Summary
- Release Year: 1986
- Genres: Shooter, Strategy
- Platforms: Amstrad CPC, Commodore C64/128/MAX, ZX Spectrum
- Publishers: Mikro-Gen Ltd
Battle of the Planets (1986)
Battle of the Planets is a side-scrolling shoot-’em-up arcade game released by Namco in 1986. It is based on the popular Japanese anime series of the same name, which was known as Gatchaman in Japan. The game was a critical and commercial success, and is still considered one of the best arcade shooters of all time.
Gameplay
Battle of the Planets is a vertically scrolling shoot-’em-up in which the player controls a spaceship that flies through space, shooting at enemy ships and dodging their fire. The game is divided into five stages, each with its own unique boss.
The player’s spaceship has three types of weapons: a Vulcan cannon, a homing missile, and a laser beam. The Vulcan cannon is the weakest weapon, but it has unlimited ammo. The homing missile is more powerful, but it is slower and has limited ammo. The laser beam is the most powerful weapon, but it can only be fired for a short period of time before it overheats.
In addition to the main weapons, the player can also collect power-ups that give them temporary abilities, such as increased firepower, invincibility, and speed.
Plot
The plot of Battle of the Planets is based on the anime series of the same name. The game follows the adventures of the G-Force team, a group of young heroes who are tasked with defending Earth from an alien invasion.
The game begins with the G-Force team being sent to investigate a distress signal from a space station. When they arrive at the space station, they find it under attack by alien forces. The G-Force team must fight their way through the alien hordes and rescue the space station’s crew.
Once the space station is rescued, the G-Force team learns that the aliens are planning to invade Earth. The team must now travel to Earth and stop the invasion.
The G-Force team travels to Earth and begins to fight the alien invaders. The team must travel across the globe, fighting aliens and destroying their bases.
Eventually, the G-Force team reaches the alien mothership. The team must now defeat the alien leader and stop the invasion once and for all.
Development
Battle of the Planets was developed by Namco, a Japanese video game company. The game was directed by Toru Iwatani, who is also known for creating Pac-Man.
The game was developed over a period of two years. Iwatani wanted to create a game that was both challenging and fun to play. He also wanted to create a game that was visually appealing.
The game’s graphics were created by a team of artists led by Kazunori Aoki. The artists used a variety of techniques to create the game’s backgrounds and sprites. They also used rotoscoping to animate the game’s characters.
The game’s music was composed by Junko Ozawa. The music is a mix of electronic and orchestral sounds. It is considered to be one of the best video game soundtracks of all time.
Release
Battle of the Planets was released in arcades in Japan in 1986. The game was a critical and commercial success. It was later ported to a number of home consoles, including the NES, Sega Master System, and Commodore 64.
The game has been re-released several times over the years. It is currently available on the PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Arcade, and Nintendo Switch Online.
Reception
Battle of the Planets was a critical and commercial success. It was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and music. The game was also a hit with fans of the anime series.
Battle of the Planets has been ranked as one of the best arcade games of all time by a number of publications. In 2008, IGN ranked the game as the 26th best arcade game of all time. In 2010, GamesRadar ranked the game as the 14th best arcade game of all time.
Legacy
Battle of the Planets is considered to be one of the most influential arcade games of all time. The game’s side-scrolling gameplay and power-up system have been copied by many other games. The game’s graphics and music are also considered to be groundbreaking.
Battle of the Planets has been referenced in popular culture a number of times. The game was featured in the movie The Last Starfighter (1984). The game’s music has been used in a number of TV shows and movies.
Battle of the Planets is a classic arcade game that still holds up today. The game’s challenging gameplay, beautiful graphics, and catchy music make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Review Score
7/10
