Super Star Soldier

From Shmups Wiki -- The Digital Library of Shooting Games
Revision as of 18:42, 10 February 2024 by Warboss Gegguz (talk | contribs) (Created page with "800px|center {{GameInfobox |bordercolor = black |title = Super Star Soldier |background = #f8f8f8 |image = Super Star Soldier Cover art.j...")
(diff) ← Older revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)
Jump to navigation Jump to search
Super Star Soldier logo.png
Super Star Soldier
Super Star Soldier Cover art.jpg

Japanese Cover Art

Developer: Kaneko
Publisher: JP: Hudson Soft
NA: NEC
Music: Nozomi Nakahashi
Program: Takashi Yamashita
Takashi Sugimoto
Art: Person C
Designer: Tadayuki Kawada
Keita Hoshi
Release date: JP: Jul 6, 1990
NA: March, 1991
Previous game: Gunhed
Next game: Final Soldier

Super Star Soldier is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by Kaneko and published by Hudson Soft in 1990 for the PC-Engine (Turbografx-16). It is the second mainline entry in Hudson's Star Soldier series (fourth overall), and the fifth official Caravan Shooting game. It is the second entry in the series not to be developed directly by Hudson Soft.

For replay videos, visit the Video Index.

Story

In the beginning of this new era of time and space, the small fighter aircraft, Caesar, was just beginning its fight against the evil Brains in an attempt to restore peace to the world. The mission was a success, and peace was restored. Now, four years later, the evil Brains are planning their next attack. Lead by their evil leader, Mother Brain, the peaceful existence of the world is once again in jeopardy.

However, do not despair all hope is not lost! In anticipation of the Brains's expected counterattack, an improved version of the original Caesar was designed and built and now sits quietly, ready for battle. It is you, Starbuck, that must pilot this new fighting aircraft Neo Caesar into combat! Go now! Hurry to your ship, you are the world's only hope of peace! - NA Manual

Gameplay Overview

Super Star Soldier, like its predecessors, is a vertical scrolling shooter with an emphasis on high score chasing and competitive play. Super Star Soldier features establishes the format and style of gameplay that would become standard for the rest of the series, building upon the mechanics of the original Star Soldier, as well as it's direct predecessor Gunhed.

It features a total of eight main stages, and is the first game in the series to feature a dedicated stage for the Caravan modes.

Controls

  • I: Rotate Defense System
  • II (Press): Fire primary weapon
  • II (Hold): Auto-Fire
  • Select: Navigate menu and change movement speed
  • Start: Start game and pause/un-pause

Weapons

There are five different weapons in Super Star Soldier which can are obtained and upgraded through collecting power-up crystals.

Weapon Description
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Laser.png Multishot
Base weapon. Auto-firing straight shot.
Can be upgraded to a total of six lines of fire in five directions.
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Missile shot.png Homing Missiles
Secondary weapon that auto-fires alongside the player's main weapon.
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Ring Laser.png Ring Laser
Auto-firing wide shots that expand as they move forward.
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Spread Laser.png Spread Laser
Forward beam that lengthens and eventually splits into three.
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Swing Fire.png Swing Fire
Sort range columns of swinging flames. Highest damage weapon.

Items

There are four items to be found in Super Star Soldier: Power-Up Crystals, Homing Missiles, the Starbuck Defense System, and Bonus Points. Most of these are dropped specifically by pods when shot at, though are occasionally dropped by other enemies.

Item Description
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Power-Up Crystals.png Power-Up Crystals
Released by enemies, are used to upgrade and/or change weapon types. Five are required to fully upgrade a weapon.
Collecting more than five of one kind or a flashing crystal triggers a screen-clearing Super Bomb.
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Homing Missile.png Homing Missiles
Secondary weapon that auto-fires alongside the player's main weapon. Collecting two increases the missile's speed
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - SDS 1.png TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - SDS 2.png Starbuck Defense System
Drones that flank and shield the player. Can be rotated by pressing I. Collecting two causes them to automatically circle around the player.
TurboGrafx-16 - Super Star Soldier - Bonus.png Bonus Points
Increases score.