Blazing Star

SNK Neo-Geo MVS cart. published 26 years ago:

Blazing Star (c) 1998 Yumekobo.

Blazing Star is a horizontally-scrolling shoot-em-up in which the planets of Remuria and Mutras are engaged in endless interplanetary war. This fuels the development of ever-more dangerous weapons, eventually leading to the production of fully organic weapons that combine both human and alien technology. Soon, a fully sentient weapon called 'Brawshella' is born. Brawshella gathers all animal life on Remuria and Mutras and bends them to its will, forcing them to attack and assimilate the human race.

Within days of Brawshella's appearance all humans are assimilated and now have no other purpose than to continue fighting each other. Over time, six of the assimilated fighter pilots regain their consciousness and remember their pasts. Upon rediscovering their humanity, they turn against the machines, in a battle to save humanity.

Blazing Star is controlled via joystick and two buttons. Button 'A' fires the normal shot, if this is tapped rapidly, however, a variation on the normal shot is used. If the A button is held down, the ship stores energy for a charged shot, which is fired when the button is released. The charged-shot attacks have a duration based on how long the button is held for. Pressing the B button during the attack will split the projectile, greatly increasing its range.

Players can choose to pilot one of six different ships, each with its own strengths and weaknesses. The 'Hellhound' is the perfect ship for performing high-scoring combos, for example. The 'Windina' has a wide and powerful shot; both 'Dinos' - the Pulstar hunters - are excellent in defense and pack efficient weapons. Finally, Aryutalism and Peplos require a little more skill and are best suited to experienced players.

Power-ups can increase the strength of the player's guns, while also increasing the maximum power of the charged shot. The types of shots, charge-up attacks, and split shots used are dependent on which ship the player selects.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the SNK "Neo-Geo MVS" hardware.
Game ID: NGM-239

Players: 2
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 2
=> Ship name (pilot) > [A] Normal/Rapid/Charge attack, [B] Break attack
=> Hell Hound (Caster) > [A] 4 way shot/6 way shot/Deathflame, [B] Hell burst
=> Windina (Leefa) > [A] Wave/Tidal wave/3 way spread, [B] Homing
=> Aryustailm (JB) > [A] Laser/Lightning bolt/Sword, [B] Sword field
=> Peplos (Asayuki) > [A] 3 way shot/3 way fire/Holy flare, [B] Devil breath
=> Dino 135 (Naomi Y.) > [A] Shot/Rapidshot/Spreadshot, [B] Special scatter
=> Dino 246 (Kaoru Y.) > [A] Shot/Rapidshot/Chargeshot, [B] Bomber

- TRIVIA -

Blazing Star was released in January 1998. It is Yumekobo's first game developed and released for the Neo-Geo MVS.

KAORU.Y (The last ship at the character selection screen) is the lead character from "Pulstar".

Part of the "Pulstar" / "R*Type" team also worked on Blazing Star (see Staff section for more information).

Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Blazing Star - PCCB-00306) on March 18, 1998.

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Stage Select : At the ship select screen, hold RIGHT and D on both 1 and 2-player sides, then select your ship. The next screen will be a stage select menu.

* While choosing a ship in the select screen, press C+D for an extra color ship.

* Asayuki and its Peplos ship can't power-up with any items.

- STAFF -

Executive producers : Akio Inove, Nobuyuki Okude
Producer : Takaya ida
Sub. producer : Isamu yutani
Director : Michio Sato
Main programmer : Minoru Yoshida
Sub. programmer : Taka / M. Sakae
Chief designer : Tomonori Nagakubo
Designers : Kyou Yamanaka, Izumi Senou, Saki, Shotabira, Yumetard, Tatsuo Shioda
Character designer : Daikichi
Design helpers : Mayumi Takeuchi, Itsuo Iton, Mitsuo Takano, Masakazu Ishizaki
Sound designer : Yasuaki Fujita
Music composer : Harumi Fujita

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] SNK Neo-Geo AES (1998) "Blazing Star [Model NGH-239]"

* OTHERS: