Sparkster
{{About|the SNES video game|the Sega Genesis game|Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2}}
{{More footnotes needed| date = June 2014}}
{{Short description|1994 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Sparkster
| image = Sparkster North American SNES box art.jpg
| caption = North American SNES box art
| developer = Konami
| publisher = Konami
| platforms = Super NES
| released = {{Video game release|JP|September 15, 1994|NA|October 1994|EU|1994}}
| genre = Platform
| modes = Single-player
| director = Hideo Ueda
| designer = Tsunenari Yada
| programmer = Hideo Ueda
| composer = Masahiro Ikariko
Minako Matsuhira
Michiru Yamane
Akira Yamaoka
}}
{{nihongo|Sparkster|スパークスター|Supākusutā}} is a side-scrolling platform game developed and published by Konami for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. The game, the only one in the series to be released on a Nintendo console, was directed by Hideo Ueda and released in 1994 in Japan in September, in North America in October and in Europe in 1994.
Sparkster is a sequel to the original Rocket Knight Adventures for the Sega Genesis,{{Cite web|url=http://www.videogameden.com/sfc.htm?spr|title=Video Game den | スーパーファミコン | Super Famicom SNES reviews}} though it is a different game than the similarly titled Genesis sequel, Sparkster: Rocket Knight Adventures 2.
Gameplay
The eponymous main character is an opossum knight named Sparkster who fights an army of yellow wolves and robots. He is armed with a sword that can fire energy bolts and a rocket pack that allows him to fly short distances. The gameplay remains mostly the same as in Mega Drive/Genesis games, with the most notable change being the addition of a short-distance rolling dash. At the end of every level, Sparkster battles a boss, and the level is complete when it is defeated. The third (second in Easy) stage consists of Sparkster riding a robot-ostrich in an auto-scrolling level, while the seventh (fifth in Easy) consists of a top-down shooter level. One major difference is that the game's final level depends on the difficulty the player selected. On easy, the game culminates with battle against Axel Gear, but on normal, the story continues with Sparkster fighting the leader of the Wolves on the next level. On hard difficulty, the game continues beyond that, with the true final stage.
Plot
The kingdom of Eginasem, a land inhabited by opossums, is under attack by the Lioness's army of yellow dog and wolf soldiers, which also kidnapped Princess Flora. Sparkster, the Rocket Knight, is out to battle this threat, rescue the princess and save his kingdom from certain destruction. His nemesis, the rival Rocket Knight Axel Gear, is aiding the invading forces, making Sparkster's task even more dangerous. The player's goal is to battle through all of the enemy warriors and robots, defeat Axel Gear and infiltrate the enemy's battleship, where the yellow dogs leader, Generalissimo Lioness, is planning to launch a warhead to destroy planet Eginasem.
Reception
{{expand section | date = June 2014}}
{{Video game reviews
|rev1=Power Unlimited
}}
GamePro rated the game positively, but mentioned that it was not a strong enough improvement from the original Rocket Knight Adventures, criticizing the lack of an improved control scheme and new weapons and powerups. However, they praised the impressive graphics, moody music and the two secret hard modes.{{cite magazine|date=November 1994|title=ProReview: Sparkster|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_064_November_1994/page/n155/mode/2up|magazine=GamePro|publisher=IDG|issue=64|page=146}} Electronic Gaming Monthly gave it an 8.2 out of ten, saying that it shows Konami "back to form" with "huge levels, gigantic bosses, outstanding graphics and excellent music".{{cite magazine|date=October 1994|title=Review Crew: Sparkster|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_63/page/n33/mode/2up|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|publisher=Ziff Davis|issue=63|page=34}} Power Unlimited gave a score of 76%, concluding: "One of the better games for the Mega Drive now for the SNES. The levels look very special and are well put together. There are many, and also quite intelligent, enemies. Great class".{{cite web |date=November 1994 |title=Power Unlimited Game Database |url=http://www.powerweb.nl/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=3780 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20030909234114/http://www.powerweb.nl:80/database/index.php?&query%5border%5d=platform&ending=ASC&query%5bstart%5d=3780 |archivedate=September 9, 2003 |accessdate=September 11, 2022 |website=powerweb.nl |language=nl}}
Sparkster was awarded Best Sound Effects of 1994 by Electronic Gaming Monthly.{{cite magazine|year=1995 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide |magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly}} IGN placed the game 87th in their "Top 100 SNES Games of All Time".{{Citation|title=Top 100 SNES Games of All Time - IGN.com|url=https://www.ign.com/lists/top-100-snes-games|language=en|access-date=2021-02-09}} In 1995, Total! listed the game 74th in its Top 100 SNES Games, writing: "Konami come up trumps again with this gorgeous looking platform blaster. A huge challenge too".{{Cite journal |date=July 1995 |title=Top 100 SNES Games |url=https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n45/mode/2up |journal=Total! |issue=43 |pages=47 |access-date=February 26, 2022}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{MobyGames|id=/sparkster_|name=Sparkster}}
- [http://superfamicom.org/info/sparkster/ Sparkster] at superfamicom.org
- [http://super-famicom.jp/data/su/su_0234.html スパークスター / Sparkster] at super-famicom.jp {{in lang|ja}}
- [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sparkster/sparkster.htm Sparkster series review] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918092809/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/sparkster/sparkster.htm |date=2017-09-18}} at Hardcore Gaming 101
{{Sparkster}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|1990s}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparkster (Snes)}}
Category:Side-scrolling video games
Category:Single-player video games
Category:Steampunk video games
Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games
Category:Video games about mammals
Category:Video games developed in Japan