Sparkster

This article is about the SNES video game. For the Sega Genesis game, see Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2.
Sparkster
North American box art
DeveloperKonami
PublisherKonami
DirectorHideo Ueda
DesignerTsunenari Yada
ProgrammerHideo Ueda
ComposersKazuhiko Uehara
Masahiro Ikariko
Minako Matsuhira
Michiru Yamane
Akira Yamaoka
SeriesRocket Knight
PlatformSuper NES
Release
  • JP: September 15, 1994[1]
  • NA: October 1994
  • EU: 1994
GenresPlatform, shoot 'em up
ModeSingle-player

Sparkster (スパークスター, Supākusutā) is a 1994 platform game developed and published by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the only game in the Rocket Knight series to be released on a Nintendo console, and was directed by Hideo Ueda. Sparkster is a sequel to the original Rocket Knight Adventures for the Sega Genesis,[2] though it is a different game than the similarly titled Genesis sequel, Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2.

Gameplay

Total! described Sparkster as a "platform blaster".[3] The eponymous main character is Sparkster, an opossum knight who fights an army of yellow wolves and robots. He is armed with a sword that can fire energy bolts and a rocket pack that allows him to fly short distances. The gameplay remains mostly the same as in Mega Drive/Genesis games, with the most notable change being the addition of a short-distance rolling dash. At the end of every level, Sparkster battles a boss, and the level is complete when it is defeated. The third (second in Easy) stage consists of Sparkster riding a robot-ostrich in an auto-scrolling level, while the seventh (fifth in Easy) consists of a top-down shooter level. One major difference is that the game's final level depends on the difficulty the player selected. On easy, the game culminates with battle against Axel Gear, but on normal, the story continues with Sparkster fighting the leader of the Wolves on the next level. On hard difficulty, the game continues beyond that, with the true final stage.

Plot

The kingdom of Eginasem, a land inhabited by opossums, is under attack by the Lioness's army of yellow dog and wolf soldiers, which also kidnapped Princess Flora. Sparkster, the Rocket Knight, is out to battle this threat, rescue the princess and save his kingdom from certain destruction. His nemesis, the rival Rocket Knight Axel Gear, is aiding the invading forces, making Sparkster's task even more dangerous. The player's goal is to battle through all of the enemy warriors and robots, defeat Axel Gear and infiltrate the enemy's battleship, where the yellow dogs leader, Generalissimo Lioness, is planning to launch a warhead to destroy planet Eginasem.

Reception

Sparkster on the SNES received generally favorable reception from critics.[16] GamePro rated the game positively, but mentioned that it was not a strong enough improvement from Rocket Knight Adventures, criticizing the lack of an improved control scheme and new weapons and powerups. However, they praised the impressive graphics, moody music and the two secret hard modes.[17] Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it an 8.2 out of ten, saying that it shows Konami "back to form" with "huge levels, gigantic bosses, outstanding graphics and excellent music".[5]

Sparkster was awarded Best Sound Effects of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.[18] IGN ranked the game 87th in their list of the "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time".[19] In 1995, Total! listed the game 74th in its list of the "Top 100 SNES Games", writing: "Konami come up trumps again with this gorgeous looking platform blaster. A huge challenge too".[3]

References

  1. ^ a b Tsūshin, Hamamura; Doitsu, Suzuki; Watanabe, Miki; Chuji, Giorgio (September 23, 1994). "New Games Cross Review: スパークスター (スーパーファミコンカートリッジ)". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 301. ASCII Corporation. p. 37.
  2. ^ "Video Game den | スーパーファミコン | Super Famicom SNES reviews".
  3. ^ a b "Top 100 SNES Games". Total! (43): 47. July 1995. Retrieved February 26, 2022.
  4. ^ Patterson, Mark; Lord, Gary (November 1994). "CVG Review: Sparkster". Computer and Video Games. No. 156. EMAP Images. pp. 78–79.
  5. ^ a b Semrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Sushi-X; Weigand, Mike (October 1994). "Review Crew - Major Mike's Game Roundup: Sparkster (Konami/Super NES)". Electronic Gaming Monthly. No. 63. Sendai Publishing. p. 34.
  6. ^ Slate, Chris; Salmon, Mike (October 1994). "Review: Sparkster (SNES)". Game Players. Vol. 7, no. 10. GP Publications. pp. 100–101.
  7. ^ Halverson, Dave; Rickards, Kelly; Cockburn, Andrew (October 1994). "Viewpoint: Sparkster (SNES); Planet SNES - Review: Sparkster". GameFan. Vol. 2, no. 10. DieHard Gamers Club. pp. 32, 106–107.
  8. ^ Davies, Paul; McVittie, Andy (September 1994). "Review (Super Nintendo Entertainment System): Sparkster". Nintendo Magazine System. No. 24. EMAP. pp. 76–79.
  9. ^ Mott, Tony (November 1994). "UK Review: Sparkster". Super Play. No. 25. Future Publishing. pp. 40–42.
  10. ^ Atkins, Sean (November 1994). "Total! SNES Review: Sparkster". Total!. No. 35. United Kingdom: Future Publishing. p. 66.
  11. ^ Eggebrecht, Julian (November 1994). "SNES Test: Sparkster". Total! (in German). No. 18. Germany: MVL Verlag. pp. 46–47.
  12. ^ Perry, Dave; Walkland, Nick; Roberts, Nick; Price, Adrian (December 1994). "4-Play Reviews: Sparkster (SNES)". Games World. No. 6. Paragon Publishing. p. 17.
  13. ^ "ザ テストプレイ: スパークスター". The Super Famicom (in Japanese). Vol. 5, no. 16. SoftBank Creative. September 16, 1994. p. 27.
  14. ^ Pullin, Keith; McDermott, Andy; Butt, Damian (November 1994). "Super NES Review: Sparkster". Super Gamer. No. 8. Paragon Publishing. pp. 42–43.
  15. ^ Soria, Gabe (November 1994). "Reviews: Sparkster". VideoGames - The Ultimate Gaming Magazine. No. 70. Larry Flynt Publications. p. 90.
  16. ^ "Sparkster; Now Playing: Sparkster (Super NES)". Nintendo Power. Vol. 66. Nintendo of America. November 1994. pp. 18–23, 104, 107.
  17. ^ Leonardo da Video (November 1994). "ProReview - Super NES: Sparkster". GamePro. No. 64. IDG. p. 146.
  18. ^ "Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide". Electronic Gaming Monthly. 1995.
  19. ^ Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com, retrieved 2021-02-09
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