Software:Power Blade

From HandWiki
Power Blade
North American box art
Developer(s)Natsume
Taito[1]
Publisher(s)Taito
Composer(s)Kinuyo Yamashita
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayChoice-10
Release
  • JP: April 20, 1990
  • NA: March 1991[2]
  • EU: January 23, 1992 (1992-01-23)[2]
Genre(s)Action/Platform
Mode(s)Single-player

Power Blade, known in Japan as Power Blazer (パワーブレイザー, Pawā Burezā), is an action platform video game published by Taito for the Nintendo Entertainment System.[2] It was released in Japan on April 20, 1990, North America in March 1991, and in Europe on January 23, 1992 (1992-01-23).[2] The game spawned a sequel, Power Blade 2, released in 1992.[3]

Power Blade takes place in the colony of New Earth in the year 2191 and follows NOVA, the Chief Security Officer of a supercomputer called the Master Computer. He must restore the Master Computer — which has been taken offline by aliens[4] — by retrieving data tapes located in six sectors. The game features gameplay similar to the Mega Man series, in which players can select any of the six levels to play.[5] Armed with a boomerang, players must complete all six levels, overcoming obstacles and defeating any enemies in the way.

The game's name comes from an item found in several levels; The Power Suit is an item that looks like a helmet. When collected Nova automatically equips the metal suit. This allows the player to shoot energy blasts known as "Power Blades" in any of the 8 directions and through most surfaces.[6]

Gameplay

Area 1 of Power Blade.

The player controls NOVA in a two-dimensional platforming environment. The object is to restore the Master Computer by going into each of six sectors of the Master Computer, accessing their databases, and recovering their data tapes. The player is armed with a boomerang in which the player can fire in all eight directions, destroying enemies. The ability to attack in all eight directions is indeed a rarity in 2-dimensional NES/Famicom platform games. Throughout each sector, players can upgrade the power, range, and number of boomerangs by collecting various power-ups. The player has a life meter which decreases every time the player is hit by an enemy; players lose a life if their life meter runs out, if they fall into a pit, or if time runs out. The game ends when the player has lost all lives, but the game has a continue feature in which players can restart their game at the beginning of the level in which their game ended. Power Blade also has a password feature which allows players to restart the game at a specific checkpoint at any time.[4]

In Power Blade, players can go through the six sectors in any order via a stage select screen. The objective in each sector is to find the agent who can give players access into that sector's database and then enter the database's security room, where players must defeat a security guard (boss) in order to gain access to the database itself and retrieve the tape. Once all six tapes have been gathered, the player gains access to the Master Computer's control center, where the player must destroy the alien overlord and restore the Master Computer back to its original state.[4] One aspect of Power Blade that sets it apart from Power Blazer and Power Blade 2 is that if the player falls off the screen they will die. In the other two games the player simply falls back to the previous area. [citation needed]

Plot

After years of fighting that took millions of casualties, Earth is recovering from revolts in the 22nd century. In 2191, New Earth has a Master Computer that holds a secret database of the colony-planet's functioning. In wrong hands, the database could prove fatal to the whole planet. One day, aliens attack the Master Computer, making the Master control program malfunction. Nova, a lord of the ancient Power Blade is summoned to take care of the situation. The Power Blade is a glowing energy boomerang that Nova uses to defend himself.

In order to access the Master Computer's Control Center, Nova first has to obtain tape units from the six sectors surrounding the Master Computer.[6] Each sector is heavily guarded by aliens, and Nova has to locate and contact an agent first to receive an ID card used to access the security room located at the same sector. After defeating the security room guards, Nova can obtain the sector's tape unit and use it to disarm the sector. After the six sectors have been disarmed, Nova must fight his way through the Control Center, destroy the Master Computer and restore order to the society.

