Changes: Solar Assault

Revision as of 13:22, 31 January 2018

Solar Assault is a three-dimensional shoot 'em up released by Konami in 1997. As its title may suggest, the game is a spin-off to the long running Gradius Series. This title retains most of the gameplay characteristics of its 2D counterparts including the same enemies, protagonists, the selection bar power-up system and familiar settings. The player takes control of one of three spaceships, battling enemies and bosses in settings like underground tunnels, planet surfaces, and space fields.

The game came in two versions, a wide stand-up arcade cabinet, and a SpeedKing deluxe simulator. The SpeedKing is an enclosed pod which tilts, using pneumatics, according to the action occurring on-screen.

Later in 1997 Konami released an updated version of the game titled Solar Assault Revised. It introduced a new arcade board that was co-developed by Konami and IBM which allows five boards to be stacked on top of each other.

Plot

In the year 6852, 12 years after the Third Bacterian War, a mobile planet-like fortress appears suddenly, moving toward planet Gradius. Oddly, the planets in the fortress' path vanished to nowhere - it seemed like the planets got warped into some hyperspace zone. Planet Gradius is in danger again. Alpinia, Vic Viper, and Lord British make a sally, flying toward the mysterious fortress.

Gameplay

Solar Assault Ships — Vic Viper, Lord British and Alpinia

One change from previous Gradius games is that the player now has a health bar; the ship will not immediately destruct upon the slightest shot or collision. The other major gameplay change is the ability to adjust the speed, which is necessary to time the avoidance of certain obstacles and enemies.

There are three ships to choose from:

BP 592A Vic Viper
LS-379G Lord British
WC-672H Alpinia

Stages

Stage 1: The River Styx
Stage 2: Fierce Blaze
Stage 3: Curse
Stage 4: Abyssal Forest
Stage 5: Speed Demon
Stage 6: Solar Assault

Bosses

Stage 1: Rotating Launcher
Stage 2: Lava Dragon King
Stage 3: Pharaoh Mask
Stage 4: Mega Dino
Stage 5: Telewarp Ship
Stage 6: The Solar Assault

Solar Assault
Ships	Vic Viper • Lord British • Alpinia
Stages	The River Styx • Fierce Blaze • Curse • Abyssal Forest • Speed Demon • Solar Assault
Bosses	Big Core MK I • Intruder • Tutankhamon • Dinosaur • Big Core MK II • Crab

Gradius video games
Gradius series	Gradius • Gradius II • Gradius III • Gradius Gaiden • Gradius IV: Fukkatsu • Gradius Galaxies • Gradius V • Gradius ReBirth • Gradius: The Interstellar Assault • Gradius NEO • Gradius NEO Imperial
Spin-offs	Salamander (Life Force) (MSX ver.)• Salamander 2 • Nemesis 2 (Nemesis '90 Kai) • Nemesis 3 • Nemesis (Game Boy) • Cosmic Wars • Solar Assault
Parody games	Parodius • Parodius Da! • Gokujō Parodius! • Jikkyō Oshaberi Parodius • Sexy Parodius • Paro Wars • Otomedius (Otomedius Gorgeous) • Otomedius Excellent
Other games	Scramble • Thunder Cross • Thunder Cross II • Space Manbow • Force Gear
Pachislot	Gradius: The Slot • CR Parodius Da! EX • Gokuraku Parodius!
Cancelled	Vic Viper • Gradius Arc • Salamander HD Remaster

@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
 The game came in two versions, a wide stand-up arcade cabinet, and a SpeedKing deluxe simulator. The SpeedKing is an enclosed pod which tilts, using pneumatics, according to the action occurring on-screen.
+Later in 1997 Konami released an updated version of the game titled '''Solar Assault Revised'''. It introduced a new arcade board that was co-developed by Konami and IBM which allows five boards to be stacked on top of each other.
 ==Plot==
@@ Line 43: / Line 45: @@
 *Stage 5: [[Telewarp Ship]]
 *Stage 6: [[Solar Assault (boss)|The Solar Assault]]
-==Solar Assault Revised==
-''Solar Assault Revised'' is an updated version of ''Solar Assault'' released later in 1997, and introduced a new arcade board that was co-developed by Konami and IBM which allows five boards to be stacked on top of each other.
 {{Solar Assault}}