Soldier Blade
1992
- shooter
- action
- single player
The story
Vertical sci-fi shoot ‘em up from the Hudson stable. Soldier Blade sticks to the tried and tested formula of Hudson’s previous games in the 'series', while throwing in some extra graphical effects. This time, the power up system involves collecting coloured pods - you can have three pods in stock at any one time, and the colour of the 'active' pod determines your weapon style. You also have the choice of ejecting a pod at any time, which results in a weapon-specific super attack.
What it’s like
Bright, hard-edged 16-bit sprites drift down a vertical screen over scrolling starfields, cratered planets and metallic fortresses, with explosions that flare and scatter in clean bursts of colour. The sound is a driving chiptune score, punchy weapon blips and the crackle of destruction, pushing you forward without ever settling into quiet. Its vibe is brisk, focused and a little austere: a late-night arcade session on a console, one life at a time, the pleasure lying in tight dodging and in colour-switching your weapon mid-fight. Pacing is relentless and escalating, with bosses punctuating each stage, and the emotional register is pure tension and reflex rather than character. Violence is abstract and constant: enemies shatter into sparks and debris, with no gore, blood or cruelty, but the difficulty is punishing and the screen rarely offers a moment's rest. It suits players who want an intense, score-chasing single-player session, especially fans of classic vertical shooters who enjoy learning patterns and pushing for a higher high score.
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