Localization

Power Blade is a reworked and localized version of the Japanese Family Computer game Power Blazer, which was released also by Taito on April 20, 1990 (1990-04-20).[7] The original title for North America was Power Mission, after reworking the game they went with the name Power Blade.[8] The reworking included a complete overhaul of the levels, a change of the look of the main character from a cartoon–like robot to an Arnold Schwarzenegger look–alike, and a significant improvement in gameplay controls.[5] Other changes included the addition of agents who needed to be tracked down in each stage, power-ups that allowed you to throw multiple boomerangs, the ability to throw your boomerang in any direction, and a power suit that can be equipped by the player.[9]

The title screen of the game features a picture of NOVA that closely resembles promotional images of Schwarzenegger in the 1984 film The Terminator. The box art, created by graphic artist Mike Winterbauer, also features a similar portrayal of NOVA. According to Winterbauer, "a certain movie star's lawyers" sent him a very unpleasant letter regarding the painting used for the cover. Winterbauer was able to prove that he had used a photograph of himself for reference and received no further unpleasant letters.[10]

Power Blade first received coverage in the Western markets when it was first displayed at the Summer 1990 Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago . There, the game was called Power Mission and featured different character sprites from the finished version; Nintendo Power magazine called the game "mega action in the tradition of Mega Man II."[11]

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
Famitsu23/40[13]
ONM88%[16]
Total!49%[18]
Mean Machines
Play Time50%[19]
Super Gamer77%[20]

Power Blade garnered generally favorable reception from critics.[13][21][22] Readers of Family Computer Magazine voted to give the game a 17.13 out of 30 score in a 1991 public poll.[23] In 2009, IGN placed the title on their "Top 100 NES Games" list at #82.[24]

References

  1. ↑ "GDRI - Natsume". http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Natsume. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Power Blade Release Information for NES, GameFAQs, http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587520-power-blade/data, retrieved 2011-12-23 
  3. ↑ Power Blade 2 Release Information for NES, GameFAQs, http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587521-power-blade-2/data, retrieved 2011-12-23 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Weiss, Brett Alan, Power Blade — Overview, Allgame, http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1278, retrieved 2011-12-23 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Kalata, Kurt (2007-04-13), Total Makeover — Same Game, Different Name, 1UP.com, archived from the original on 2007-10-12, https://web.archive.org/web/20071012095050/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=7&cId=3158520, retrieved 2008-07-22 
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 Power Blade Instruction manual
  7. ↑ Power Blazer Release Information for NES, GameFAQs, http://www.gamefaqs.com/nes/587522-power-blazer/data, retrieved 2011-12-23 
  8. ↑ Covell, Chris, "Power Blade", Digital Press (5): 196, http://www.nesworld.com/mirror/nr.htm, retrieved 2008-08-26 
  9. ↑ Kalata, Kurt, Power Blade / Power Blazer, http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/power-blade/, retrieved 2014-07-21 
  10. ↑ Winterbauer, Mike, Classic Game Covers – Confessions of an Art Junkie, p. 38, http://www.winterbauerarts.com/ClassicGameCovers.pdf, retrieved 2014-07-21 
  11. ↑ "Summer Consumer Electronics Show", Nintendo Power (14): 24, July–August 1990. 
  12. ↑ Stiller, Heinrich (February 1992). "Konsolen: Bumeramg von Format — Power Blade" (in de). Aktueller Software Markt (Tronic Verlag) (60): 124. https://archive.org/details/Aktueller_Software_Markt_-_Ausgabe_1992.02/page/n119/mode/1up. 
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: パワーブレイザー" (in ja). Famitsu (ASCII Corporation) (99). April 27, 1990. https://archive.org/details/famitsu-0099-april-27-1990/page/n18/mode/1up.  (Transcription by Famitsu.com). ).
  14. ↑ "Lo Más Nuevo: En la línea Terminator — Power Blade" (in es). Hobby Consolas (Hobby Press) (6): 37. March 1992. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:HobbyConsolas_ES_006.pdf&page=37. 
  15. ↑ Morisse, Jean-François (January 1992). "Console News: Power Blade" (in fr). Joystick (Sipress) (23): 124. https://archive.org/details/joystick023/page/n123/mode/1up. 
  16. ↑ "Nintendo Magazine System Game Index: 8-Bit NES". Nintendo Magazine System (EMAP) (1): 104–109. October 1992. https://archive.org/details/nintendo-magazine-system-1/page/106/mode/2up. 
  17. ↑ Boissarie, Véronique (January 1992). "Tests de Jeux: Power Blade" (in fr). Player One (magazine) (fr) (Média Système Édition (fr)) (16): 66–67. https://archive.org/details/playerone-magazine-016/page/n65/mode/2up. 
  18. ↑ Dyer, Andy (February 1992). "NES Reviews: Power Blade". Total! (Future Publishing) (2): 26–27. https://archive.org/details/Total_Issue_002_1992-02_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n25/mode/2up. 
  19. ↑ Menne, Oliver (March 1992). "Konsolen: Powerblade" (in de). Play Time (magazine) (de) (Computec) (10): 93. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:PlayTime_DE_1992-03.pdf&page=93. Retrieved 2023-11-12. 
  20. ↑ "A-Z of Games - Nintendo Games Index: NES". Super Gamer (Paragon Publishing) (1): 124–125. April 1994. https://archive.org/details/super-gamer-01/page/n124/mode/1up. 
  21. ↑ Nihei, Wes (July 1991). "Nintendo ProReviews: Power Blade". GamePro (IDG) (24): 32. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_024.pdf&page=35. Retrieved 2023-11-12. 
  22. ↑ Kalata, Kurt (July 13, 2007). "Power Blade / Power Blazer". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/power-blade/. 
  23. ↑ "Famicom ROM Cassette All Catalog '91 全787本 5月10日号特別付録 - パワーブレイザー" (in ja). Family Computer Magazine (ja) (Tokuma Shoten) 7 (9): 61. May 10, 1991. 
  24. ↑ "Top 100 NES Games - 82. Power Blade". IGN. IGN Entertainment. 2009. http://uk.ign.com/top-100-nes-games/82.html. 

