Soldier Blade!

[soop]

I'm very impressed with Soldier Blade (Thanks Blue!) although my big TV is no good for shooters unless I stand really far away.  That's lesson 1 for me.

I think this may be my favorite 16 bit shooter, past Wind of Thunder, Gate of Thunder and even Super Star Soldier (previous fave).  The thing I like is that it keeps throwing you curveballs to make you think, and each boss (so far) can be beaten with either skill or smarts (and a bit of skill).

I was dying halfway through Operation 2 yesterday (the mid boss is the only time I lost lives on both plays), but I think I'm getting the hang of that boss.  Part of it was the fact that I was so close to the TV I couldn't see what was happening at the bottom of the screen and the top at the same time, and wasn't seeing the pattern of those bullets.

Anyway, I have some questions:
The weapon system.  Allegedly, you have 3 spaces, with the active type on the far right.  Am I right in thinking that if you have 3 pods of ANY colour, the rightmost one will be powered up to max?  And does the first one you collect always give you the helper?

Secondly... is there that much difference between the weapons?  The red pods seem more than enough to do the job.  I don't see much difference in say, max blue and max red.  I haven't played with green much.

Oh, I also take back what I said about R-Type.  It's actually pretty damn good.  I dislike the restart points, and it is a bit hard, but it's very polished, and very smooth.

[esteban]

…
Oh, I also take back what I said about R-Type.  It's actually pretty damn good.  I dislike the restart points, and it is a bit hard, but it's very polished, and very smooth.

  Cook knows that Tatsujin will be happy now.

[Tatsujin]

…
Oh, I also take back what I said about R-Type.  It's actually pretty damn good.  I dislike the restart points, and it is a bit hard, but it's very polished, and very smooth.

  Cook knows that Tatsujin will be happy now.

He indeed very much is 

[soop]

…
Oh, I also take back what I said about R-Type.  It's actually pretty damn good.  I dislike the restart points, and it is a bit hard, but it's very polished, and very smooth.

  Cook knows that Tatsujin will be happy now.

I'm not convinced cook is actually wearing pants

[Digi.k]

As it is it's just a good game.

Would have been fantastic since it came out late in the pce's life that hudsonsoft pushed for an 8mb card and went all out graphically..  *thinking about that just makes me drool*

[soop]

As it is it's just a good game.

Would have been fantastic since it came out late in the pce's life that hudsonsoft pushed for an 8mb card and went all out graphically..  *thinking about that just makes me drool*

I think the graphics are better than something like Spriggan - not too fussy, just big and bold.  It's exactly what I wanted it to be!

[Necromancer]

Haha!  Another believer in the greatness of Soldier Blade!

Am I right in thinking that if you have 3 pods of ANY colour, the rightmost one will be powered up to max?

Not exactly.  Changing weapons doesn't effect how far they're leveled up, but getting hit (and going down a level) doesn't take away any pods.

And does the first one you collect always give you the helper?

Yep.

Secondly... is there that much difference between the weapons?  The red pods seem more than enough to do the job.  I don't see much difference in say, max blue and max red.  I haven't played with green much.

I'm pretty sure blue is more powerful, but you can't see that with small fry that die easily.  I've never timed how long it takes to smoke bosses with the different weapons, though, so perhaps you're correct.

[soop]

Haha!  Another believer in the greatness of Soldier Blade!

Am I right in thinking that if you have 3 pods of ANY colour, the rightmost one will be powered up to max?

Not exactly.  Changing weapons doesn't effect how far they're leveled up, but getting hit (and going down a level) doesn't take away any pods.

And does the first one you collect always give you the helper?

Yep.

Secondly... is there that much difference between the weapons?  The red pods seem more than enough to do the job.  I don't see much difference in say, max blue and max red.  I haven't played with green much.

I'm pretty sure blue is more powerful, but you can't see that with small fry that die easily.  I've never timed how long it takes to smoke bosses with the different weapons, though, so perhaps you're correct.

Excellent!  All questions answered   Might be time to start packing my GT again, get some practice in on this game!

[Arkhan]

wait, who doesn't believe in the greatness of the game?

[Obfuscate]

I say I have a 4 way tie for best shooter on PCE but if I HAD to pick one Soldier Blade would be it. As a kid I had both GoT and Soldier Blade and even then preferred Soldier Blade. The weapons don't matter a ton which one you use but I like Blue on lvl 1, Red on lvl 2, Green on 3, Blue the rest on the way until the final board where I go red again. However, if you use a lot bombs you may be switching it up more. Least favorite is non leveled up Blue, I try to switch that if I get down to it.

Game is just great, a good challenge for someone new to it and still a fun challenge for someone that's played a ton to 1 life clear the game. Also, it has the best Caravan mode ever.

[Black Tiger]

wait, who doesn't believe in the greatness of the game?

Game mags bitd.

[nat]

I think this may be my favorite 16 bit shooter, past Wind of Thunder, Gate of Thunder and even Super Star Soldier (previous fave). 

I should hope so, SSS is about as entertaining as the Soldier Blade title screen.

[Samurai Ghost]

For me it's always a toss up between Soldier Blade and Gunhed... Both are such awesome games!

[Obfuscate]

I should hope so, SSS is about as entertaining as the Soldier Blade title screen.

LOL, it's all opinion but in mine at best SSS is average.

Also, Blazing Lazers is only above average, not great for me. Maybe it's because I never played it till I was an adult and have no childhood memories but it's way too long. You could easliy just cut out the first 2 levels. It really doesn't get hard till the last, maybe the last 2 levels so you play like 45 minutes to get to the challenge which drives me bonkers. Hate the balance. The saving grace is it has a lot of fun weapons, good music and graphics but when you break down the gameplay IMO Soldier Blade is superior in every way. Blazing Lazers doesn't even make my top 10 PCE shooters.

[soop]

I don't know why everybody's ripping on SSS.  Yes it may be an average shooter on the PC ENGINE...  But we're a little spoiled for choice.  It's the PC Engine FFS!

I have fond memories of Super Star Soldier.  I was working in a shitty office in '99 or so, and I would download that PC Engine emulator made by Mr Kipling and Jamsponge, and I downloaded SSS and puzznic.  Fun times.  And then it was...   I think the 5th game I bought outside of my original 7.

I really like Super Star Soldier, and I think it could stand proud agains't most shooters on a lot of other systems (maybe the Saturn would be an exception)