Eliminate Down (Genesis) Playthrough
4Playthrough of Aprinet's 1993 horizontal scrolling shooter for the Sega Genesis, Eliminate Down.
Eliminate Down is a fast-paced horizontal scrolling shooter released for the Sega Genesis in 1993, developed by Aprinet. While it never saw an official release outside Japan, it has earned a reputation among shooter enthusiasts for its tight gameplay, challenging level design, and impressive technical performance on the Genesis hardware. The game places the player in control of the Steel Pyron, a sleek, heavily armed starfighter tasked with defending Earth from an alien invasion threatening humanity’s survival.
One of Eliminate Down’s standout features is its instantly accessible control system. The ship is equipped with three distinct types of weapons—forward shot, rear shot, and diagonal shot—all available from the start, allowing players to switch tactics on the fly without hunting for power-ups. Instead of focusing on upgrading weapons, the game emphasizes mastering the use of these three firing modes to handle different enemy patterns and environmental hazards. This design choice encourages skill development and adds strategic depth.
Graphically, Eliminate Down pushes the Sega Genesis to its limits, featuring smooth parallax scrolling, detailed sprite work, and explosive visual effects. The enemy designs are varied and imaginative, ranging from swarms of small fighters to massive screen-filling bosses. The soundtrack complements the action perfectly, with energetic and atmospheric tracks that heighten the tension and excitement. Each stage presents unique challenges, with traps, shifting obstacles, and memorization-heavy sections that demand quick reflexes and careful observation.
Eliminate Down is well-known for its high level of difficulty. Even seasoned shooter fans will find themselves tested by its relentless waves of enemies, precise dodging requirements, and the need to memorize level patterns. Despite its difficulty, the game is fair, rewarding players who invest time in learning its mechanics and stages. Over the years, Eliminate Down has become a coveted collector’s item due to its limited release, but it continues to hold a special place in the hearts of Genesis fans and shoot-’em-up aficionados for its refined gameplay and technical prowess.