Sinistron (video game)

Sinistron
Developer(s)Alfa System
Publisher(s)IGS
Programmer(s)Kenichi Sakai
Artist(s)Jun Mikawa
Taku Shimizu
Platform(s)TurboGrafx-16
Release
  • JP: December 14, 1990
  • NA: January 1991
Genre(s)Horizontal-scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

Sinistron[a] is a 1990 horizontally scrolling shooter released for the TurboGrafx-16.[1][2]

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot

The jaws of the player's spacecraft are adjustable. Opening the invincible jaws of the ship increases the spread of the player's shots but exposes the vulnerable cockpit. Obtaining one weapon upgrade allows the ship's jaws to be set half-way open (a 3-shot spread) or closed (with increased damage), and a second upgrade allows them to be closed, half open, or fully open (a 5-shot spread).[3]

Five power-ups exist in the game. The Vulcan flame cannon, crystal-pulse laser, and CHAOS (homing) missiles are weapon upgrades. There are also speed upgrades and plasma droids, invincible pods which will flank the ship. The plasma droids can absorb enemy pellets and will even damage enemies they come into contact with.

The ship's charge-up attack releases a circular wave of force that will damage all enemies in a radius around the ship.

The game has six stages of quickly increasing difficulty. The last two stages take place inside the Sinistron creature itself.

Plot

The story differs partly depending on the PC-Engine and TurboGrafix-16 version.

PC-Engine: Earth astronomers observe a supernova many astronomical units away; some time after the supernova, several iron cells and alien debris fly directly from the destroyed sun and into the Solar System towards the Earth. After much chaos and the continual shower of iron cells, it was ruled out that the disaster was invasion related, resulting in the construction of a fleet of space fighter class called the Violent Soldier. The Violent Soldiers are sent to the source of the supernova whereupon they find the automated ruins of an advanced civilization led by an enormous, cybernetic iron-spewing alien monster.

TurboGrafix-16: A massive, planet-devouring, cybernetic entity named Sinistron approaches the Solar System. After devouring Pluto, a fleet of space fighters is sent to destroy it, but only one (the player's) survives.

Reception

Sinistron received generally favorable reviews.[16][17][18] Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine ranked the game thirteen in popularity in its March 1991 issue.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ Known in Japan as Violent Soldier (Japanese: バイオレントソルジャー, Hepburn: Baiorento Sorujā).

References

  1. ^ Matsuyama, Benī (January 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information: PC Engine 新作ソフト Data Base". Micom BASIC Magazine [ja]. No. 103. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation [ja]. pp. 246–247.
  2. ^ "From the Creators of Cybercore". TurboPlay. No. 4. Larry Flynt Publications. January 1991. p. 32.
  3. ^ Rasa, Chris (September 24, 2017). "Sinistron". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 2018-01-29. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  4. ^ Sackenheim, Shawn (1998). "Sinistron (TurboGrafx-16) - Review". AllGame. Matrix Software. Archived from the original on 2014-11-15. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
  5. ^ Querleux, Philippe (February 1991). "Tests CoregrafX: Violent Soldier". Génération 4 [fr] (in French). No. 30. Pressimage. p. 86.
  6. ^ Demoly, Jean-Marc (February 1991). "Consoles News: Violent Soldier". Joystick (in French). No. 13. Sipress. p. 112.
  7. ^ Scamps, Olivier (February 1991). "Tests de Jeux: Violent Soldier". Player One [fr] (in French). No. 6. Média Système Édition [fr]. p. 48.
  8. ^ Huyghues-Lacour, Alain (March 1991). "Rolling Softs: Violent Soldier". Tilt (in French). No. 88. Éditions Mondiales S.A. [fr]. p. 74.
  9. ^ Englhart, Stephan (March 1991). "Test: Violent Soldier". Video Games [de] (in German). No. 1. Markt & Technik. p. 92.
  10. ^ Bieniek, Chris (January 1991). "Video-Game Reviews: Sinistron". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment. No. 24. Larry Flynt Publications. pp. 56–60.
  11. ^ Goldman, Jane (June 1991). "Console Action: Violent Soldier". Zero. No. 20. Dennis Publishing. p. 71.
  12. ^ "Console Countdown: PC Engine". Game Zone. No. 1. Dennis Publishing. November 1991. p. 99.
  13. ^ Allain, Sylvain (February 1991). "Tops & Softs Consoles: Violent Soldier". Micro News [fr] (in French). No. 44. Publications Georges Ventillard [fr]. pp. 78–79.
  14. ^ Gaksch, Martin (April 1991). "Power Tests / Computerspiele: Violent Soldier". Power Play [de] (in German). No. 37. Markt & Technik. p. 130.
  15. ^ "Closer Look: Sinistron (IGS - TurboChip)". TurboPlay. No. 3. Larry Flynt Publications. January 1991. p. 7.
  16. ^ "新作ゲームクロスレビュー PART 2: バイオレントソルジャー". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 117. ASCII Corporation. December 21, 1990. p. 36.
  17. ^ "新作ソフトお毒味チャート: バイオレントソルジャー". Marukatsu PC Engine [ja] (in Japanese). Vol. 3, no. 1. Kadokawa Shoten. January 1991. p. 135.
  18. ^ Luberda, Jim (February 1991). "TurboGrafx-16 ProView: Sinistron". GamePro. No. 19. IDG. pp. 72–73.
  19. ^ Matsuyama, Benī (March 1991). "Super Soft Hot Information - PC Engine: 今月の人気ソフト・ランキング". Micom BASIC Magazine [ja]. No. 105. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation [ja]. pp. 250–251.