Software:Shatterhand

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Shatterhand
North American cover art
Developer(s)Natsume
Publisher(s)
Programmer(s)Kazuhiko Ishihara
Artist(s)Shunichi Taniguchi
Norihide Mizoguchi
Sachiko Matsuura
Composer(s)Iku Mizutani
Hiroyuki Iwatsuki
Platform(s)Nintendo Entertainment System, PlayChoice-10
Release
  • JP: October 26, 1991
  • NA: December 1991
  • EU: November 19, 1992
Genre(s)Action/Platformer, beat 'em up
Mode(s)Single-player

Shatterhand is a side-scrolling action game for the Nintendo Entertainment System developed by Natsume and published by Jaleco in North America in 1991 and in Europe in 1992. Shatterhand was originally released by Angel (Bandai) in Japan in 1991 as a licensed game for the Family Computer based on the live-action superhero series Super Rescue Solbrain (特救指令ソルブレイン, Tokkyū Shirei Soruburein).

Plot

Set in the year 2030, a group of military renegades known as Metal Command, led by General Gus Grover, are seeking to conquer the world by building an army of cyborg soldiers. Steve Hermann, a young police officer from the Bronx, ends up losing both of his arms during a skirmish with members of Metal Command. After the incident, Hermann is offered two specially developed cybernetic arms developed by the Law and Order Regulatory Division (L.O.R.D.) to replace the ones he lost. Hermann accepts the offer and becomes an agent codenamed "Shatterhand," who is now tasked with the mission to defeat Metal Command.[1][2]

Gameplay

Shatterhand is a side-scrolling action game that follows many of the established conventions in the genre. The main character's primary attacks are his very own fists, which he can also use to intercept enemy bullets. There are two type of power-ups that can be retrieved by destroying the item containers scattered throughout each stage: coins and letter icons.[3][4][5]

The coins are used as currency that allows the player to obtain additional power-ups by standing over a certain platforms and crouching over it. These platforms will indicate which power-up the player will receive, along with the cost of the item. There are three types of power-up platforms: the first will restore the player's health and costs 300 coins, the second will increase the player's attack power (changing the color of the player's vest from green to brown) and costs 100 coins, and the third gives out an extra life and costs 2000 coins.[6]

The letter icons are shaped in the Greek letters α and β. When a robotic part appears, the player can change the letter by punching it. However, punching it too much will turn it into a large gold coin. After collecting three parts, a "robotic satellite" will appear floating alongside the player. The robotic satellite will attack alongside the player and can also be used to hover into the air by crouching and holding the A button. There are eight possible robotic satellites, depending on the combination of the letters collected, each with a different attack. For example, the ααβ robot fires laser beams, while αβα attacks with a sword. The robot can take damage from enemies and if it sustains too much, it will eventually be destroyed. If the player already has a robotic companion and picks up a new combination of letters, the new robot will replace the previous one. However, if the player picks up the same combination twice in a row while still maintaining the robot, the player character will combine with the robot and will have more powerful attacks for a limited period before reverting to his standard form.[7][8]

There are a total of seven stages dubbed "Areas". Area A, a factory stage, serves as the game's introductory stage, while the game's five subsequent stages, Area B to Area F, can be played in any order. The final stage, Area G, becomes accessible after the six stages are completed.[9][10][11][12] The player starts off the game with two extra lives and can obtain more throughout the game. If the player loses all their lives, the game will be over, but the player is provided with unlimited chances to continue.[13]

Regional differences

The Famicom version, Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain, was published by a company called Angel, a now-defunct subsidiary of Bandai which specialized in the publication of licensed titles. The Famicom version follows the same storyline as the Solbrain TV series and features a different opening sequence from the one in Shatterhand. The graphics for most of the characters and items were changed as well. The most notable change is Area C, a carnival level in Solbrain, which was changed to an entirely different submarine level in Shatterhand.

Reception

Reception
Review scores
PublicationScore
AllGameStarStarStar[14]
EGM32/40[15]
Famitsu21/40[16]
Nintendo Power3.75/5[19]
Video Games (DE)70%[21]
Nintendo AcciónVery Good[22]
VideoGames7/10[23]

Shatterhand garnered generally favorable reception from critics.[24][25][26]

References

  1. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 6. 
  2. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 7. 
  3. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 8. 
  4. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 9. 
  5. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 10. 
  6. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 17. 
  7. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 15. 
  8. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 16. 
  9. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 11. 
  10. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 12. 
  11. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 13. 
  12. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 14. 
  13. ↑ Natsume Co., Ltd.. Shatterhand. Nintendo Entertainment System. Level/area: Instruction manual, page 18. 
  14. ↑ Baker, Christopher Michael (1998). "Shatterhand - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=1301&tab=review. 
  15. ↑ Harris, Steve; Semrad, Ed; Alessi, Martin; Williams, Ken (September 1991). "Review Crew: Shatterhand". Electronic Gaming Monthly (Sendai Publishing) (26): 16. https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_26/page/n15/mode/1up. 
  16. ↑ "NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: 特救指令ソルブレイン" (in ja). Famitsu (ASCII) (150): 40. November 1, 1991. https://archive.org/details/famitsu0150/page/40/mode/1up. 
  17. ↑ Poole, Stephen (April 1992). "Review: Shatterhand — Watch out for the flying fists of steel in this NES action game from Jaleco". Game Players Nintendo Guide (Signal Research) 5 (4): 67. https://archive.org/details/game-players-nintendo-guide-vol.-5-no.-04-april-1992/page/67/mode/1up. 
  18. ↑ del Campo, Manuel (May 1993). "Lo Más Nuevo: La Tecnología del Puñetazo — Shatterahnd" (in es). Hobby Consolas (Hobby Press) (20): 58–61. https://issuu.com/elcondensadordefluzo/docs/revista-hobby-consolas-020. 
  19. ↑ "Features: Shatterhand". Nintendo Power (Nintendo of America) 29: 46–53. October 1991. 
  20. ↑ Ordoñez, Laura (July 1993). "Consola - En pantalla: Shatterhand - Un hombre con puños de cyborg" (in es). Superjuegos (es) (Grupo Zeta) (15): 80–82. https://archive.org/details/Superjuegos_015/page/n79/mode/2up. 
  21. ↑ Forster, Winfried (March 1991). "Test: Mit Stahlharter Faust — Shatterhand" (in de). Video Games (magazine) (de) (Markt & Technik) (13): 110. https://archive.org/details/video-games-de-1992-12/page/110/mode/1up. 
  22. ↑ "Super Stars: Shatter Hand" (in es). Nintendo Acción (Hobby Press) (6): 74–75. May 1993. https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Accion_006/page/n73/mode/2up. 
  23. ↑ Walker, Brent (November 1991). "Video-Game Reviews: Shatterhand". VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (Larry Flynt Publications) (34): 40–42. https://archive.org/details/video-games-computer-entertainment-issue-34-november-1991/page/n41/mode/2up. 
  24. ↑ Taylor, Matt (November 1991). "Nintendo ProReview: Shatterhand". GamePro (IDG) (28): 26. https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePro_US_028.pdf&page=30. Retrieved 2023-11-11. 
  25. ↑ "Shatterhand". Retro Gamer. Imagine Publishing. August 28, 2010. https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/shatterhand/. 
  26. ↑ Kaharl, Jonathan (January 22, 2018). "Shatterhand". Hardcore Gaming 101. http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/shatterhand/. 
  • 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 lengthy 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]

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. 
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