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Game Of The Month:
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This is dedicated to everything about one of the best shooter series of all time. To the newest game in the series (Star Soldier: vanishing earth) on the N64, to the original shoot'em up (Star Soldier) on the old 8-bit Nintendo.
I started this site when I wanted to find some more information about this cool game I was playing a game called Star Soldier Vanishing Earth. I was disappointed when I found lame codes weak reviews and dead ends, hardly anybody was talking about this game. We at Gamegrandpas cannot just let this game disappear especially with the game's history. I'm making StarSoldier game of the month, because not only can I beat this game in Master mode, I know way more about these games that anyone else. That's why I'm the Star Soldier.
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STAR SOLDIER
system: Nintendo Entertainment System THE START OF IT ALL. "Here the original Star Soldier!" It sucks compared to today's standards, but hey what did you expect, this is the 8-bit Nintendo. Star Soldier was created by Hudson soft in 1986 for the Japanese Nintendo (the Famicon). A lot of crappy shooters were released at this time (ack! Star Force), but Star Soldier had a edge. It featured a cool power up system that gave you a shield and five way shot at the same time. Not only that, it also changed the music (very cool). Another feature that I'm not to thrilled with, is the map overlay system. If you go under a part of map you won't get hit by enemies, bit you can't shoot either. This feature is too confusing and unfortunately keeps Star Soldier from being a classic. Oh well! this Star Soldier is the most common and you can get it for 1 to 10bucks, it's a fun fast pace classic shooter with a lot of challenge, there are only minor problems. Features: good graphics for the time. basic music that changes when fully powered up. fast and sometimes annoying gameplay. Rating: 59/100 |
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SUPER STAR SOLDIER system: NEC Turbografx-16 STAR SOLDIER IS REBORN AND BETTER THAN EVER!! I was
surprised and excited when I saw this new game in the previews back in
early 90's. Super Star Soldier looked awesome especially when compared
to the first game. After finally playing it "I was hooked!"
First off this game has four cool looking weapons (love that fire!), two
special units (missiles and side options), 2 and 5minute modes (kick ass
by the way), and 8stages in normal mode. This Star Soldier hardly
plays like the original, it plays more like Blazing Lazers released just
a year before it. Blazing Lazers was one slick looking shooter ,but
it was just way too easy, this star soldier is anything but. This
is not a easy game, enemies come from all sides of the screen (even behind)
and in large groups. Once you play it a few times it's not so bad
though (don't expect to beat it on your first try though). Good Points: It's like Blazing Lazers, but with more modes! Bad Points: It's too much like Blazing Lazers. Ratings: 82/100 |
FINAL SOLDIER
THE GRAND FINALE? system: NEC PC Engine (Japan's turbografx)
Because the Turbografx wasn't selling to well in North America, many Japanese games were left in Japan. Unfortunately this means Final Soldier didn't make the cut. I finally got chance to play it on a emulator and it's not bad. It looks like Super Star Soldier and even plays like it. It definite has a cool weapon set up were you can customize your cannons to fire the weapons you want. Because this is an emulator version and not the real thing, I can't judge this one.
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SOLDIER BLADE system: NEC Turbografx-16 NOT THE AWESOME SHOOTER I WAS HOPING FOR! Final Soldier was supposed to be the last Star Soldier game, so Hudson Soft created a new shooter that was more of a spin-off then a sequel. Soldier Blade features the same modes as previous games (normal and time trials), but it plays a little differently. You only get three weapons this time, but they can be used as a bomb type weapon. For example; an blue unit gives you a laser shot that can be powered up normally or you can use up that blue unit as a thick laser blast that lasts 10 seconds. Unfortunately that's it for innovative features. The weapons don't seem that
different from one another and their are no secondary power-ups like missiles
and shields. Also the graphics look kinda plain and the sound effect
are not very good either. Overall this game is an rather average
shooter, but still had it's moments. It had a building story to
it and it's quite challenging too. Plus the game has good music
in some levels and there's fast gameplay. It's not a very common
game because it was released close to the turbografx's death so this maybe
an tough find now today Good Points: It's very fast and intense. Bad Points: Dated and unoriginal overall. Rating: 69/100 |
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STAR SOLDIER VANISHING EARTH system: nintendo64 THE SERIES CONTINUES!!
After six years of nothing, we finally get another Star Soldier, thanks to Electro-brain for releasing it over here from Japan. "Damn, I like this new shooter!" The Zeograd Army from Soldier Blade is back and is ready to destroy the earth (or at least vanish it), but you got three Soldier ships to choice from this time. This game is the official sequel to Soldier Blade despite its Star Soldier name. The game has all new features like an reflector shield that sends your enemies bullets right back that 'em (I really like that), a combo system that can help increase your score, and 7 stages +3hidden special levels with the usually 2 or 5 minute games that Hudson soft is famous for. Another cool thing about this is the Save feature, all your scores will be saved this time right to the game, and you don't even need a memorypak. This Star Soldier may look similar but it's all in 3-D this time with an overhead perspective. The graphics are now in 64-bit and they look pretty decent in 3D, but the graphics also lack the realisms of other shooters like Enhandier for the Playstation, also up close some ships look blurry and messy. However, the game still looks pretty colourful and there's plenty on screen enemies with no slowdown what so ever, plus the weapons look way better than Einhander's ( you gonna see that giant laser from the blue ship). The music and sounds are pretty good as well..... if you like futurist type music that's upbeat and stuff. The sound effects are good enough to do the job with loud explosions and robotic voices, but nothing too special. The gameplay in StarSoldier V.E. is easily the game's coolest feature. The game can be played both offenesily and defensily thanks to your new reflector shield (R button). Plus the combo system helps add replay value as your skills get better, this especially works well in the time trials modes. On the downside, there is a lack of changeable weapons and you can't change your ship in the middle of a game. There's no multi-player either but the Star Soldier game never were anyways. There's something else I must bring up here, it's nice to more game modes like the time trials in a shooter, this is something that R type Delta and Einhander was missing. You will like this game if you like the classic shoot'em ups of the past where score is more important than anything else. You will hate it if you don't like the original shooters in general. If you do get it, you'll realize it's full of more replay value than most games. Good points: Original gameplay and cool graphics. Bad points:
The lack of attention this game received. Rating: 87/100 |
