Summary

• Release Year: 1985
• Genres: Adventure, Arcade, Shooter
• Platforms: Arcade, Commodore C64/128/MAX, Family Computer, Nintendo Entertainment System, ZX Spectrum
• Developers: Nihon Bussan
• Publishers: Imagine Software

Terra Cresta: A Vertical Scrolling Shoot ‘Em Up Classic

Released in 1985, Terra Cresta is a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up game developed and published by Nichibutsu. The game is notable for its innovative power-up system, which allows the player’s ship to combine with other ships to increase its firepower and abilities. Terra Cresta was a critical and commercial success, and it has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years.

Gameplay

The player controls a ship, initially with limited firepower. Numbered pods appear containing further parts of the ship that will increase firepower. These additional parts combine with the player’s ship to increase its firepower, and the final module transforms it into a fiery phoenix which is invulnerable for a certain period of time. Once the ship has multiple sections, the player may also split it, allowing it to fire in multiple directions.

The game is set in a futuristic world where the player must battle against an alien invasion. The player’s ship is equipped with a variety of weapons, including lasers, missiles, and bombs. The player must use these weapons to defeat the enemy aliens and progress through the game’s stages.

Terra Cresta is a challenging game, but it is also very rewarding. The game’s fast-paced action and innovative power-up system make it a blast to play.

Development

Terra Cresta was developed by Nichibutsu, a Japanese video game company. The game was designed by Kazuyuki Fukushima, who was also responsible for designing the classic shoot ’em up game Xevious.

Terra Cresta was released in arcades in 1985. The game was ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1988 and to the Sega Genesis in 1989.

Reception

Terra Cresta was a critical and commercial success. The game was praised for its fast-paced action, innovative power-up system, and challenging gameplay. Terra Cresta was also a commercial success, selling over 2 million copies worldwide.

Terra Cresta has been ported to a variety of platforms over the years, including the PlayStation, Sega Saturn, and Nintendo Switch. The game has also been included in a number of compilation releases, such as Namco Museum and Hamster Arcade Archives.

Legacy

Terra Cresta is considered to be one of the classic shoot ’em up games. The game’s innovative power-up system has been imitated by many other games in the genre. Terra Cresta is also notable for its challenging gameplay and its memorable soundtrack.

The game has been referenced in popular culture, including in the anime series Space Battleship Yamato 2199 and the video game R-Type Final.

Conclusion

Terra Cresta is a classic shoot ’em up game that is still enjoyed by gamers today. The game’s fast-paced action, innovative power-up system, and challenging gameplay make it a blast to play. If you are a fan of shoot ’em up games, then you owe it to yourself to check out Terra Cresta.

Additional Information

• Terra Cresta is the first game in the Terra series. The series also includes Terra Force and Terra Ellenia.
• The game’s soundtrack was composed by Tim Follin.
• Terra Cresta was one of the first games to use a parallax scrolling background.
• The game was ported to the Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, and ZX Spectrum by Imagine Software.
• Terra Cresta was released on the Virtual Console in 2007.
• The game is included in the Hamster Arcade Archives series on the Nintendo Switch.

Review Score

9/10

Art

Cover Art

Screenshots