Accepted [+] [X] Race Day [Model 669] Update submitted by phil
Race Day (c) 1970 Bally Mfg. Co.
- TECHNICAL -
[Model 882] released on 3-25-1970
- TRIVIA -
Modified models 882-1, 882-2 and 882-3 were made for Sweden, Belgium and "English"
- SOURCES -
Bally factory machine listing
Accepted [+] [X] Star Soldier [Model NES-SO-USA] Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Star Soldier (c) 1989 Taxan
Export release. Game developed in Japan. For more information, see the original Japanese release entry: "Star Soldier [Model SHVC-SO]".
- TECHNICAL -
Game ID: NES-SO-USA
- TRIVIA -
Even if copyright on the title screen shows 1988, Star Soldier was released for standard NES in January 1989. Port produced by Hudson soft.
This release doesn't have an option to start a harder loop (with changed graphics) as NES controllers (either for NES-001 or NES-101 variants) have no microphone required to trigger a loud voice.
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Formation Z Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Formation Z (c) 1985 Jaleco Company, Limited. [Japan Leisure].
A portage of Jaleco's moderate success coin-op game.
- TECHNICAL -
Game ID: JF-02
Players: up to 2 (alternate)
Controls: d-pad 8 ways
Buttons: 2
[A] = jump (hold to transform between plane and soldier), [B] = shoot
the gun (hold to fire rockets)
- TRIVIA -
Formation Z port was produced by Hect and released in April 1985.
The docking bonus (before the space stage) and gates (desert area) were removed due to rom size. The maximum fuel for plane is 99 instead of 100 for the same reason.
The steering in this port is easier than the coin-op original as there is no inertia.
- TIPS AND TRICKS -
* Tanks require you to shoot them down with a rocket. They don't appear only on water areas.
* Don't transform too early: you'll quickly lose fuel. So time your transformation properly.
* Don't fly too high: you'll fly too slowly. So make sure the water is still visible on the bottom of the screen. This tip applies to areas before space.
* Defeat the alien (before space section) by shooting the rocket onto the top.
* Defeat the boss in space just like tanks - with rockets. Destroy the first cannon, the second one and finally the ship itself.
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Field Combat [Model JF-04] Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Field Combat (c) 1985 Jaleco Company, Limited. [Japan Leisure].
- TECHNICAL -
GAME ID: JF-04
Players: up to 2 (alternate)
Controls: d-pad 8 ways
Buttons: 2
[A] = launch captivity ray, [B] = shoot the gun, [A] + [B] simultaneously pressed = release 'allies'
- TRIVIA -
Field Combat port was produced by TOSE and released in July 1985.
This port plays just Wagner's 'Flight of the Valkyries' throughout stages, unlike coin-op original playing various themes.
This port contains 6 patterns - way fewer than in coin-op original.
- TIPS AND TRICKS -
* Don't capture too many enemies: one is actually enough, mainly when a fiend shoots. The bullet may reach the radar, causing a life loss.
* Beware of dried grass (pattern #2) and concrete (pattern #6): they slow your ship down, but don't affect any enemy.
* Don't release 'allies': their fire accuracy is close to 0%. Instead, complete the pattern yourself.
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Probotector [Model NES-77-FRG] Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Probotector (c) 1991 Konami Industry Co., Ltd.
German/Swiss release. Game developed in Japan. For more information about the game itself, please see the original Japanese release entry; "Contra [Model RC826]".
Text from the West German box:
Pitted against the galaxy's fiercest foe, you either win or the whole world loses.
It's th year 2633 A.D. Technology has reached a level so advanced that nature and science now exist in harmony and peace reigns throughout the world.
... but beneath the calmness something beyond all imagination is discovered that threatens the existence of mankind.
While conducting top secret research, a special task force of scientists find that an alien being from the Galaxy of Apocalypse is plotting to wipe out the human race. In order to protect the Earth and its people, two combat robots (Probotectors), RD008 and RC011, have been developed.
Their mission is to go to the alien's fortress in the Galga islands and see that they are exterminated.
Featuring simultaneous play for two players or play against the computer.
- TECHNICAL -
Game ID: NES-77-FRG
- TRIVIA -
Released on June 2, 1991 in Germany and Switzerland.
The play against computer (from description) refers only to enemies - the computer steers them.
- SOURCES -
Game's box.
Accepted [+] [X] Bandit Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Bandit (c) 1989 Data East USA, inc.
An unreleased, timed vehicular combat game requiring you to travel almost all the USA (lower 48 states): reach New York starting from Los Angeles, avoid police.
- TRIVIA -
Meant to be released in April 1989 in the USA, but had never been completed.
The game over is irregular: the police blockade will appear after the time runs out, then will come the CGI sequence with the convict sitting on the electric chair and killed by electric shock. The text "Crime doesn't pay" will show up after that.
The player is given to drive an amaranth Porsche 911 [964].
