Demon Front / Moyu Zhanxian (68k label V105, ROM M105XX 08/05/02) (ARM label V105, ROM 08/05/02 S105XX)

IGS PGM cart. published 22 years ago:

Demon Front (c) 2002 IGS Company, Limited.

Demon Front is a platform run 'n' Gun game for up to four players (two simultaneously) that is very reminscent of SNK's "Metal Slug" series, although there are significant additions to the gameplay.

20 light years from Earth lies the planet of Andres, a peaceful and civilised place. In the year A.C. 2016 Andres experienced a solar eclipse that lasted for over three months. All living creatures were exposed to a strange, dark red light and many began to mutate in both appearance and character. Few inhabitants would survive the torture inflicted by these crazed mutants.

A lucky few escaped and lived in exile. Four of the survivers decided to join forces, to fight back and overthrow the evil that dominates the planet.

Players can choose to take control of one of four characters:
* Jake - A human male from earth
* Sara - A human female from Earth
* Dr. J - A scientist
* Maya - A humanoid ape

The game consists of six stages and can choose in what order they wish to tackle the first three. Once these are completed, the forth and fifth stages are unlocked. A powerful boss awaits players at the end of each stage.

Each player-character has their own unique flying pet hovering by their shoulder and holding down the fire button will unleash a special attack:
* Jake's pet is a small dragon that unleashes a barrage of flames.
* Sara's pet is a rabbit that creates homing projectiles that freeze enemies.
* Dr. J's pet is a one-eyed robot that creates a field of electricity.
* Maya's pet is a pterodactyl that creates wind blasts in a spread formation.

The C button also turns the pets into a shield, which can protect against various projectiles. However, the pet has its own life bar and if it runs out, the pet disappears until the player loses a life, it respawns at the start of the next life. Health can be regained for the pet by knifing enemies up close.

Players are initally armed with a weak unlimited ammo-pistol but powerful extra weapons can be picked up, including a machine gun and a freezing gun. These have limitied ammo, however.

- TECHNICAL -

Runs on the IGS PGM (PolyGameMaster) System Hardware.

CPU : Motorola 68000 @ 20 MHz
Sound CPU : Zilog Z80
Sound Chip : ICS2115 32 Channel PCM
Protection : ARM asic cpu with internal code (on most later games)
Hardware Features : 1 scrolling 8x8 tiles 4bpp scrolling tilemap, 32x32 tiles 5bpp scrolling tilemap with linescroll, arbitrary size 5bpp sprites, zoom and shrink capabilities.

Screen Orientation : Horizontal
Video Resolution : 448 x 224 Pixels
Screen Refresh : 60.00 Hz
Palette Colors : 2304

Players : 2
Control : 8-Way Joystick
Buttons : 3
=> [A] Shoot, [B] Jump, [C] Shield

- TRIVIA -

Demon Front was released on June 25, 2002.

- STAFF -

Executive Producer: Ben
Project Leader: 9Day
Lead Programmer: Ching Nan Liu
Programmers: Chingan Young, H. Michell
BG Designers: Jeffery, Alien, Rambo
Art Designers: Leichu, L. Michael, Hugo, Adam, Seeder, Samuelc, Ling, Ricky, Hark, Chun
Game Designers: Yan, Vee, Robert, Alien Lin, Jeans, Aaron
Music Composers: Andrew Parsons, Eddie Morrison
Sound Effects: Julian