Robo Aleste
 

"An alliance of powerful warlords is plotting to destroy your lord, Nobunaga.  It's up to you and Robo Aleste to stop them!"
 
Game Information
Developer Compile
Publisher Sega Enterprises
Copyright Date 1993
Players 1
Age Rating(s) None given
Save Type None
cart Version No
 

 
 
Part Numbers
Game 4416
Front Cover 670-3233-50
Back Cover 670-3235-50
Manual 672-1267-50
Spine Card 670-3234-50
CD 1 670-3232-50
Bar Code 4 974365 644161
 

 
 

     
     
 
 
 
 
 
You've looked at the screenshots and already decided if this is one for you.  After an intro which makes a passable attempt at explaining why you're flying an 8-metre tall laser-equipped robot in the year 1556 you're plunged into the standard you against 18,347,256 enemies battle for survival.

Much like Lords of Thunder there's nothing spectacular or different here, simply a very good example of the genre.  Pickups and power-ups are plentiful, with four different coloured upgrades for your shield vehicles that can be stacked to increase fire power, though if you pick up one of the wrong colour you're bumped back down to the lowest level of the weapon it relates to.  Eight different speed settings allow you to adjust the manoeuvrability of Aleste during the game to reach your preferred balance between responsiveness and controllability.

The usual frustration is present - once you die your killing machine with it's quarter-screen wide laser beam is reduced to a fraction of its former self and whatever killed you the first time does so over and over again.  There are unlimited continues available once you clear the first level, but no use is made of the Mega-CD's backup RAM, so once you turn the console off (or even start a new game from level one) this option disappears.

A good, solid and very challenging game but nothing exceptional - one for fans of 2D shooters but unlikely to convert anyone else.