einhander
Publisher:
Sony Computer Entertainment / 2000-01-01
Genre:
Shooter
Buy from:
Amazon.com
There's no denying that the space shooter isn't what it used to be. The once-thriving genre, championed by such classics as Gradius and Raiden, has boiled down to more of a nostalgic pastime. People just aren't as jazzed about blowing away hordes of alien space ships and racking up billions of points like before. While the occasional shooter still shows up every now and then, it seems like it'd take a miracle for a company to produce one that would rejuvenate the genre and renew public interest. Leave it to Squaresoft to accept the challenge. And while the fruit of its efforts may not be the miracle this genre needs for a complete revival, it's just about as good as shooters get. Einhander isn't particularly long, but shooters almost never are. The half dozen or so stages are seamlessly interconnected and demand just over an hour to plow through in total. Each stage - in fact, each part of each stage - grows progressively more difficult, such that you'll constantly face new challenges in the form of smarter, meaner enemies and more of them. Likewise, the mid and end-level bosses will constantly keep you guessing, as they tend to be both unpredictable and versatile in their attack styles. Even shooter veterans will have their hands full with Einhander, though multiple difficulty settings make the game accessible and enjoyable even for those whose hand-eye coordination isn't what it used to be.
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Bonus Ships
If you beat the game on easy without continuing OR earn 15 skill bonuses, you'll get a new ship to select. It looks like one of the flying cars in the first area. If you beat the game on hard without continuing, you'll get a ship that has 9,999 for the gun pods it finds or has equipped.
Default Gunpod Weapons
This will let you begin the game with gunpod weapons. First, start the game and get to a point in the game where you can buy gunpod weapons. Then you must intentionally die and use all of your lives. Let the Continue Counter go to zero and then it will say GAME OVER. Then start a new game and after you select your ship, you will be able to choose from a number of gun pods. The gunpod number you choose will now be in your standard default weapons even if you die.
Gallery Mode
To unlock Gallery Mode, beat the game at any difficulty.
Hidden Weapons
Juno
Has the rate of fire of a Vulcan, and the power of approximately a normal gunshot, per bullet.
Stage 1 - Gain all three skill bonuses (destroy all gun carriers until neon signs, then destroy red carrier after signs; destroy all neon signs; destroy only bottom saucer section of mid-boss.) When you reach the boss, do not attack him as normal. Instead, wait for him to move toward you (with the side-scrolling view.) One of his attacks is a gun pod from his back. Once in every 10 or so time, this weapon is the Juno. Stage 4 - A large boat will pop out of the water. Destroy the body only. The tower will fly off. Dodge and kill this tower before it leaves the screen. It will drop the Juno and give you a skill bonus.
Flash
Similar to the Cannon, can kill any non-boss enemy in fewer than 3 shots. Stage 3 - After spider mid-boss, destroy the large pylon at the top of the screen, and then destroy every item that falls from it. Use a Juno or Vulcan for greater success. This will award a skill bonus and the Flash. Stage 5 - Take apart the mid-boss piece by piece before killing him. This earns the Flash and a skill bonus.
Mosquito
Similar to the Wasp, fires missiles which are guided by the control pad. A little stronger than the Wasp's missiles. Stage 4 - At the small maze-like section, move as quickly as possible down the tunnels, and pick up the Spreader on the way. Switch the Spreader to your top slot. A couple of floors straight down will be an enemy and a set of barrels directly behind you. Destroy the barrels to obtain the Mosquito.
Python
Powerful mines, similar to Hedgehog. Very hard to use. Stage 5 - Destroy large vehicle in the background of the first part of the stage. Must use Wasp.
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