Crossed Swords | |
---|---|
Developer(s) | Alpha Denshi |
Publisher(s) | |
Producer(s) | Akira Ushizawa |
Designer(s) | Hatsue Honbe Hiroyuki Toda Katsue Matsuzaki |
Programmer(s) | Eiji Fukatsu Hideo Kamoda Makio Chiba |
Composer(s) | Yuka Watanabe |
Series | Crossed Swords |
Platform(s) | |
Release | |
Genre(s) | Action role-playing, beat 'em up, hack and slash |
Mode(s) | |
Arcade system | Neo Geo MVS |
Crossed Swords [lower-alpha 1] is a hack & slash action RPG arcade game developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK. It was released for the Neo Geo arcade system in July 1991 and later on Neo Geo console in October of the same year. [1] [2] Its gameplay was similar to SNK's earlier 1990 first-person shooter and beat 'em up game, The Super Spy , but with role-playing game elements and hack & slash combat instead of shooting and fist-fighting. [3]
The game allowed cooperative gameplay with up to two players on the same screen. [3] As only the player characters' silhouettes are visible on screen as wire-frame models, much like Punch-Out!! , [4] the game's perspective may be considered either first-person [3] or third-person.[ citation needed ] The game was later cited as an inspiration for the 2010 first-person fighting game Rage of the Gladiator . [5] A sequel of the game entitled Crossed Swords II was released in Japan on May 2, 1995 for the Neo-Geo CD, and was one of the few games designed specifically for the Neo-Geo CD, rather than being an arcade port. [6]
Crossed Swords requires correct timing and movement to progress. The basic rule for the game is to defend first before striking. The player wields both a weapon and shield and can strafe, as well as guard the upper or middle part of the body. Two different weapon strikes are available, a regular attack and a thrusting attack. Weapon-based magic can also be used. Multiple paths through the game are available and the player has an option to skip the first and second chapters freely. [7]
In the enchanted land of Belkana all was well until plagues of creatures started rampaging through. But it didn't stop there, from deep within the mountains of Graisia, the Demon Warlord Nausizz arose and led the attacks wiping out settlement after settlement. However a brave warrior called "The Knight of the Journey" came a long way on a quest to stop these monstrosities. After aiding the Poor Village of Dio from the Caterdragon, the knight heads to the Castle Pulista, but as he is briefed by the king of the problems they face, an elite dark knight appears and kidnaps the princess. The knight fights his way through the enemy lands in the Matius Tower, the Gauda Fortress, the Land Battleship and finally passes the Entrance to the Devil World. Along his way, he is helped by loyalties of the kingdom. The knight battles through the Castle Graisia and comes face to face with Nausizz. As a demon with honour, Nausizz is so impressed with the knight's progress, that he has sent the princess back to Pulista. As the knight defeats Nausizz, he transforms into a fiendish demon dragon. The knight slays him and escapes the collapsing castle. Back in Castle Pulista the knight is offered to come and live with the king. Peace can proceed once more in Belkana.
Publication | Score |
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AllGame | (NG) [8] |
Computer and Video Games | (NG) 88/100 [9] |
GamePro | (NG) 19/25 [10] |
Joystick | (NG) 60% [11] |
Player One | (NG) 81% [12] |
Sinclair User | (AC) 83% [13] |
Game Zone | (AC) [14] |
Neo Geo Freak | (AC) 15/20 [15] |
Zero | (AC) [16] |
In Japan, Game Machine listed Crossed Swords on their September 1, 1991 issue as being the tenth most-popular arcade game at the time. [17] Likewise, RePlay reported the game to be the fifth most-popular arcade game at the time. [18] The title received generally positive reception from critics since its release in arcades and other platforms. [19] [20] [21] [22]
AllGame 's Kyle Knight praised the pseudo-3D visual presentation, audio and magic system, regarding its gameplay as interesting but criticized the controls for being sluggish and lack of enemy variety. [8] Computer and Video Games ' Paul Rand and Tim Boone commended the audiovisual presentation and playability but noted its high difficulty, while Rand criticized the limited number of moves. [9] GamePro 's Doctor Dave gave positive remarks to the graphics, audio and gameplay but stated that Crossed Swords was a "straight-up swordfighter where you mow down the opposition posthaste. You pays and you plays." [10] Joystick 's Jean-Marc Demoly compared the title with The Super Spy due to the perspective, commending its visuals, controls, sound and animations but regarded the gameplay as repetitive. [11]
In a similar manner as Demoly, Player One's François Daniel also compared Crossed Swords with The Super Spy but praised the audiovisual presentation, difficulty and longevity. [12] Other reviewers such as Sinclair User 's John Cook compared the game with Dynamite Duke due to the perspective, [13] while Game Zone's David Wilson and Zero 's Doris Stokes compared it with Operation Wolf . [14] [16] Neo Geo Freak regarded it as a competent action title due to the pseudo-3D visuals and role-playing game elements but noted its difficulty. [15]
The Neo Geo CD is the second home video game console of SNK Corporation's Neo Geo family, released on September 9, 1994, four years after its cartridge-based equivalent. This is the same platform, converted to the cheaper CD format retailing at $49 to 79 per title, compared to the $300 cartridges. The system was originally priced at US$399, or £399. The system can also play Audio CDs. All three versions of the system have no region-lock. The Neo Geo CD was launched bundled with a control pad instead of a joystick like the AES version. However, the original AES joystick can be used with all three Neo Geo CD models.
