Ghost Pilots

Last updated
Ghost Pilots
Ghost Pilots arcade flyer.jpg
Developer(s) SNK
Publisher(s) SNK
Director(s) Takashi Nishiyama
Producer(s) Eikichi Kawasaki
Designer(s) M. Mioshi
N. Mori
R. Miyazaki
Composer(s) Masahiko Hataya
Platform(s) Arcade, Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo CD
ReleaseArcade
  • WW: 25 January 1991
Neo Geo AES
  • JP: 1 July 1991
  • NA: 1 July 1991
  • EU: 1 July 1991
Neo Geo CD
  • JP: 17 March 1995
  • NA: October 1996
Genre(s) Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)
Arcade system Neo Geo MVS

Ghost Pilots [lower-alpha 1] is a vertically scrolling shooter arcade video game released in 1991 by SNK. [1] It has elements similar to Capcom's 194X series, but the player controls a seaplane.

Contents

Plot

In World War II, an ambitious Nazi general sends his forces against the Allies. Two freelance ace pilots Tom Phillips and Charlie Stingley nicknamed "Ghost Pilots", set off in their seaplanes to combat the Axis forces head on.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot NEOGEO Ghost Pilots.png
Gameplay screenshot

Before starting a stage, the player must choose one of two bomb types. In one of the two stages after the first, the player also has the option to choose a third unique bomb type (napalm bomb in the land strike stage and air mines in the air strike stage). At the start of the game a player starts with three bombs and can collect up to a maximum of nine bombs. In a two-player game, both players cannot choose the same bomb type.

During a stage, the player can maneuver the seaplane around the area, fire bullets and launch the chosen bombs in limited quantity. Enemies consist of tanks, gunboats, jets and a number of other units. Shooting a row of red planes grants collectible power-ups for stronger and widespread firepower, additional bombs and extra lives. Certain medium-sized enemies destroyed grant collectible bonus stars for additional score. The player loses a life if the seaplane is hit by a bullet or crashes into an enemy.

The first stage is in two parts which means there is no checkpoint in between. When the player reaches a checkpoint, the overall score is boosted. After the first stage the player can choose to do either the land strike stage or the air strike stage next. The land strike stage consists of mostly sea and land units while the air strike stage consists of a majority of air units. If the player makes it past both stages, the last stage is in two parts. Throughout stages, the player must destroy bosses by shooting their weak points multiple times. [2]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Ghost Pilots on their April 15, 1991 issue as being the seventeenth most-popular arcade game at the time. [18] Likewise, RePlay reported the game to be the tenth most-popular arcade game at the time. [19] The title was met with mixed to positive reception from critics since its release in arcades. [20] [21] [22] [23] [24] It holds a 60% on the video game review aggregator GameRankings . [3]

AllGame 's Paul Biondich and Kyle Knight compared Ghost Pilots with 1942 and 1941: Counter Attack , regarding it as a rip-off and criticized the sluggish controls, lack of enemy variety and uninteresing power-up system. [4] [5] Consoles Plus' Kaneda Kun and François Hermelin praised the graphics, sound design and playability but felt mixed in regards to the presentation and criticized the presence of unlimited continues. [6] Computer and Video Games ' Frank O'Connor also compared the game with Flying Shark , criticizing its design and programming, regarding it to be an average but mediocre vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up. [7] Famitsu 's four reviewers scored the Neo Geo version a 24 out of 40. [8] In contrast, GamePro 's Rigor Mortis gave very high remarks to the pseudo-3D visual design, sound, cooperative two-player mode and lack of slowdown during gameplay. [9]

In a similar manner as Biondich and Knight, Hobby Consolas ' Manuel del Campo also compared Ghost Pilots with 1942. However, del Campo praised the graphics, sound design and playability but criticized its short length. [10] Likewise, both Génération 4's Frank Ladoire and Joystick ' Jean-Marc Demoly commended the game's animated visuals, controls, sound and playability. [11] [15] Player One's Cyril Drevet drew comparison with 1941: Counter Attack and Flying Shark as well but gave positive remarks to the visuals, animations, sound and longevity but criticized its low difficulty level. [13] Superjuegos' Alberto Pascual noted that its difficulty level was high and praised the audiovisual presentation but felt mixed about the originality on-display. [14] Última Generación's Javier S. Fernández reviewed the Neo Geo CD version, stating that it embodied the spirit of older overhead shoot 'em ups but criticized the presence of unlimited continues, a sentiment shared by Kun and Hermelin. [16] Ultimate Future Games also reviewed the Neo Geo CD version but stated it was not as fun as Viewpoint , criticizing its slow pace. [17]

