Master of Weapon (Mega Drive/Genesis) Playthrough

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Published on September 9, 2025 11:48:10 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a7LY-nG1S6o

Game:

Master of Weapon (1989)

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Playthrough of Master of Weapon, Taito's 1991 vertically scrolling shooter for the Sega Mega Drive/Genesis.

🎯 Played on Normal difficulty

Master of Weapon is a vertically scrolling shooter developed by KID and published by Taito for the Sega Mega Drive, released in Japan in 1991. It is a home console adaptation of the 1989 arcade version. The game is set in a post-apocalyptic world where humanity creates a supercomputer called the “God System” to rebuild after nuclear war, but an entity named “N” seizes control. Players take on the role of Yukiwo, an artificial human who pilots a jet to reclaim Earth from hostile creations.

Gameplay revolves around dual attack systems. The ship fires a photon cannon continuously, which can be upgraded by collecting power-ups, and also drops ground bombs using a targeting reticle to hit surface enemies. A wide range of special weapons can be obtained, including homing missiles, spread shots, lasers, and a screen-clearing bomb. These weapons share an energy meter that depletes with use but slowly regenerates, encouraging players to balance offensive bursts with resource management.

The game spans nine acts of varying length. Unlike many shooters, not every stage ends with a boss, and the boss battles themselves are often prolonged encounters requiring sustained fire. Players can adjust lives, continues, and difficulty settings before play, making the game somewhat customizable.

Where Master of Weapon stands out is in its weapon variety and ability to fire both upwards and downwards simultaneously. This creates a dynamic flow and ensures players are never without options against enemy placement. The custom options for controls and auto-fire add further flexibility.

However, the presentation is less impressive. The visuals are plain, often resembling 8-bit aesthetics despite running on 16-bit hardware. Enemy designs lack coherence, with post-apocalyptic themes clashing with Greek-inspired statues and robotic constructs. Sound design is another weak point, with harsh and repetitive audio that many players find distracting. Collision detection is unforgiving due to the ship’s large hitbox, making close dodges unusually difficult. Boss battles, while visually distinct, tend to feel slow and tedious rather than exciting climaxes.

Overall, Master of Weapon offers some interesting mechanics and flexibility, but its execution is uneven. Weapon systems and controls are strengths, while graphics, sound, and gameplay polish fall short. For collectors or fans of Taito’s shooter catalog, it may hold historical interest, but compared to stronger offerings on the Mega Drive, it struggles to stand out.