NAM-1975 is a war shooting gallery arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on April 26, 1990. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms, in addition to being the only title in the system that does not feature the Neo Geo boot screen in its attract mode, as well as one of the pack-in games for the AES.
Baseball Stars Professional is a baseball arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on 26 April 1990. A follow-up to the original Baseball Stars on Nintendo Entertainment System, it was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms, in addition of also being one of the pack-in games for the AES, as well as the first baseball title released for the Neo Geo.
Cyber-Lip is a side-scrolling run-and-gun shooter arcade game released by SNK in 1990 for the Neo Geo MVS. It was then released for the Neo Geo AES home console in 1991.
Mutation Nation is a beat 'em up arcade game that was developed and released by SNK for the Neo Geo Japanese arcade and home systems in 1992 while the English versions were released in 1992.
Burning Fight is a beat 'em up arcade game released by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo MVS system. Introduced to capture a share in the then-popular beat 'em ups market, it was meant to compete with Technōs' Double Dragon, the leader of the genre at the time. Three years after its release in the arcades and on the Neo Geo AES, it was released on Neo Geo CD as the only other home version.
Blue's Journey is a side-scrolling platform game released by Alpha Denshi in 1990 on SNK's Neo Geo MVS arcade system and their AES home system. It was ported to the Neo Geo CD in 1994. It was rereleased on the Wii's Virtual Console in Europe on November 9, 2007, followed by North America on November 12, 2007.
Ninja Combat is a 1990 side-scrolling beat 'em up video game developed by Alpha Denshi and published by SNK. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and AES (home) systems.
The Super Spy is an early Neo Geo game released by SNK in 1990. It is a first-person shooter and beat 'em up game with action role-playing elements in which players move through the many floors of an office building shooting terrorists. It is a first-person game where the player character's arms and weapons are visible on screen. In 1991, ADK's Crossed Swords had similar gameplay, but with more role-playing elements and hack & slash combat instead of shooting and fist-fighting.
Ghost Pilots is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1991 by SNK. The gameplay is straightforward with elements similar to that of Capcom's 194X games. Unlike most scrolling shooters, the vehicle is a seaplane instead of a spaceship or airplane.
Ragnagard is 2D arcade fighting game developed by Saurus and System Vision, and published by SNK and Saurus for the Neo Geo arcade, Neo Geo CD and Sega Saturn. The game's characters are all based on Shinto deities.
World Heroes is a 1992 fighting arcade game developed and published by Alpha Denshi with the assistance of SNK. It was originally released for the Neo Geo MVS arcade cabinet on July 28, 1992. It is ADK's first game in the fighting game genre, as well as their earliest attempt in the fighting game trend of the '90s that was popularized by Capcom's 1991 arcade hit Street Fighter II. It was even the last game with the "Alpha" logo labeled within the game before the developer became "ADK"; however, the "Alpha" logo was last used on one of the arcade flyers of its sequel.
Top Player's Golf is a golf arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on May 23, 1990. It was one of the launch titles for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms in the United States, the second golf game created by SNK after 1988's Lee Trevino's Fighting Golf, as well as one of the two golf games released for the Neo Geo, with the other one being Nazca Corporation's 1996 Neo Turf Masters.
Soccer Brawl is a futuristic soccer game first released in arcades on February 14, 1992. It was available on the Neo Geo on March 13 the same year and later for the Neo Geo CD on March 31, 1995.
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Robo Army is a beat 'em up video game developed and published by SNK that was released for Neo Geo arcades and home consoles in 1991 and the Neo Geo CD in 1995.
Crossed Swords II is a hack and slash action role-playing video game developed and published by ADK exclusively for the Neo Geo CD in Japan on May 2, 1995. The sequel to the original Crossed Swords, It is one of the few exclusive titles to be released for the console, as it was never officially released for either Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms.
Riding Hero is a hybrid racing/role-playing arcade video game developed and originally published by SNK on July 24, 1990. It was the first title for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms that featured "Multi Play" (Multi-Link) support, which allowed two systems to be connected via a phone jack port integrated into each cartridge for versus LAN play.
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