Cruise Chaser Blassty
Encyclopedia
is a science fiction
role-playing video game
developed by Square
for various Japanese computers, including the NEC PC-8801
, PC-9801, and Sharp X1
. The game featured mecha
originally designed by Nagano Mamoru
and music by Nobuo Uematsu
, being the second video game score he ever composed. The game had an unusual battle system, which involved the player controlling a customizable mecha robot from a first-person
view. It followed a group of young people from Earth caught up in a war between a solar-system spanning government and a group of rebels.
The game is played through a first-person perspective, with a role-playing battle system and the ability to customize the player's mecha.
and Kazuhiko Aoki. The graphics were made by Hiromi Nakata and Bruno Miki, and the original designs for the mecha were done by Nagano Mamoru
. The programming for the game was done by Seasonal Saegusa for the PC-8801 version, Makoto Wakamatsu for the PC-9801 version, and Takashi Koyama for the X1 version.
, as his second game soundtrack after Genesis, and Takashi Uno. A vinyl album for the game, titled Cruise Chaser Blassty, was released on Apr 26, 1986, containing six tracks from the game.
magazine. The story was republished as a set of three novels, titled Cruise Chaser Blassty, in 1990-1992.
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
role-playing video game
Role-playing video game
Role-playing video games are a video game genre with origins in pen-and-paper role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, using much of the same terminology, settings and game mechanics. The player in RPGs controls one character, or several adventuring party members, fulfilling one or many quests...
developed by Square
Square Co.
was a Japanese video game company founded in September 1983 by Masafumi Miyamoto. It merged with Enix in 2003 and became part of Square Enix...
for various Japanese computers, including the NEC PC-8801
NEC PC-8801
The NEC PC-8801 was an early Zilog Z80-based computer exclusively released in Japan, where it became very popular, by NEC Corporation in 1981. It was informally called the "PC-88"....
, PC-9801, and Sharp X1
Sharp X1
The X1 is a series of home computer released by Sharp Corporation from 1982 to 1988. It was based on a Z80 CPU.Despite the fact that the Computer Division of Sharp Corporation had released the MZ series, suddenly the Television Division released a new computer series called the X1...
. The game featured mecha
Mecha
A mech , is a science fiction term for a large walking bipedal tank or robot, including ones on treads and animal shapes.-Characteristics:...
originally designed by Nagano Mamoru
Nagano Mamoru
is a Japanese manga artist, animator, and mecha designer.He is noted for his work with anime studio Sunrise, with his work inHeavy Metal L-Gaim introducing mecha with armor plates that appeared to fit loosely over an internal skeleton. These detailed and somewhat plausible designs sparked a fresh...
and music by Nobuo Uematsu
Nobuo Uematsu
is a Japanese video game composer, best known for scoring the majority of titles in the Final Fantasy series. He is considered as one of the most famous and respected composers in the video game community...
, being the second video game score he ever composed. The game had an unusual battle system, which involved the player controlling a customizable mecha robot from a first-person
First person (video games)
In video games, first person refers to a graphical perspective rendered from the viewpoint of the player character. In many cases, this may be the viewpoint from the cockpit of a vehicle. Many different genres have made use of first-person perspectives, ranging from adventure games to flight...
view. It followed a group of young people from Earth caught up in a war between a solar-system spanning government and a group of rebels.
Story and gameplay
The game's story focuses on a group of young people from Earth caught up in a war between a group of rebels and a government controlling the solar system. The game is set in the future, where the majority of humanity is ruled by a group, called the Commune, that lives giant space station named Ondina orbiting the Earth, which oversees the development and expansion of humanity throughout the solar system. A group of rebels called the Inverse, based on Mars, are rebelling against what they see as an oppressive government. The primary weapons in the fight are space fighters called Cruise Chasers, which can transform into giant robots using the "Blassty" system; other types of space fighters are also used. The player may choose whether the Inverse or the Commune win, giving the game two different endings.The game is played through a first-person perspective, with a role-playing battle system and the ability to customize the player's mecha.
Development
The game was designed and written by Hironobu SakaguchiHironobu Sakaguchi
is a Japanese game designer, game director and game producer. He is world famous as the creator of the Final Fantasy series, and has had a long career in gaming with over 100 million units of video games sold worldwide...
and Kazuhiko Aoki. The graphics were made by Hiromi Nakata and Bruno Miki, and the original designs for the mecha were done by Nagano Mamoru
Nagano Mamoru
is a Japanese manga artist, animator, and mecha designer.He is noted for his work with anime studio Sunrise, with his work inHeavy Metal L-Gaim introducing mecha with armor plates that appeared to fit loosely over an internal skeleton. These detailed and somewhat plausible designs sparked a fresh...
. The programming for the game was done by Seasonal Saegusa for the PC-8801 version, Makoto Wakamatsu for the PC-9801 version, and Takashi Koyama for the X1 version.
Music
The game's music was composed by Nobuo UematsuNobuo Uematsu
is a Japanese video game composer, best known for scoring the majority of titles in the Final Fantasy series. He is considered as one of the most famous and respected composers in the video game community...
, as his second game soundtrack after Genesis, and Takashi Uno. A vinyl album for the game, titled Cruise Chaser Blassty, was released on Apr 26, 1986, containing six tracks from the game.
Legacy
The game was the fifth game that Square had published, and the third that they had developed themselves. In 1987, the game's story was serialized in Hobby JapanHobby Japan
HobbyJAPAN CO. is a Japanese hobby magazine and publishing company, specializing in roleplaying, war, and tabletop games, as well as action figures, toys, and artbooks for successful anime, manga and light novel franchises.- Role-playing games :...
magazine. The story was republished as a set of three novels, titled Cruise Chaser Blassty, in 1990-1992.