Uchuu Keibitai SDF

"This looks real, truly!"

This is a obscure Japanese-only game I've found to be very pleasant to play. Straightforward space-shooting is always fun - at least for me! Even more if it's backed up by great visuals and sound... :)

GAMEPLAY

Very simple - shoot the baddies. No more, no less than that. Pure old-schoolness. Very fun! Yet the concept of this game is very basic, lots of enemies and obstacles will keep you busy for a very long time without making you fall asleep. There are three kinds of weapons for your spaceship - which is shown in technical details on the intro screen - and all upgradable. They aren't the most impressive of all, but still are enough to fight a whole army! You have this little space orb that comes with any weapon item, and it works as a shield also, which is a real lifesaver! Ir won't protect against ANY attack however. Push A and your orb switch backwards, protecting your rear and allowing you to shoot missiles - this depends on your weapon power level though. Unfortunately, this game is for one player, only.

Score - 9/10

GRAPHICS

Wait, is this a NES game? Really? It doesn't LOOK like one! Imagine a SNES game with only 16 colors and you have this game! The backgrounds are just amazing, having a lot of detail and looking very REALISTIC in fact! Yes, there are some moving backgrounds and shadow effects also! Your ship and the enemies spacecraft are also very detailed. The bosses are HUGE - as they should be! This game has the best use of color you've never seen on the NES. You just have to look for yourself!

Score - 10/10

SOUNDS

The music on this game is very well done, and fit the ultra-tech scenery like ketchup on a hot dog. Imagine a Flash Gordon or Buck Rodgers type of soundtrack on the 5 sound channels of the NES. And there isn't any repetition at all, so you'll never tire of it. The sound effects are all crisp and clean, providing a solid backup for the gameplay.

Score - 10/10

REPLAY VALUE

I haven't played this game 'till the end to see if there's any hidden areas or something like that, but it's unlikely a game like this to have this feature. But this game is so fun it'll keep you busy for awhile.

Score - 7/10

DIFFICULTY

Just sweet. Not too hard, neither too easy. A little practice will lead you through the levels of this game.

Score - Average

Overall, this is an addictive shooter with amazing graphics and sounds. Do yourself a favor and play this game. You won't regret it! But I'll tell you now - it's a tough game to find even as a ROM!

Final Score - 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 01/26/04