Star Soldier (Series)
Encyclopedia
is a series of shoot 'em up
video games mainly developed by Hudson Soft
.
The first game, named Star Soldier, appeared on the MSX
and NES
in 1986, and the series has continued on various gaming systems. Star Soldier itself has received enhanced remake
s for both the GameCube
and PS2
in 2003, and a different remake for the PSP
in 2005, while the latest installment of the series was released on the Wii
as a WiiWare
game in 2008. In addition, Super Star Soldier, Final Soldier, Soldier Blade and Star Parodier have been re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console
and on the Japanese PC Engine's Best Collection lineup for the PSP
The Star Soldier games are best known for their distinctive music, unique weapon power-up
s, and a special time attack
high score mode called "Caravan Mode".
Shoot 'em up
Shoot 'em up is a subgenre of shooter video games. In a shoot 'em up, the player controls a lone character, often in a spacecraft or aircraft, shooting large numbers of enemies while dodging their attacks. The genre in turn encompasses various types or subgenres and critics differ on exactly what...
video games mainly developed by Hudson Soft
Hudson Soft
, formally known as , is a majority-owned subsidiary of Konami Corporation is a Japanese electronic entertainment publisher headquartered in the Midtown Tower in Tokyo Midtown, Akasaka, Minato, Tokyo, Japan, with an additional office in the Hudson Building in Sapporo. It was founded on May 18, 1973...
.
The first game, named Star Soldier, appeared on the MSX
MSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
and NES
Nes
-Localities:In Norway:* Nes, Akershus, a municipality in the county of Akershus in Norway* Nes, Buskerud, a municipality in the county of Buskerud in Norway* Nes, Hedmark, a former municipality in the county of Hedmark in Norway...
in 1986, and the series has continued on various gaming systems. Star Soldier itself has received enhanced remake
Enhanced remake
A video game remake is a game closely adapted from an earlier title, usually for the purpose of modernizing a game for newer hardware and contemporary audiences. Typically, a remake shares essentially the same title, fundamental gameplay concepts, and story elements of the original game...
s for both the GameCube
Nintendo GameCube
The , officially abbreviated to NGC in Japan and GCN in other regions, is a sixth generation video game console released by Nintendo on September 15, 2001 in Japan, November 18, 2001 in North America, May 3, 2002 in Europe, and May 17, 2002 in Australia...
and PS2
PlayStation 2
The PlayStation 2 is a sixth-generation video game console manufactured by Sony as part of the PlayStation series. Its development was announced in March 1999 and it was first released on March 4, 2000, in Japan...
in 2003, and a different remake for the PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
in 2005, while the latest installment of the series was released on the Wii
Wii
The Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
as a WiiWare
WiiWare
WiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
game in 2008. In addition, Super Star Soldier, Final Soldier, Soldier Blade and Star Parodier have been re-released on the Wii's Virtual Console
Virtual console
A virtual console – also known as a virtual terminal – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some operating systems such as UnixWare, Linux, and BSD, in which the system console of the computer can be used to switch between...
and on the Japanese PC Engine's Best Collection lineup for the PSP
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
The Star Soldier games are best known for their distinctive music, unique weapon power-up
Power-up
In computer and video games, power-ups are objects that instantly benefit or add extra abilities to the game character as a game mechanic. This is in contrast to an item, which may or may not have a benefit and can be used at a time chosen by the player...
s, and a special time attack
Time attack
A time attack is another term for time trial. The term is commonly used in Japan for individual time trial events for motor vehicles that involves a vehicle running around the circuit in lieu of a qualifying lap and the term is widely adopted outside the country for tuner event and...
high score mode called "Caravan Mode".
Games
- 1986: Star SoldierStar Soldier (video game)is a shoot 'em up video game developed and published by Hudson Soft for the Nintendo Entertainment System and MSX computers. It was ported to the Game Boy Advance in 2004 in Japan as part of the Famicom Mini series, and to the Wii's Virtual Console in the North American and Japanese regions in July...
- MSX, Famicom/NES - 1990: Super Star SoldierSuper Star SoldierSuper Star Soldier is a scrolling shooter video game released in 1990 for the TurboGrafx-16 system. It is the sequel to Star Soldier, and part of a vertical-scrolling shooter series by Hudson Soft. According to the company, many people believed Super Star Soldiers graphics were the best of any...
- TurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16TurboGrafx-16, fully titled as TurboGrafx-16 Entertainment SuperSystem and known in Japan as the , is a video game console developed by Hudson Soft and NEC, released in Japan on October 30, 1987, and in North America on August 29, 1989....
/PC Engine - 1991: Final SoldierFinal SoldierFinal Soldier is a scrolling shooter video game released for the Japanese PC Engine system on July 5 of 1991 and the third game in the main Star Soldier series...
- TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine - 1992: Soldier BladeSoldier BladeSoldier Blade is a scrolling shooter video game released for the TurboGrafx-16 system . It is the fourth game in the Star Soldier series and the last one for TurboGrafx-16...
- TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine - 1992: Star ParodierStar ParodierStar Parodier is a shoot 'em up developed by Hudson Soft for the PC Engine CD-ROM. It is a parody of the Star Soldier series, similar to Konami's Parodius series, and was originally only released in Japan, though it was also intended to be released in North America under the name Fantasy Star...
- TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine - 1998: Star Soldier: Vanishing EarthStar Soldier: Vanishing EarthStar Soldier: Vanishing Earth is a futuristic vertical scrolling shooter, released in 1998. It was developed by Hudson Soft, and is part of their Star Soldier series....
- Nintendo 64Nintendo 64The , often referred to as N64, was Nintendo′s third home video game console for the international market. Named for its 64-bit CPU, it was released in June 1996 in Japan, September 1996 in North America, March 1997 in Europe and Australia, September 1997 in France and December 1997 in Brazil... - 2003: Star Soldier - GameCube, PS2
- 2005: Star Soldier - PSP
- 2008: Star Soldier RStar Soldier RStar Soldier R is a futuristic scrolling shooter video game developed by Hudson Soft, and is the seventh installment in the Star Soldier series. The game features classic Star Soldier gameplay combined with 3D graphics....
- WiiWiiThe Wii is a home video game console released by Nintendo on November 19, 2006. As a seventh-generation console, the Wii primarily competes with Microsoft's Xbox 360 and Sony's PlayStation 3. Nintendo states that its console targets a broader demographic than that of the two others...
(WiiWareWiiWareWiiWare is a service that allows Wii users to download games and applications specifically designed and developed for the Wii video game console made by Nintendo. These games and applications can only be purchased and downloaded from the Wii Shop Channel under the WiiWare section...
)