will fly in straight lines, while others will move in more erratic patterns. Some aliens will fire lasers, while others will drop bombs. The player must learn the different behaviors of each alien in order to defeat them all.

Stages

The game is divided into a series of 29 stages, each with its own unique layout and enemy formations. The stages are grouped into eight worlds, each with its own distinct visual style and music. The first two worlds are relatively easy, but the difficulty ramps up quickly as the player progresses through the game.

Each world culminates in a challenging stage. These stages are more difficult than the regular stages, and feature unique enemy formations and bosses. The player must defeat the boss of each challenging stage in order to progress to the next world.

Dimensional Travel

One of the most unique features of Galaga ’88 is its dimensional travel mechanic. After completing a certain number of stages, the player’s ship will travel to a new dimension. The new dimension will have different visual effects and music, and the enemies will be more difficult to defeat.

There are a total of four dimensions in Galaga ’88. The first dimension is the Earth dimension. The second dimension is the Space dimension. The third dimension is the Time dimension. The fourth and final dimension is the Warp dimension.

The player must travel through all four dimensions in order to defeat the final boss and complete the game.

Bosses

Galaga ’88 features a number of challenging boss battles. The first boss is a giant bee that shoots lasers and drops bombs. The second boss is a giant octopus that fires ink and spawns smaller enemies. The third and final boss is a giant UFO that fires a variety of weapons and can teleport around the screen.

Each boss has its own unique attack patterns and weaknesses. The player must learn the attack patterns of each boss in order to defeat them.

Graphics

Galaga ’88’s graphics are simple, but effective. The game uses a variety of bright colors and detailed sprites to create a visually appealing world. The backgrounds are also well-designed, and help to create a sense of atmosphere.

Sound

Galaga ’88’s sound is excellent. The game features a catchy soundtrack that helps to create a sense of excitement and urgency. The sound effects are also well-done, and help to bring the game to life.

Overall

Galaga ’88 is a classic arcade game that is still fun to play today. The game’s challenging gameplay, variety of enemies, and catchy music make it a must-play for any fan of the genre.

Review Score

8/10

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Star Force (1984)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

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.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

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Alien Syndrome (1987)

by Christopher
written by Christopher 5 minutes read

Summary

Alien Syndrome (1987): A Retrospective

Introduction

Alien Syndrome is a classic arcade shooter that was released in 1987 by Sega. The game is set in a futuristic space colony that has been overrun by aliens. The player takes control of one of two soldiers who must fight their way through the colony, rescuing hostages and defeating the alien hordes.

Alien Syndrome was a critical and commercial success, and it is still considered to be one of the best arcade shooters of all time. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and iconic soundtrack have made it a favorite among retro gamers.

Gameplay

Alien Syndrome is a top-down shooter in which the player controls one of two soldiers, Axel or Judy. The player must fight their way through six levels, each of which is filled with aliens. The player can use a variety of weapons to defeat the aliens, including guns, grenades, and flamethrowers.

The player must also rescue hostages who are scattered throughout the levels. Rescuing hostages earns the player points and extra lives. The player can also find power-ups that give them temporary abilities, such as increased speed or invincibility.

Levels

The six levels of Alien Syndrome are:

  1. The Outcolony – The player must fight their way through the outcolony, rescuing hostages and defeating aliens.
  2. The Sewers – The player must fight their way through the sewers, rescuing hostages and defeating aliens.
  3. The Factory – The player must fight their way through the factory, rescuing hostages and defeating aliens.
  4. The Laboratory – The player must fight their way through the laboratory, rescuing hostages and defeating aliens.
  5. The Control Room – The player must fight their way to the control room and defeat the alien queen.
  6. The Escape – The player must escape from the colony before it is destroyed.

Enemies

Alien Syndrome features a variety of enemies, including:

  • Grunts – The most common type of enemy, grunts are weak and easy to kill.
  • Spiders – Spiders are faster and more agile than grunts, and they can shoot webs to slow the player down.
  • Flying saucers – Flying saucers can fly around the screen, shooting lasers at the player.
  • Tanks – Tanks are slow and heavily armored, but they can fire powerful shots.
  • Super aliens – Super aliens are the strongest type of enemy in the game. They are fast, powerful, and durable.

Bosses

Alien Syndrome features two boss battles:

  • The Alien Queen – The Alien Queen is the final boss of the game. She is a large and powerful alien who can shoot lasers, summon reinforcements, and regenerate her health.
  • The Time Bomb – The Time Bomb is a giant bomb that is set to destroy the colony. The player must defeat the Time Bomb before it explodes.

Reception

Alien Syndrome was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and iconic soundtrack. Alien Syndrome was also one of the first arcade games to feature a two-player cooperative mode.

Alien Syndrome has been ported to a variety of home platforms, including the Sega Master System, the Sega Genesis, and the PlayStation 2. The game has also been released on mobile devices.

Legacy

Alien Syndrome is considered to be one of the best arcade shooters of all time. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and iconic soundtrack have made it a favorite among retro gamers. Alien Syndrome has also been influential in the development of other video games, such as Contra and Metal Slug.

Conclusion

Alien Syndrome is a classic arcade shooter that still holds up today. The game’s fast-paced gameplay, challenging levels, and iconic soundtrack make it a must-play for fans of the genre. Whether you’re a retro gamer or a newcomer to the genre, Alien Syndrome is sure to provide you with hours of enjoyment.

Review Score

8/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots

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