Super Star Soldier [Model HE-1097]

Super Star Soldier © 1990 Hudson Soft.

Super Star Soldier is a vertical shooter by Hudson Soft and is the sequel of Star Soldier originally released for the Famicom in 1986. The player controls the Neo-Caesar space fighter and must battle endless waves of enemy ships through eight hostile and harsh stages. Each level throws a steady flow of enemy fighters and deadly bullets at the player and, like any adrenaline-pumping shooter, Super Star Soldier comes packed with spectacular power-ups. Small ships release color-coded pods when destroyed and each one of them upgrade the Neo-Caesar differently. Red pods activate a multi-way Vulcan gun, Blue unleash laser rings, Yellow a flame-thrower and Green lightning bolts. Each weapon can be upgraded a few times and release a powerful mega-bomb when they finally reach their maximum charge. Secondary weapons are also available and come in the shape of homing missiles or rotating shields. Interestingly the weapon level is also used as a life bar - when hit, the Neo-Caesar loses a weapon level but only blows up for good when all its weaponry is at the lowest power state. Super Star Soldier follows the Star Soldier tradition and includes a two and five minutes time-attack Caravan modes. This option is related to the yearly Caravan tournament held in Japan by Hudson Soft.