Slap Fight
Encyclopedia
, also known as Alcon, is a 1986
vertically scrolling shooter arcade game
developed by Toaplan
and published by Taito
.
(being a vertical scroller) and Gradius
(from which it borrows its power-up
system). The game takes place in an Earth-type environment with metallic, land-based enemies; some are mobile armor and others are fortifications embedded in natural terrain.
Enemies always appear in the same location, at every new game or wrap of the map. Certain enemies leave power-up stars upon destruction. Collecting these stars "turns on" an upgrade menu at the bottom of the screen and moves a lit cursor through the list of power-ups described below. If any power-up is lit, but a ship is lost before a power-up could be selected, the star is "carried over" and the Speed block is lit on the next life. Single hits to the unshielded main ship destroy it, and the player loses any accumulated upgrades including Speed. This can make successive lives difficult to keep in the heat of battle.
This game does not support continue
s with extra credits, and is believed to "loop" endlessly; that is, after the final boss, gameplay resumes at the beginning of the play map but at successively higher difficulty, with enemies shooting faster and more frequently. Also, the score stops increasing when it displays 9,999,990 points, which might be achieved as early as the 15th, 16th, or 17th loops (beginning of 17th verified via MAME emulator).
The major weapons affect the enemies and terrain differently. For example, certain enemy towers can only be destroyed with Laser or Homing Missile; other enemies are destroyed much faster with specific weapons to match. If Bomb or Homing Missile are equipped, certain bonus targets will appear, or parts of the landscape may be destroyed to reveal bonuses. If Laser is active, certain plants in the landscape can be shot repeatedly to 'grow' and earn extra points until they scroll off-screen.
to many 8-bit home computer
s in the European & North American markets.
, which is presented on the title screen.
Changes to original game mode include:
In Slap Fight Tiger, player controls Heli (from Tiger Heli
) instead of Leopard. Laser was changed to fire in 3-way forward. New enemies include the Invaders Army (from Space Invaders
).
1986 in video gaming
-Events:-Notable releases:*Namco releases Sky Kid Deluxe, Hopping Mappy, Toy Pop, The Return of Ishtar, which is the sequel to Tower of Druaga, Genpei Tōma Den, and Rolling Thunder....
vertically scrolling shooter arcade game
Arcade game
An arcade game is a coin-operated entertainment machine, usually installed in public businesses such as restaurants, bars, and amusement arcades. Most arcade games are video games, pinball machines, electro-mechanical games, redemption games, and merchandisers...
developed by Toaplan
Toaplan
, sometimes written as Toa Plan, was a video game developer from Japan. They were responsible for the creation of a wide array of relatively famous scrolling shooters and arcade games, yet the company declared bankruptcy in 1994.-Games developed :...
and published by Taito
Taito
Taito may mean:*Taito Corporation, a Japanese developer of video game software and arcade hardware*Taito, Tokyo, a special ward located in Tokyo, Japan*Taito, also known as matai, paramount chiefs according to Fa'a Samoa...
.
Summary
It takes its inspiration from XeviousXevious
is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game by Namco, released in 1982. It was designed by Masanobu Endō. In the U.S., the game was manufactured and distributed by Atari. Xevious runs on Namco Galaga hardware. In Brazil the arcade cabinet was printed with the name 'COLUMBIA' for the game, while the...
(being a vertical scroller) and Gradius
Gradius
The Gradius games, first introduced in 1985, make up a series of scrolling shooter video games published by Konami for a variety of portable, console and arcade platforms. In many games in the series, the player controls a ship known as the Vic Viper...
(from which it borrows its power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
system). The game takes place in an Earth-type environment with metallic, land-based enemies; some are mobile armor and others are fortifications embedded in natural terrain.
Enemies always appear in the same location, at every new game or wrap of the map. Certain enemies leave power-up stars upon destruction. Collecting these stars "turns on" an upgrade menu at the bottom of the screen and moves a lit cursor through the list of power-ups described below. If any power-up is lit, but a ship is lost before a power-up could be selected, the star is "carried over" and the Speed block is lit on the next life. Single hits to the unshielded main ship destroy it, and the player loses any accumulated upgrades including Speed. This can make successive lives difficult to keep in the heat of battle.