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Accepted [+] [X] Xevious [Model NXV-4900] Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Xevious (c) 1984 Namcot (Namco ltd label for home releases)
Xevious is a vertical shooter by Namco and is the conversion of their classic arcade game originally released in December 1982 (Japan; USA = February 1983).
The game is set on planet Xevious where the enchant super-computer GAMP has awakened after thousands of years of sleep. SOL towers appear from all over the world and signal the imminent invasion.
Attack drones, planes, amphibious vehicles and large fortresses; now swarm the land and must be stopped. The player takes control of the heavily armed Solvalou fighter equipped with surface bombs and a standard gun.
Enemies attack on two different levels, some are airborne whereas others are ground targets. Ground enemies such as tanks and guard towers can only be destroyed with bombs and the aid of a rather small crosshair. This target system is at the core of the gameplay and flashes red when a bomb thrown down.
Xevious features some unique enemies - mysterious ground installations such as the Solbak don't attack but are designed to gather information about the player's fighter - destroying them temporary decreases the enemy's attack power. Each stage in Xevious scrolls continuously and there is no break between them. Area's borders are indicated by thick forests and this is where the player is sent back when shot down (unless he proceeded further than 70% of this area).
The game features 10 areas (which loop back to the first stage) and a double player mode (alternated turns).
- TECHNICAL -
Cartridge ID: NXV-4900
Players: up to 2 (alternate)
Controls: d-pad 8 ways
Buttons: 2
[A] = throw bomb down, [B] = shoot frontal gun
- TRIVIA -
Xevious for Famicom was released on November 8, 1984 in Japan for a retail price of 4900 Yen. It was the third title published by Namcot on the Famicom.
The 1983 copyright year wrongly refers to the Atari version of Xevious, published in February 1983. The Japanese version of Xevious was published in December 1982.
Xevious has 'S' flags known from coin-op "New Rally X" and award an extra life. Sol citadels are hidden. The game automatically ramps the difficulty up until you can't take it anymore, just like coin-op original.
- TIPS AND TRICKS -
* You don't need to shoot all the flashing cannons when you're encountering the 'boss'. The only thing you're required to do when fighting the 'boss' is to shoot the center and proceed farther.
* Rotary square enemies (gray and black, flying) are indestructible.
* 'S' flags are well hidden: the first one is somewhere in the 2nd river after you start the game; the 2nd: near the lake, after a series of 7 trees and up north the pyramidal enemy; the 3rd: near the entrance to the dock after a long flight between ports; and the 4th (last): on the desert, past the lake, near 4 ground enemies (2 pyramidal, 2 circular). Note the flags can be picked up only once, so if you begin another loop, they'll not appear in these locations.
Export releases:
[US] "Xevious - The Avenger [Model NES-XV-USA]"
[EU] "Xevious [Model NES-XV-EEC]"
- STAFF -
Main: Kazuo Kurosu (Kei Cross)
Music Composer: Yuriko Keino
Sound: Nobuyuki Ounogi
Assist: Masanobu Endou (Everzoo End), Haruhisa Udagawa (Hal Udagawa)
Tester: Koichi Yamamoto (Shidashi Yamamo)
- PORTS -
* CONSOLES:
[JP] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Dec. 2, 2006) "Xevious [Model FASJ]"
[KO] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Jul. 29, 2008) "Xevious [Model FASK]"
[JP] Nintendo Wii U [Virtual Console] (Apr. 27, 2013) "Xevious [Model FALJ]"
* HANDHELDS:
[JP] Nintendo Game Boy Advance [Famicom Mini Series] (Feb. 14, 2004) "Xevious [Model AGB-FXVJ-JPN]"
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
Game's description by Laurent Kermel; http://www.videogameden.com
Accepted [+] [X] Xevious - The Avenger [Model NES-XV-USA] Update submitted by Andrzej Warszawski
Xevious - The Avenger (c) 1988 Bandai America, Inc.
North American release. Game developed in Japan. For more information about the game itself, please see the original Japanese release entry: "Xevious [Model NXV-4900]".
- TECHNICAL -
GAME ID: NES-XV-USA
- TRIVIA -
Xevious for NES was released in September 1988 in North America. Made by Namco ltd.
The 1982 copyright year is a wrong reference to coin-op original released by Namco ltd in December 1982. The licensed version manufactured by Atari was released in February 1983.
'The Avenger' sub-title appears only on the box art of this re-release.
- PORTS -
* CONSOLES:
Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] [US] (Jan. 15, 2007) "Xevious [Model FASE]"
Nintendo Wii U [Virtual Console] [US] (May 9, 2013) "Xevious [Model FALE]"
* HANDHELDS:
Nintendo Game Boy Advance [Classic NES Series] [US] (june.2, 2004) "Xevious [Model AGB-FXVE-USA]"
- SOURCES -
Game's ROM.
