What was that side-scrolling spaceship game?
January 26, 2009 4:39 PM Subscribe
Trying to identify a side-scrolling spaceship shoot-em-up console game from the early '90s. (Hopelessly?) vague description inside.
I played this game once in the early-mid '90s. I don't remember what system it was on -- best guess is SNES or Sega Genesis.
The game was a standard-issue side-scroller, but it had impressive (at the time) graphics. The powerups quickly provided huge, devastating weapons that would fill the screen. I specifically remember big laser beams.
I don't think it was Phalanx, but the powerups may have had a similar letter-in-a-square look. I remember the game having more of a "space" look to it than Phalanx, and having more visually impressive weaponry.
Thanks for any suggestions!
I played this game once in the early-mid '90s. I don't remember what system it was on -- best guess is SNES or Sega Genesis.
The game was a standard-issue side-scroller, but it had impressive (at the time) graphics. The powerups quickly provided huge, devastating weapons that would fill the screen. I specifically remember big laser beams.
I don't think it was Phalanx, but the powerups may have had a similar letter-in-a-square look. I remember the game having more of a "space" look to it than Phalanx, and having more visually impressive weaponry.
Thanks for any suggestions!
Was it Scramble! ? You had a little spaceship with bombs and a laser, and got deeper and deeper into a cave. Based on your description though, the timing may be about right. Scramble! was originally an arcade game but I think I had it on my Sega Genesis (or was it a Sega Saturn? I don't know, whichever one had Sonic and Knuckles).
posted by skybolt at 5:01 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by skybolt at 5:01 PM on January 26, 2009
I like to think if it was R-Type, you would remember the "Force" -- the single little pod that attaches to your ship or floats around.
Was it Gradius? I remember being really impressed with the visual presentation when Gradius III appeared on SNES. Shot in the dark, though; that's just the only shooter I remember playing at the time.
The best way to approach this may be to go to an enthusiast site and look at galleries. Off-hand I can't tell you where to go though.
posted by grobstein at 5:12 PM on January 26, 2009
Was it Gradius? I remember being really impressed with the visual presentation when Gradius III appeared on SNES. Shot in the dark, though; that's just the only shooter I remember playing at the time.
The best way to approach this may be to go to an enthusiast site and look at galleries. Off-hand I can't tell you where to go though.
posted by grobstein at 5:12 PM on January 26, 2009
I'm guessing Hellfire by Toaplan, on genesis. At least, you roided out your armaments with letter-in-box style powerups, some of which are visible in those shots.
There's really not much online about it, which is too bad, because it was a great game, not least for the graphics and music.
posted by 7segment at 5:16 PM on January 26, 2009
There's really not much online about it, which is too bad, because it was a great game, not least for the graphics and music.
posted by 7segment at 5:16 PM on January 26, 2009
Was the first boss a big floating brain? And another boss was a pharaoh mask? And some levels (like the pharaoh one) scrolled up/down? If so, I know exactly which game you're talking about! Unfortunately, I don't remember the name either.
But perhaps some other Mefite does, based on those descriptions.
posted by war wrath of wraith at 5:17 PM on January 26, 2009
But perhaps some other Mefite does, based on those descriptions.
posted by war wrath of wraith at 5:17 PM on January 26, 2009
war wrath of wraith, I think you're confusing OP's game with Salamander/Life Force.
posted by infinitewindow at 5:42 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by infinitewindow at 5:42 PM on January 26, 2009
Response by poster: Gradius III and Hellfire are both great guesses, but I'm pretty sure neither is the one.
R-Type and Hellfire reminded me that one of the power ups may have been a little drone that orbited your ship.
The circular weapons fire in Gradius III is also sets off bells. Gradius III could have been the game, but it's missing some elements I remember:
I think the weapon type changed completely as you got upgrades, as opposed to just adding more cannons. I remember a massive, helical laser beam as one of the larger weapons.
Thanks to everyone so far. I've spent hours looking on gaming sites and it had never occurred to me to check youtube -- that alone is a huge help.
posted by brassafrax at 6:02 PM on January 26, 2009
R-Type and Hellfire reminded me that one of the power ups may have been a little drone that orbited your ship.
The circular weapons fire in Gradius III is also sets off bells. Gradius III could have been the game, but it's missing some elements I remember:
I think the weapon type changed completely as you got upgrades, as opposed to just adding more cannons. I remember a massive, helical laser beam as one of the larger weapons.
Thanks to everyone so far. I've spent hours looking on gaming sites and it had never occurred to me to check youtube -- that alone is a huge help.
posted by brassafrax at 6:02 PM on January 26, 2009
Nemesis? It was a sort-of-version of Gradius, I think. I used to play it on my old MSX micro when I was a teen, good fun.
posted by Iosephus at 6:34 PM on January 26, 2009
posted by Iosephus at 6:34 PM on January 26, 2009
It really sounds to me like Super R Type. This would have been the SNES version of previously mentioned R Type. There's a red & blue helical laser at the 5:26 mark.
Anyway, if it's not, thanks for reminding me of how much I loved the original on the Sega Master System. Off to the Virtual Console!
posted by ashabanapal at 7:03 PM on January 26, 2009
Anyway, if it's not, thanks for reminding me of how much I loved the original on the Sega Master System. Off to the Virtual Console!
posted by ashabanapal at 7:03 PM on January 26, 2009
Response by poster: Xhris - I think Sol-Feace might be it. The graphics and gameplay speed are exactly right and the spaceship looks familiar. The weapons aren't what I remember, but unless there is a very similar game out there featuring different weapon types, this is it.
Thanks for all the great answers.
posted by brassafrax at 9:47 PM on January 26, 2009
Thanks for all the great answers.
posted by brassafrax at 9:47 PM on January 26, 2009
Best answer: Maybe Zero Wing? (Jump forward to 2:20 to see the gameplay.) If this is correct, it has the extra bonus that you can claim to have gotten in on the "All Your Base" meme on the ground floor.
posted by The Tensor at 1:35 AM on January 27, 2009
posted by The Tensor at 1:35 AM on January 27, 2009
There was a game called Delta, or I think Delta II, that I used to play that was a lot like this. I can't find any links to it... I see something called R-Type Delta, but I don't think that's it. I would have played this on the Amiga, I think.
posted by edlundart at 11:57 AM on January 27, 2009
posted by edlundart at 11:57 AM on January 27, 2009
Delta. Think this is a generation before what brassafrax is looking for, though. However, it has a mean soundtrack.
posted by grobstein at 12:49 PM on January 27, 2009
posted by grobstein at 12:49 PM on January 27, 2009
Response by poster: Zero Wing is it!
It doesn't seem to have the big laser I remembered, but now I think I'm conflating two games. Zero Wing is definitely the game I was thinking of.
I've occasionally wondered what game this was for (apparently) 18 years, and AskMe goes from "what was that, you know, spaceship game" to a hit in a few hours. Incredible. Thanks!
posted by brassafrax at 5:10 PM on January 27, 2009
It doesn't seem to have the big laser I remembered, but now I think I'm conflating two games. Zero Wing is definitely the game I was thinking of.
I've occasionally wondered what game this was for (apparently) 18 years, and AskMe goes from "what was that, you know, spaceship game" to a hit in a few hours. Incredible. Thanks!
posted by brassafrax at 5:10 PM on January 27, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by comeonsurferrosa at 4:44 PM on January 26, 2009