Game:

Granada (1990)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 1:01:30

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Taking a short break from my Thousand Arms play through to bring you a random old school video game that I use to rent a lot from my local video store back in the days. Funny true story, Id always ring the video store to see if it was available to rent, where it got to the point where the store clerk would instantly recognize my voice and say if what was there or not (sometimes sounding annoyed lol) without me saying a word!. I just really enjoyed this game so much.

Granada is a top view perspective multi directional action shoot em up single player only released in 1990 for the Sega Genesis/Megadrive developed by Wolf Team and published in Japan by Telenet and Renovation Products for the rest of the world. Interestingly, the game was first released on the Sharp X6800 then later ported to the Genesis. The player takes on the role of the games main protagonist; Leon Todo, the pilot of a mech fighter unit called "Granada" through nine different action stages.

Game control wise the Granada unit has a rapid fire attack that can shoot in all directions. There is also a special charge shot that the mech unit can fire to instantly kill enemies. Also, scattered through out the stage are power ups that the Granada unit can collect to either replenish health or obtain helper units that can assist the mech unit, these range from extra bomb power ups to little firing add on bits (think Gradius or R Type bits, something like that).

Gameplay wise, each of the 9 stages has the Granada unit going through the stage to locate and destroy specific enemy targets like gun turrets, tanks, buildings etc. In the bottom right corner is a map that the player can use to find the targets. However, there is a time limit, and if the player fails to find and destroy all stage specific targets within the time limit, the player loses a life. Thankfully, the game does have continues. After taking out a specific number of those special targets, the player then encounters an end stage boss and by defeating the boss, moves on to the next stage.

Granada has some pretty decent graphics with good enemy variety and an amazing fast paced up tempo soundtrack that fits the frantic action gameplay. There is also an option screen available that players can use to adjust the game difficulty from easy, normal or hard modes and adjust the number of lives available too.

The game plot is very convoluted. The game is set in the year 2016, a bloody war is raging in Africa between two unnamed super powers for control of minerals and natural resources. At first, the war was fought with standard weapons. But then, more powerful and deadly heavy mobile weapons of unknown origins started appearing escalating the loss of life and devastation on both sides. Leon Todo a former pilot and soldier learns of the origins of these high tech weapons and sets out in his Granada Mech Unit to locate and destroy the source and end the war. (I think that how the story goes?).

Here I do a full play through of this game from start to finish. A very good fast paced action packed shmup game with great music and graphics. Worth a look into if you are a fan of this kind of game genre.


(Note: This play through is for posterity and fun only. I do not play for score, one credit clears or achievements. I play video games to share with my viewers/audience and for fun and to reminisce good gaming memories and good times. Thank you.).