BONUS!
This week sees a true gem arrive in Hamster’s ACA Neo Geo range, as fast-paced, intergalactic shmup Blazing Star becomes available to purchase on PS4 and Xbox One.
Originally released in 1998, Blazing Star is the sequel to so-so space blaster Pulstar, which improves on the original in every way. Weighing in at a hefty 350Mb, the game utilises cool 3D sprites, neat visual effects and amusing translation errors to provide a pretty damn good arcade experience.
As is the style of many of the R-Type clones, Blazing Star features frantic, bullet-dodging action, with a whole host of power-ups and weaponry to be collected in battle. Holding down the fire button will unleash a powerful charged shot, which changes depending on your choice of ship. Already available on Nintendo Switch, Blazing Star is a solid game from the tail end of the Neo Geo era. It’s not perfect, but it’s definitely worth a revisit.
As an interesting, but wholly unproven trivia tidbit, it is believed that the modern internet vernacular of the term “Fail” originated from this title and its notorious Game Over message: “You Fail It. Your skill is not enough. Bye-Bye”.
Blazing Star is available to download on PS4 and Xbox One today, priced around $8
