Solar Striker

Solar Striker
Full Title	Solar Striker
Developer	Nintendo R&D 1
Publisher	Nintendo
System	Game Boy
Release Date	JP January 26, 1990 US February 1990 EU September 28, 1990
Genre	Shoot'em up

Solar Striker (ソーラーストライカー) is a launch title for the Game Boy, as well as a simple vertical scrolling shooter. It was developed and released by Nintendo and was designed by Gunpei Yokoi. This is the only scrolling shoot'em up by Nintendo.

Storyline

The year is 2159. The Earth Federal Government was established, linking the people with a common government against other species. As part of this new addition and to defend the human race's peace and safety, the Earth Federal Army was also created.

The army went on the offensive, and attacked a star known as 'Turin.' However, the Earth Federal Army was no match for the overwhelming combat power of Turin, and Earth's fate seemed sealed. As Earth's last chance, a top-secret mobile unit developed a very advanced space fighter in Earth's last fortification. Flying with the mothership, 'Mother Atena', it arrived at Turin's solar system as the last chance for a violent and final attack on the Turin forces. This advanced spacecraft, and Earth's last hope for survival, is code-named 'Solar Striker'.

Gameplay

You control the advanced space fighter, code-named: Solar Striker. There are six levels of play against the forces of Reticulon. Enemies appear from the top of the screen. Special ships can be shot and power-ups can be obtained. One power-up means twice the shooting. Three power-ups mean thrice the shooting. Five power-ups means big blasts on enemies which are helpful, especially against tough enemies and bosses that take many hits to destroy. There are a variety of enemies as well as sub-bosses in the later levels. They descend in patterns and bosses have their own way to try to defeat the player. When you complete all six levels for the first time and after the credits roll, you'll be able to play Hard Mode by pressing Select instead of Start when you return to the title screen.

Notes

• The background music for Level 1 and Level 2 was used in the beginning of the Captain N: The Game Master episode, Trouble With Tetris, in a slightly altered form. A space craft seen in the same part of the episode resembles the Solar Striker on the Japanese box art of the Solar Striker title.