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Vasara (game)
Encyclopedia
Vasara is a vertically scrolling manic shooter released in 2000
by Japan
ese company Visco Corporation
. The game has an unusual setting (a science fantasy
take on the Sengoku period
) and gameplay as a curtain fire game.
and the subsequent attempt by the robotic samurai armies of Tokugawa Ieyasu
to take control of the nation. The player controls one of three color-coded warriors riding hoverbikes, each with the typical tradeoffs of speed and firepower:
Each character starts off on their own individual level, proceeding through six stages of enemies, firing upon opponents while weaving through increasing curtains of enemy fire. On occasion, the player will encounter a miniboss and eventually a stage boss.
As this is a "bullet hell" game, the player has a small hitbox (essentially the character on the hoverbike), with points scored for scraping past enemy fire. Physical collision with an enemy unit will not result in destruction and loss of life, but will cause the player's ship to bounce off the enemy; however, this may also leave the player open to a barrage of enemy fire. The players has also access to a bomb which will temporarily clear the screen of enemies and enemy fire.
In addition to the above, scoring is done by grabbing the various gold ingots left in the wreckage of enemy craft. Other ways to score include multiple kills via the charge attack. Finally, the game has a "prestige kill" system, where the player is essentially challenged to a duel by an enemy character. Upon defeat of the enemy, a blood-spattered name plate is collected, and at the end of the stage, these name plates are counted for extra points.
, Vasara 2, in 2001
.
2000 in video gaming
-Events:* May 11–13 — 6th annual Electronic Entertainment Expo ; the 3rd annual Game Critics Awards for the Best of E³* June 26 — International Game Developers Association renamed from Computer Game Developers Association...
by Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese company Visco Corporation
Visco Corporation
is a Japanese software company located in Kita-ku, Kyoto, Japan. It was founded in by , and later became corporate on August 8, while revealing itself as "Visco" in Kanamecho, Toshima, Tokyo Japan. They originally developed video games for several platforms from the arcades and NES, to the...
. The game has an unusual setting (a science fantasy
Science fantasy
Science fantasy is a mixed genre within speculative fiction drawing elements from both science fiction and fantasy. Although in some terms of its portrayal in recent media products it can be defined as instead of being a mixed genre of science fiction and fantasy it is instead a mixing of the...
take on the Sengoku period
Sengoku period
The or Warring States period in Japanese history was a time of social upheaval, political intrigue, and nearly constant military conflict that lasted roughly from the middle of the 15th century to the beginning of the 17th century. The name "Sengoku" was adopted by Japanese historians in reference...
) and gameplay as a curtain fire game.
Story
The game takes place in an alternate historical version of the year 1600, following the death of Toyotomi HideyoshiToyotomi Hideyoshi
was a daimyo warrior, general and politician of the Sengoku period. He unified the political factions of Japan. He succeeded his former liege lord, Oda Nobunaga, and brought an end to the Sengoku period. The period of his rule is often called the Momoyama period, named after Hideyoshi's castle...
and the subsequent attempt by the robotic samurai armies of Tokugawa Ieyasu
Tokugawa Ieyasu
was the founder and first shogun of the Tokugawa shogunate of Japan , which ruled from the Battle of Sekigahara in 1600 until the Meiji Restoration in 1868. Ieyasu seized power in 1600, received appointment as shogun in 1603, abdicated from office in 1605, but...
to take control of the nation. The player controls one of three color-coded warriors riding hoverbikes, each with the typical tradeoffs of speed and firepower:
- Saiga Magoichi (said to be the granddaughter of the historical Saiga Magoichi), dressed in yellow and riding a hoverbike roughly shaped like Suzaku. Quick but weak, she throws homing fans and has a 360-degree fan swing for a charged attack
- Sanada YukimuraSanada Yukimurawas a Japanese samurai, second son of the Sengoku period daimyo Sanada Masayuki . His proper name was Sanada Nobushige , named after Takeda Shingen's younger brother Takeda Nobushige, who was a brave and respected warrior. He and his father were known as being excellent military tacticians...
, dressed in red and riding a hoverbike shaped like a horse. The middle character, his speed and firepower fall in the average between the other two. He throws homing kunai and has a katana strike for his charged attack - Shima SakonShima Sakon, also known as , was a Japanese samurai of the late Sengoku period. Shima eventually left the service of the Tsutsui, and eventually joined Ishida Mitsunari under the banner of the Uesugi Clan...
, dressed in blue and riding a heavy hoverbike shaped like a horse; the Japanese version of the game refers to it as the "Matsukaze 1000". The slow-but-heavy firepower character, he attacks with throwing spears and a heavy spear charge attack.
Gameplay
As this is a "bullet hell" game, the player has a small hitbox (essentially the character on the hoverbike), with points scored for scraping past enemy fire. Physical collision with an enemy unit will not result in destruction and loss of life, but will cause the player's ship to bounce off the enemy; however, this may also leave the player open to a barrage of enemy fire. The players has also access to a bomb which will temporarily clear the screen of enemies and enemy fire.
In addition to the above, scoring is done by grabbing the various gold ingots left in the wreckage of enemy craft. Other ways to score include multiple kills via the charge attack. Finally, the game has a "prestige kill" system, where the player is essentially challenged to a duel by an enemy character. Upon defeat of the enemy, a blood-spattered name plate is collected, and at the end of the stage, these name plates are counted for extra points.
Sequel
The game was followed by a sequelSequel
A sequel is a narrative, documental, or other work of literature, film, theatre, or music that continues the story of or expands upon issues presented in some previous work...
, Vasara 2, in 2001
2001 in video gaming
-Events:* Academy of Interactive Arts & Sciences hosts the 4th Annual Interactive Achievement Awards; inducts John Carmack of id Software to the AIAS Hall of Fame...
.