http://yamako.ciao.jp/html/bio_e.html

  • MobyGames is a commercial database website that catalogs information on video games and the people and companies behind them via crowdsourcing. This includes over 300,000 games for hundreds of platforms.[1] Founded in 1999, ownership of the site has changed hands several times. It has been owned by Atari SA since 2022.

Features

Edits and submissions to the site (including screenshots, box art, developer information, game summaries, and more) go through a verification process of fact-checking by volunteer "approvers".[2] This approval process after submission can range from minutes to days or months.[3] The most commonly used sources are the video game's website, packaging, and credit screens. There is a published standard for game information and copy-editing.[4] A ranking system allows users to earn points for contributing accurate information.[5]

Registered users can rate and review games. Users can create private or public "have" and "want" lists, which can generate a list of games available for trade with other registered users. The site contains an integrated forum. Each listed game can have its own sub-forum.

History

Logo used until March 2014

MobyGames was founded on March 1, 1999, by Jim Leonard and Brian Hirt, and joined by David Berk 18 months later, the three of which had been friends since high school.[6][7] Leonard had the idea of sharing information about computer games with a larger audience. The database began with information about games for IBM PC compatibles, relying on the founders' personal collections. Eventually, the site was opened up to allow general users to contribute information.[5] In a 2003 interview, Berk emphasized MobyGames' dedication to taking video games more seriously than broader society and to preserving games for their important cultural influence.[5]

In mid-2010, MobyGames was purchased by GameFly for an undisclosed amount.[8] This was announced to the community post factum , and the site's interface was given an unpopular redesign.[7] A few major contributors left, refusing to do volunteer work for a commercial website.{{Citation needed|date=June 2025} On December 18, 2013, MobyGames was acquired by Jeremiah Freyholtz, owner of Blue Flame Labs (a San Francisco-based game and web development company) and VGBoxArt (a site for fan-made video game box art).[9] Blue Flame Labs reverted MobyGames' interface to its pre-overhaul look and feel,[10] and for the next eight years, the site was run by Freyholtz and Independent Games Festival organizer Simon Carless.[7]

