Pulstar

[gundaRn]

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/logo_t.png
Developer: Aicom 1995
Board: SNK Neo-Geo MVS hardware
Game ID : 0089
CPU: 6800 @ 12 MHz
CPU: Z80 @ 4 MHz
Sound: YM2610 @ 8 Mhz
Resolution: 320 x 224 @ 59Hz
Colours: 4096
Size: 305 Meg

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/aicom.png
Staff: Nenko, M. Yoshida, T. Nagakubo, Naomi, Daikiti, K. Katoku, K.
Urahama, K. Okabe, Toshio. I, Yamadasan, Shion, F. Ryuze
Music composers: Harumi Fujita, Yasuaki Fujita

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar2_t.jpg
My questions is: why didn't Aicom get their arses sued to hell and back by Irem?
This is less of an R-Type homage and more of a remake.
So is that such a bad thing?

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar3.5_t.jpg
The similarities to R-Type are quite phenomenal. You have the force pod
stuck to the front of your ship (although you can't fire it off), some of the
screen furniture on Stage 1 is very similar to Stage 1 of R-Type, and even
Stage 2 features a water section that is very reminiscent of the same
stage on R-Type II. Many of the enemies and weapons have a distinct
whiff of familiarity about them too.
It's also pretty damned hard.
To add insult to injury, Stage 3 features rolling flames as seen in many a
Gradius title.
So far, so R-Type then.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar3_t.jpg
While it may be pretty tough going, it does at least give you the option of
starting from Stage 1 to 4 (and has a grand total of 8 stages).

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar4_t.jpg
I think I'm correct in saying this was the first (or at least one of the first)
Neo-Geo games to feature rendered graphics. This gives Pulstar quite a
distinctive look as they are very detailed and well animated (click on some
of the screenshots for a closer look). Incredibly well animated actually.
I know "rendered graphics" will probably make you think of Donkey Kong
Country; just don't let that put you off too much.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar5_t.jpg
It does have some slow down, and as with loads of other shooters, this
comes when the screen is so full, you are quite thankful for the chance to breathe.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar5.5_t.jpg
Visually Pulstar is well designed: caves look like caves and space debris
looks like a load of rubbish floating around. Following R-Type's lead it also
has quite an organic feel to it with strands of this and that everywhere,
and some nice futuristic industial stuff too. The styles hang together well.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar6_t.jpg
Sound wise the game is decent enough (please ensure you have your MVS
board connected up stereoaurilly like this).
I'm not sure there is too much more to say about it other than it causes
no offence whatsoever.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar7_t.jpg
So, if you can play R-Type you can play Pulstar, it's as simple as that. Is
it a rip off? Well, yes, although it's still worth playing and doesn't cost the
earth to buy.
It's the standard test of memory and dexterity that allows you to make
progress and it can get very hectic, especially as the weapon system
doesn't quite work the same way as R-Type.
You can't shoot you force pod off or attach it to your rear, weapon
power-ups are also a bit different, for example you get a weird squiggly
shield type thing that you power up by rapidly firing, and when you get
the blue rebound type laser, you have to charge your shot a little before
it will fire-off.
Generally the weapons all seem to work, and at least provide a bit of
deviation from the template.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar8_t.jpg
Most of this style of shooter are guilty of leaving you under powered when
you die and restart, Pulstar is certainly no exception to this. Your ship
starts damned slow and you need a few speed-ups before you can
maneuver proficiently; so until you speed up, it can be a struggle to get to
the power-ups and kill the baddies.
It is inferior to the R-Type games (no surprise there), and isn't as good as
Blazing Star either. Out of all the R-Type-alikes, Pulstar is one of the
better examples. If you have an MVS system and enjoy shooters, it's still
a good game and worth buying.

http://www.cyberlead.co.uk/images/arcade/pulstar/pulstar9_t.jpg
You'll see this screen quite frequently, so don't be too discouraged. Loser.

[thechop]

Boy have i seen that screen a few times, most of them today.Damn hard shooter, oh i don't know if you didn't realise but you can fire the orb off but only as a type of smart bomb(hence you lose it:sad:) by pressing the 2 buttons together.

[gundaRn]

Boy have i seen that screen a few times, most of them today.Damn hard shooter, oh i don't know if you didn't realise but you can fire the orb off but only as a type of smart bomb(hence you lose it:sad:) by pressing the 2 buttons together.Yeah, I knew that. I just couldn't figure out when it would be a good idea to use it.:blink:

[thechop]

Yeah, I knew that. I just couldn't figure out when it would be a good idea to use it.:blink:

Believe me , never! Getting rid of your power-ups is as good as suicide.Had a fair session on it today and on one credit could only get to the second stage, kept dying at the same spot, just before the 3 waterfalls in a row, get stuck at that restart point and your fcuked with no power ups.tough tough game.

[arcadefever]

A Great GAME...:wub:

The first game i bought for my MVS :laugh:

[Neo Gold]

Believe me , never! Getting rid of your power-ups is as good as suicide.Had a fair session on it today and on one credit could only get to the second stage, kept dying at the same spot, just before the 3 waterfalls in a row, get stuck at that restart point and your fcuked with no power ups.tough tough game.

FYI Chop...learn to master this bomb...this level your stuck on..is a little tricky...but easily learned with time...unleash the bomb at the right time to completey cripple & destroy the Beautiful end of level Boss!..:cool::wink:
An Mvs cart i'll never sell....jeez i sold the aes cart for £350!!..great game.

[thechop]

Had an inkling it may be the time to use one as on the second level you can power up to nearly max before it gets tough so i thought perhaps it lets you use it on the bosses.Never done it on the 1st one tho' as its easy, have got to the second a while back but can't remember it now and am trying to go straight through from one rather than learning the levels individually by choosing any of 1-4 first:wacko:

[tel]

I never once found a worthwhile place to use the smart bomb. I set if off by accident many a time when locking and unlocking the two satellite guns, and it does tend to screw you up completely, especially if like me you are used to absorbing lots of enemy shots on your force pod.

The latter part of level 2 is very difficult to get through if you die and respawn. The bit with the giant crabs (killercrabs?:tongue:) is a right pain without a power up to speed up your charge shot. The bit that infuriated me was the maze section about halfway through level 5. I've died there loads of times and it is one point where you have absolutely no chance of getting through without lots of power ups :mad:


Nice review 'darN:cool: