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This is a neat little game you can download off of the Japanese site, Nepia World. Pulse Blade is basically a very simple old school shooter that plays VERY much like Star Force and Star Soldier for the NES. The game doesn't have any plot, and you must blast your way through a variety of stages, all of which look mostly the same (outer space background, floating piles of scrap metal and debris, blah, blah, blah). The graphics make me think of Star Force, except they go beyond arcade perfect. The stars are nice and colorful and twinkle with decent animation. Special effects have been touched up slightly and enemies have cool exploding animation. I wouldn't be surprised if this game was made using the Star Force engine or if it's some kind of Star Force hack. The music also reminds me of Star Force, though it's remixed and it changes after levels. It's not really great, but it is acceptable. Nothing more can really be said about the outward appearance of the game nor the simple soundtrack. The gameplay of the game is straightforward. You shoot, shoot some more, and try not to get shot. You can collect stars for extra points and the only known power-up seems to be an enhanced shot that is more rapid and widespread. You can upgrade your weapon by collecting enough stars without getting shot. If you get shot after your weapon is upgraded, you will revert back to your standard shot instead of dying. If you've played Star Force, then this game might come off as a "Hard Type" version of the game. The coolest thing about this game perhaps is that the bosses aren't pushovers. They actually fight back aggressively and you will even fight numerous bosses at once! If you're looking for a decent thirty minute diversion or a challenge, Pulse Blade might help you get your fix. |
