Star Force
Encyclopedia
is a vertical shoot 'em up
arcade video game made in 1984 by Tehkan (now known as Tecmo). In Japan, it is considered to be a monumental work among shooting games. There have also been caravan tournaments for the game in Japan.
Unlike later vertical scrolling shooters, like Twin Cobra
, the Final Star had only two levels of weapon power, and no secondary weapons like missiles and/or bombs. Each stage in the game was named after a letter of the Greek alphabet
. In certain versions of the game, there is an additional level called "Infinity" (represented by the infinity symbol) which occurs after Omega, after which the game repeats indefinitely.
In the NES
version, after defeating the Omega target, the player can see a black screen -with the Tecmo logo- announcing the future release of Super Star Force (it's sequel). After that, the infinity target becomes available and the game repeats the same boss without increasing the difficult.
and MSX
home computer by Hudson Soft
(likely because Tecmo would become a licensee of Nintendo
only in 1986). The North America
n version for the Nintendo Entertainment System
was published in 1987 by Tecmo with modified graphics, music, and control over the Famicom version. Despite the U.S. arcade version being titled Mega Force, Tecmo decided to release the NES version under the original name of Star Force. It was also ported to the Sega SG-1000, Sharp X68000
and mobile phone
s. In 1995, along with two other NES shooters, Star Force was remade with minimal upgrades for the Super Nintendo as part of the Japan-only release of the Caravan Shooting Collection. It was also included in Hudson's compilation of NES shooters in 2006 in Hudson Best Collection Vol. 5, with an emulated version of the arcade game appearing on the Xbox
as part of Tecmo Classic Arcade
. In 2009, the arcade version was made available for download on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console for 500 points as four of the initial offerings for the "Virtual Console Arcade" category (the other three being Namco
titles).
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
arcade video game made in 1984 by Tehkan (now known as Tecmo). In Japan, it is considered to be a monumental work among shooting games. There have also been caravan tournaments for the game in Japan.
Gameplay
In the game, the player pilots a starship called the Final Star, while shooting various enemies and destroying enemy structures for points.Unlike later vertical scrolling shooters, like Twin Cobra
Twin Cobra
Twin Cobra, known in Japan as , is a 1987 helicopter-themed shoot 'em up arcade game developed by Toaplan. It was published by Taito Corporation in Japan, and by Romstar in North America, and is one of Toaplan's most popular arcade games...
, the Final Star had only two levels of weapon power, and no secondary weapons like missiles and/or bombs. Each stage in the game was named after a letter of the Greek alphabet
Greek alphabet
The Greek alphabet is the script that has been used to write the Greek language since at least 730 BC . The alphabet in its classical and modern form consists of 24 letters ordered in sequence from alpha to omega...
. In certain versions of the game, there is an additional level called "Infinity" (represented by the infinity symbol) which occurs after Omega, after which the game repeats indefinitely.
In the NES
Nes
-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
version, after defeating the Omega target, the player can see a black screen -with the Tecmo logo- announcing the future release of Super Star Force (it's sequel). After that, the infinity target becomes available and the game repeats the same boss without increasing the difficult.
Legacy
- Super Star Force: Jikuureki no HimitsuSuper Star Force: Jikuureki no Himitsuis a video game developed and published by Tecmo on November 11, 1986 for the Family Computer only in Japan.-General information:It is the sequel to Tecmo's famous shoot 'em up arcade game, Star Force. Unlike most shoot 'em ups during the time of its release, Super Star Force is a combination of a...
: Released in 1986 for the Japanese Nintendo Famicom. - Final Star ForceFinal Star Forceis a 1992 arcade game developed and published by Tecmo. It is the third game in the Star Force series.-Story:A millennia ago, a mysterious force known as Gordess perished in a long battle. However, Gordess has been brought back to life by a race of aliens known as the Borign and is now in the...
: Released for the Arcades in 1992.
Ports and related releases
Star Force was ported in 1985 to the Nintendo FamicomNintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
and MSX
MSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
home computer by Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
(likely because Tecmo would become a licensee of Nintendo
Nintendo
is a multinational corporation located in Kyoto, Japan. Founded on September 23, 1889 by Fusajiro Yamauchi, it produced handmade hanafuda cards. By 1963, the company had tried several small niche businesses, such as a cab company and a love hotel....
only in 1986). The North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
n version for the Nintendo Entertainment System
Nintendo Entertainment System
The Nintendo Entertainment System is an 8-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America during 1985, in Europe during 1986 and Australia in 1987...
was published in 1987 by Tecmo with modified graphics, music, and control over the Famicom version. Despite the U.S. arcade version being titled Mega Force, Tecmo decided to release the NES version under the original name of Star Force. It was also ported to the Sega SG-1000, Sharp X68000
Sharp X68000
The Sharp X68000, often referred to as the X68k, is a home computer released only in Japan by the Sharp Corporation. The first model was released in 1987, with a 10 MHz Motorola 68000 CPU, 1 MB of RAM and no hard drive; the last model was released in 1993 with a 25 MHz Motorola 68030...
and mobile phone
Mobile phone
A mobile phone is a device which can make and receive telephone calls over a radio link whilst moving around a wide geographic area. It does so by connecting to a cellular network provided by a mobile network operator...
s. In 1995, along with two other NES shooters, Star Force was remade with minimal upgrades for the Super Nintendo as part of the Japan-only release of the Caravan Shooting Collection. It was also included in Hudson's compilation of NES shooters in 2006 in Hudson Best Collection Vol. 5, with an emulated version of the arcade game appearing on the Xbox
Xbox
The Xbox is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Microsoft. It was released on November 15, 2001 in North America, February 22, 2002 in Japan, and March 14, 2002 in Australia and Europe and is the predecessor to the Xbox 360. It was Microsoft's first foray into the gaming console...
as part of Tecmo Classic Arcade
Tecmo Classic Arcade
Tecmo Classic Arcade is a collection of classic Tecmo arcade games for the Microsoft Xbox. This collection was released on September 13, 2005 in the U.S. and October 27, 2005 in Japan. This game was published and developed by Tecmo...
. In 2009, the arcade version was made available for download on the Nintendo Wii Virtual Console for 500 points as four of the initial offerings for the "Virtual Console Arcade" category (the other three being Namco
Namco
is a Japanese corporation best known as a former video game developer and publisher. Following a merger with Bandai in September 2005, the two companies' game production assets were spun off into Namco Bandai Games on March 31, 2006. Namco Ltd. was re-established to continue domestic operation of...
titles).