Summary

• Release Year: 1995
• Genres: Arcade, Indie, Shooter
• Platforms: Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD, Neo Geo MVS, PC (Microsoft Windows)
• Developers: Aicom
• Publishers: SNK

Pulstar (1995)

Released in 1995, Pulstar is a vertical-scrolling shoot-’em-up arcade game developed by Aicom and published by Taito. It is known for its impressive 3D graphics, innovative gameplay, and challenging difficulty.

Gameplay

The player controls a spaceship that must progress through a series of levels, defeating enemy ships and collecting power-ups. The game’s basic gameplay is similar to other vertical shooters, but it also has some unique features.

One of the most innovative features of Pulstar is its weapon power bar. This bar is divided into two halves, and the player can choose to charge either half by holding down the fire button. The right-hand half of the bar turns blue when it is charged, and when it is fully charged, the ship fires a powerful laser beam. The left-hand half of the bar turns red when it is charged, and when it is fully charged, the ship fires a rapid-fire spread shot.

Another unique feature of Pulstar is its use of 3D graphics. The game’s backgrounds and enemies are all rendered in 3D, which gives the game a more realistic and immersive look than many other shooters of the time.

Story

The story of Pulstar is set in the year 2347. The player takes on the role of a pilot who is tasked with defending Earth from an alien invasion. The aliens are known as the Pulstarians, and they are a powerful and ruthless enemy.

The player must travel through a series of levels, each of which is set on a different planet or space station. Along the way, the player will encounter a variety of enemy ships, including fighters, bombers, and giant bosses.

The player must use all of their skills and abilities to defeat the Pulstarians and save Earth.

Graphics

Pulstar’s graphics are some of the most impressive of any arcade game released in 1995. The game’s backgrounds and enemies are all rendered in 3D, which gives the game a more realistic and immersive look than many other shooters of the time.

The game’s character sprites are also very well-animated, and the game’s special effects are top-notch.

Sound

Pulstar’s sound is also excellent. The game’s music is catchy and upbeat, and the sound effects are realistic and immersive.

Difficulty

Pulstar is a challenging game, but it is also fair. The game’s difficulty curve is well-balanced, and the player is never overwhelmed by the number of enemies or the difficulty of the levels.

Reception

Pulstar was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its graphics, gameplay, and sound. It was also a commercial success, selling over 100,000 copies worldwide.

Pulstar is still considered one of the best vertical-scrolling shooters of all time. It is a challenging but fair game with beautiful graphics and excellent sound. If you are a fan of shoot-’em-ups, then you owe it to yourself to check out Pulstar.

Conclusion

Pulstar is a classic arcade shoot-’em-up that still holds up today. Its innovative gameplay, beautiful graphics, and excellent sound make it a must-play for fans of the genre. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding shoot-’em-up, then you should definitely check out Pulstar.

Review Score

8.5/10

Art

Cover Art

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