This game does not support continue
Continue
Continue may refer to:*Continue , an option to continue a video game after all the player's lives have been lost*Continue , a 2008 Cantopop album by Pakho Chau*Continue , a programming language keyword-See also:...
s with extra credits, and is believed to "loop" endlessly; that is, after the final boss, gameplay resumes at the beginning of the play map but at successively higher difficulty, with enemies shooting faster and more frequently. Also, the score stops increasing when it displays 9,999,990 points, which might be achieved as early as the 15th, 16th, or 17th loops (beginning of 17th verified via MAME emulator).
Story
Taking place in the year 2059 in another galaxy, mankind has colonized an alien planet called Theon after evacuating a previously colonized planet Orac. Five years ago, the colony on Orac was attacked by alien invaders and the war was so intense, the colonists were forced to leave. However, Theon is now under attack by the same alien fleet, but the humans are ready. The player assumes the role of an Allied League of Cosmic Nations (ALCON) fighter pilot in the SW475 star fighter to stop the invaders from taking over Theon.Power-ups
Power-ups appearing on the upgrade menu are somewhat similar to those in Gradius:- Speed (upgradeable five times cumulatively)
- Side-Shot (rapid-fire assistant; remains with ship regardless of main weapon unless/until ship is destroyed)
- Shot (short-range, rapid-fire)
- Wing (accessory; increases both the width and the exposure of the craft; improves the power or speed of equipped weapon; upgradeable to three pairs; two external pairs can be used to absorb hits but the whole pair will be lost)
- Bomb (short-range, slow fire, area effect)
- Laser (long-range)
- Homing Missile (releases up to sixteen guided missiles)
- Shield (invulnerable; lasts approx. 25 seconds; ends with audible warning)
The major weapons affect the enemies and terrain differently. For example, certain enemy towers can only be destroyed with Laser or Homing Missile; other enemies are destroyed much faster with specific weapons to match. If Bomb or Homing Missile are equipped, certain bonus targets will appear, or parts of the landscape may be destroyed to reveal bonuses. If Laser is active, certain plants in the landscape can be shot repeatedly to 'grow' and earn extra points until they scroll off-screen.
Ports
The game was portedPorting
In computer science, porting is the process of adapting software so that an executable program can be created for a computing environment that is different from the one for which it was originally designed...
to many 8-bit home computer
Home computer
Home computers were a class of microcomputers entering the market in 1977, and becoming increasingly common during the 1980s. They were marketed to consumers as affordable and accessible computers that, for the first time, were intended for the use of a single nontechnical user...
s in the European & North American markets.
Slap Fight MD
This version included the original game and an additional game mode called Slap Fight MD, which featured different levels, sprite graphics, and weapons. The music for that version was composed by Yuzo KoshiroYuzo Koshiro
is a Japanese video game music composer and audio programmer. He is regarded as one of the most influential innovators in chiptune music and video game sound design...
, which is presented on the title screen.
Changes to original game mode include:
- Unlimited time for shield (customizable)
- Voices are played when using power up or moving the option gauge. Gauge moving voice can be customized.
Taito Nostalgia 2 version
In Taito Nostalgia 2 for Bandai's Let's! TV play CLASSIC plug and play game system, the original Japanese version and a new Slap Fight Tiger are included.In Slap Fight Tiger, player controls Heli (from Tiger Heli
Tiger Heli
was one of the first games developed by Toaplan and published by Taito Corporation in 1985. It is a predecessor to Twin Cobra...
) instead of Leopard. Laser was changed to fire in 3-way forward. New enemies include the Invaders Army (from Space Invaders
Space Invaders
is an arcade video game designed by Tomohiro Nishikado, and released in 1978. It was originally manufactured and sold by Taito in Japan, and was later licensed for production in the United States by the Midway division of Bally. Space Invaders is one of the earliest shooting games and the aim is to...
).
Receptions
Uri Cohen of SEGA-16 rated the game 8.0 for dated graphics, matching theme music, new game mode.External links
- Slap Fight entry and also related Alcon entry from the KLOVKiller List of VideogamesThe Killer List of Videogames is a web site featuring an online encyclopedia devoted to cataloging arcade games past and present. It is the video game department of the International Arcade Museum, and has been referred to as "the IMDb for players."....