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Square Enix Reviving Game Arts’ Transforming Robot Game?

By Spencer . August 24, 2009 . 8:00am

Square Enix Reviving Game Arts Transforming Robot Game? A long, long time ago Lunar developer Game Arts was into robots. Before Silpheed, the game that put them on the map in North America, they worked on Thexder.

 

Thexder is a maze shmup (think Pac-Man mixed with Gradius) where you control a robot that transforms into a plane. Square adapted the arcade game and brought it to the NES in the 80′s, but it was only released in Japan.

 

Since then we haven’t seen Thexder appear on any other consoles, but Thexder is coming to PlayStation platforms thanks to Square Enix, according to the ESRB. Thexder NEO was rated for the PlayStation 3 and PSP with the following description.

 

This is a side-scrolling action game in which players control a transforming robot through a series of maze-like levels. Players must destroy enemy robots along the way by shooting them with laser beams. Most enemies react to damage by disappearing in a colorful burst; boss battles depict more protracted combat with louder and more realistic explosions.

 

Yeah, that sounds like Thexder, but PlayStation 3 and PSP? Sounds like a PlayStation Network download.


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  • symytry

    Actually, this game was released outside Japan. It was published by Sierra on this continent and I played it on a Mac when I was a kid… I believe it was also available on PC’s as well. Back then it was really awesome, although the later levels were extremely difficult.

    • jarrodand

      Yeah, Sierra did a ton of US & Euro ports (DOS, Apple II/GS, Mac, Amiga, Tandy). They also ported the sequel (Firehawk) to DOS & Mac iirc.

  • http://www.nisamerica.com NickyD

    Do want. I don’t think there’s a Game Arts game I haven’t enjoyed.

  • http://www.facebook.com/AllenSmithee Samuel Smithee Bateman

    This reminds me that an early Square game for the MSX, which was Aliens 2, with a soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu.

  • Mazen

    I still have that cartridge but mine has a one million seller in bold written on it, I played this game so many times but it was too hard for me when I was a little child.

  • Mr_IO

    Our dear report sadly fails to convey any excitement that this release deserves. Pac-man with Gradius? The comparison couldn’t be weaker! More like Hero+RType+… and … where do you get the transforming robot from? And the auto aim? And the force field connected to central energy repositories? And how about a little background information about game arts? Who were they? What else did they do? How did they end up in Square (not to mention the similarities between the companies)? And more importantly: do we expect Fire Hawk any time soon? How about mentioning that Thexder appeared first in the MSX, which is not a console? Why mention the mediocre Nintendo remake, when the core base of players comes from an altogether different world?

    Let me help our reporter, by sharing some of my excitement: =]

    This is AWESOME! Thexder defined generations of players, with its fantastically fast paced game play, its immersive sound track, and it’s smooth continuity. It was the first time that a ship transformed into a robot, during game. It introduced this and many other new concepts still in use today.

    Show Thexder a little bit more appreciation! Pac-man-Gradius. Duh!

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