Soldier Blade (USA)
Getting to Know Soldier Blade (USA)
Soldier Blade is a vertical scrolling shooter for the TurboGrafx-16, released in North America in 1992. It was developed and published by Hudson Soft as part of the Star Soldier series, which started on the Famicom. If you've played any of the earlier Star Soldier games, you'll recognize the fast-paced shooting and the signature weapon upgrades. This is the real deal, not a port or a spin-off, but a proper entry that stands on its own as one of the better shoot-'em-ups on the system.
You pilot a fighter ship through eight stages, blasting waves of enemies while collecting P icons to power up your main shot. The key twist here is that you can swap between three different weapon types on the fly - wide, laser, and spread - each effective in different situations. Your ship also has a drone that can be positioned with the second button, adding an extra layer of strategy to the usual dodge-and-shoot loop. Bosses appear at the end of each stage and require pattern recognition to take down without losing your upgrades.
What makes Soldier Blade worth revisiting is how tightly it plays even by modern standards. The difficulty is steep but fair, and the ability to change weapons keeps things interesting across multiple playthroughs. It's often considered one of the best shooters on the TurboGrafx-16, right up there with Blazing Lazers and Gate of Thunder. If you enjoy classic 16-bit shoot-'em-ups and haven't tried this one, it's a solid pick that still holds up today.
How to Play Soldier Blade (USA) Online
Getting Started: Press Start to begin. On the title screen, use the D-pad to select options (configuring difficulty or button layout) and confirm with X. Once in the game, your ship moves with the Arrow Keys. Press S to shoot and release a steady stream of fire. Press X to position your Option (a floating drone) - it follows your movement but you can lock it in place by pressing X again. Collect P icons to increase your main weapon power level. Each time you collect a weapon capsule you can cycle through Wide, Laser, and Spread by pressing Select (V).
The core loop is straightforward: survive each stage, destroy all enemies, learn boss patterns, and don't get hit. You have a shield that protects you from one hit, but losing all lives means continuing or starting over. Use the weapon swap to adapt - Wide is good for covering the screen, Laser for concentrated damage, and Spread for close-quarters enemies. Memorize enemy spawns and plan your drone position to maximize damage. It's a classic shooter, so timing and positioning are everything.
Soldier Blade (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: I button
- S: II button
- Enter: Run / Start
- V: Select
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