Mark Plays.... Bosconian (ボスコニアン) (Arcade)(C64)(Amstrad CPC)(MSX) 2025 04 23 18 15 00
5#Bosconian #arcade #misterfpga
ボスコニアン (Busokonian)
📖 Information on the game:
Bosconian is a multidirectional shooter arcade game launched by Namco in Japan in 1981, with Midway Games overseeing its distribution in North America. It is part of what later turned out into a 3 game Bosconian series spanning various systems. The gameplay involves piloting a ship equipped to fire both forwards and backwards, tasked with eliminating enemy bases and missiles to accumulate points. While Bosconian achieved commercial success in Japan and earned positive reviews, it did not enjoy the widespread global popularity of other iconic shoot 'em ups from the golden age of arcade gaming. The game later made its way to home computers as Bosconian '87 (1987) and inspired two sequels—Blast Off (1989) and Final Blaster (1990).
Developer(s):Namco
Publisher(s): Namco (JP), Midway Games (US), Namco (EU)
Designer(s): Makoto Sato
Programmer(s): Kazuo Kurosu
Composer(s): Nobuyuki Ohnogi
Platform(s): Arcade, MSX, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, C64, X68000, Sharp X1, Mobile
Released: 1981, 1987 (home computer versions)
Genre(s): Multidirectional shooter
Mode(s): 1-2 players alternating turns
Arcade system: Namco Galaga
🕹 ️ 🎮 Gameplay:
In Bosconian, players control the Starfighter, a ship that moves in eight directions and fires both forward and backward, with the goal of destroying enemy missiles and bases to score points. Each round features green enemy bases, called "base stars," which must be destroyed to advance. Bases have six cannons surrounding a core, and players can either target the core or destroy all cannons for extra points. Over time, bases become more challenging as their cores begin launching missiles and defending themselves. Players navigate obstacles like asteroids and mines while combating enemy ships, missiles, and formations, earning bonus points for strategic attacks. A radar helps track threats, and a digitized voice provides warnings about incoming enemies and spy ships, adding intensity to the gameplay. The combination of tactical base destruction, fast-paced combat, and visual alerts creates an engaging experience.
🎥 Plot:
Bosconian is set in the aftermath of the fictional Rock War, where humanity faced devastation from alien "Orbitals"—missile-firing space stations that annihilated Earth's cities and enslaved its survivors. In a last-ditch effort to reclaim independence, humans built the Starfighter, a spacecraft equipped with advanced technology. Piloted by an unnamed hero, the Starfighter becomes Earth's sole hope in defeating the aliens and saving humanity.
2️ ⃣Sequels:
Bosconian '87, a home computer adaptation of the arcade game, was developed by Binary Design and released in 1987 for systems like the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Commodore 64. It garnered positive reviews (which I can't really understand), with PC Zone praising its Spectrum 128 soundtrack and Sinclair User awarding it a score of seven out of ten. Two sequels followed: Blast Off in 1989 and Final Blaster in 1990 for the PC-Engine, both released exclusively in Japan.
⏳ Legacy:
Bosconian is widely recognized as a pioneering influence on multidirectional shooters, earning the title "granddaddy of the multidirectional shooter" from Retro Gamer. It inspired notable arcade games like Sinistar (1983) and Time Pilot (1982). The game has been included in multiple Namco Museum compilations across various consoles, such as PlayStation, and was also featured in Jakks Pacific's TV game controllers, ensuring its legacy endures in gaming history.
📖 Chapters:
00:00:00 - Intro
00:00:08 - Bosconian (Arcade)
00:05:03 - Bosconian'87 (C64)
00:08:32 - Bosconian'87 (Amstrad CPC)
00:09:45 - Bosconian (MSX)
00:14:40 - The End
Scores: 9/10 for both the Arcade and MSX versions. An absolute favourite of mine for sure.
All the games were playable on the MiSTer FPGA.
Audio tracks: licensed from YouTube's Audio Library
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