On November 24, 2021, Atari SA announced a potential deal with Blue Flame Labs to purchase MobyGames for $1.5 million.[11] The purchase was completed on 8 March 2022, with Freyholtz remaining as general manager.[12][13][14] Over the next year, the financial boost given by Atari led to a rework of the site being built from scratch with a new backend codebase, as well as updates improving the mobile and desktop user interface.[1] This was accomplished by investing in full-time development of the site instead of its previously part-time development.[15]

In 2024, MobyGames began offering a paid "Pro" membership option for the site to generate additional revenue.[16] Previously, the site had generated income exclusively through banner ads and (from March 2014 onward) a small number of patrons via the Patreon website.[17]

On February 13, 2025, Freyholtz stepped down as the site lead to move onto new projects, leaving operations to Tracy Poff, a veteran coder on the site, and Atari staff.[18]

See also

  • IGDB – game database used by Twitch for its search and discovery functions

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Sheehan, Gavin (2023-02-22). "Atari Relaunches The Fully Rebuilt & Optimized MobyGames Website". https://bleedingcool.com/games/atari-relaunches-the-fully-rebuilt-optimized-mobygames-website/. 
  2. ↑ Litchfield, Ted (2021-11-26). "Zombie company Atari to devour MobyGames". https://www.pcgamer.com/zombie-company-atari-to-devour-mobygames/. 
  3. ↑ "MobyGames FAQ: Emails Answered § When will my submission be approved?". Blue Flame Labs. 30 March 2014. http://www.mobygames.com/info/faq7#g1. 
  4. ↑ "The MobyGames Standards and Practices". Blue Flame Labs. 6 January 2016. http://www.mobygames.com/info/standards. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Miller, Stanley A. (2003-04-22). "People's choice awards honor favorite Web sites". Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. 
  6. ↑ "20 Years of MobyGames" (in en). 2019-02-28. https://trixter.oldskool.org/2019/02/28/20-years-of-mobygames/. 
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Plunkett, Luke (2022-03-10). "Atari Buys MobyGames For $1.5 Million". https://kotaku.com/mobygames-retro-credits-database-imdb-atari-freyholtz-b-1848638521. 
  8. ↑ "Report: MobyGames Acquired By GameFly Media". Gamasutra. 2011-02-07. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/game-platforms/report-mobygames-acquired-by-gamefly-media. 
  9. ↑ Corriea, Alexa Ray (December 31, 2013). "MobyGames purchased from GameFly, improvements planned". http://www.polygon.com/2013/12/31/5261414/mobygames-purchased-from-gamefly-improvements-planned. 
  10. ↑ Wawro, Alex (31 December 2013). "Game dev database MobyGames getting some TLC under new owner". Gamasutra. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/game-dev-database-mobygames-getting-some-tlc-under-new-owner. 
  11. ↑ "Atari invests in Anstream, may buy MobyGames". November 24, 2021. https://www.gamesindustry.biz/articles/2021-11-24-atari-invests-in-anstream-may-buy-mobygames. 
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (2022-03-09). "Atari purchases Moby Games". https://www.gamesindustry.biz/atari-purchases-moby-games. 
  13. ↑ "Atari Completes MobyGames Acquisition, Details Plans for the Site's Continued Support". March 8, 2022. https://www.atari.com/atari-completes-mobygames-acquisition-details-plans-for-the-sites-continued-support/. 
  14. ↑ "Atari has acquired game database MobyGames for $1.5 million" (in en-GB). 2022-03-09. https://www.videogameschronicle.com/news/atari-has-acquired-game-database-mobygames-for-1-5-million/. 
  15. ↑ Stanton, Rich (2022-03-10). "Atari buys videogame database MobyGames for $1.5 million". https://www.pcgamer.com/atari-buys-videogame-database-mobygames-for-dollar15-million/. 
  16. ↑ Harris, John (2024-03-09). "MobyGames Offering “Pro” Membership". https://setsideb.com/mobygames-offering-pro-membership/. 
  17. ↑ "MobyGames on Patreon". http://www.patreon.com/mobygames. 
  18. ↑ "An update on MobyGames leadership". 2025-02-13. https://www.mobygames.com/forum/3/thread/269628/an-update-on-mobygames-leadership/#post-269628. 
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