Ghost Pilots has been met with mixed reception from retrospective reviewers in recent years. [25] Nintendo Life 's Gonçalo Lopez commended the Nintendo Switch port for being a solid port, praising the visuals and sound design but criticized its lack of balance. [12]

Notes

  1. Japanese: ゴースト・パイロット, Hepburn: Gōsuto Pairotto

Related Research Articles

<i>Blazing Star</i> 1998 shooter video game

Blazing Star is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Yumekobo and published by SNK in 1998 for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. It is a follow-up to Pulstar (1995) and features side-scrolling action similar to its predecessor and different ships with varying characteristics. It was made less challenging than its predecessor, and the graphic quality was improved upon.

<i>NAM-1975</i> 1990 video game

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.

<i>Aero Fighters 2</i> 1994 video game

Aero Fighters 2 is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released in 1994 by Video System. It is developed by SNK and released in Japan, North America and Europe. It is the second part of the Aero Fighters series followed by the third part Aero Fighters 3 and a spin-off Aero Fighters Assault. It was initially released as a cabinet token base game.

<i>3 Count Bout</i> 1993 video game

3 Count Bout is a wrestling arcade game released by SNK in 1993.

<i>Alpha Mission II</i> 1991 video game

Alpha Mission II is a vertically scrolling full screen shoot 'em up released by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. It is the sequel to the 1985 arcade game Alpha Mission. It was later released for the Neo Geo CD in 1994 and for the PlayStation Portable in 2010.

<i>Magician Lord</i> 1990 video game

Magician Lord is a side-scrolling action-platform arcade video game developed by Alpha Denshi 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 of also being one of the pack-in games for the AES.

<i>Cyber-Lip</i> 1990 video game

Cyber-Lip is a run and gun video game released in arcades by SNK in 1990 for the Neo Geo MVS. It was released for the Neo Geo AES home console in 1991.

<i>King of the Monsters</i> (video game) 1991 arcade game

King of the Monsters is a fighting game developed by SNK, released for arcades in Japan in 1991, and ported to the Neo Geo AES later that same year. The game features playable giant monsters that are reminiscent of characters from kaiju and tokusatsu films.

<i>Pulstar</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Pulstar is a horizontally scrolling shooter released for arcades by SNK in 1995. Players control a starship in its mission to eradicate the Solar System of a hostile race of aliens that threaten mankind. Its gameplay has been compared to the R-Type series for its similar premise and mechanics; players must complete each of the game's eight stages by destroying constantly-moving formations of enemies and avoiding their projectiles. There are power-ups that can be collected that provide additional abilities for the player. It runs on the Neo Geo MVS arcade system board.

<i>Last Resort</i> (video game) 1992 video game

Last Resort is a horizontally scrolling shooter by SNK released as an arcade video game in 1992. It was also released for the Neo-Geo and Neo Geo CD systems, SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1 for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, and Wii, as well as ACA Neo-Geo for the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.

<i>Blues Journey</i> 1990 video game

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.

<i>Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy</i> 1994 video game

Top Hunter: Roddy & Cathy is a side scrolling arcade beat 'em up platform game developed by SNK for the Neo Geo in 1994. It was also released on the Neo Geo CD, and the Wii Virtual Console. The game has been re-released as part of SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1, on May 1, 2008, and in the ACA Neo Geo series on PlayStation 4 on January 10, 2018. Its development team consisted of former Irem staff members.

<i>Thrash Rally</i> 1991 video game

Thrash Rally is a top-down perspective rally racing video game developed by ADK and released by SNK Corporation for the Neo Geo system. It was released by SNK on December 20, 1991 and would be followed by an spiritual successor in 1996, Over Top.

<i>Ninja Combat</i> 1990 video game

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.

<i>League Bowling</i> 1990 video game

League Bowling is an arcade game released in 1990 by SNK for the Neo Geo console and arcade systems. The players controls characters with red and blue hair and can select balls from 8 to 15 pounds. It is the only bowling game released on the Neo Geo.

<i>Zed Blade</i> 1994 video game

Zed Blade is a horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by NMK and originally published by SNK on September 13, 1994. It is the only game created by NMK for the Neo Geo arcade platform. In a science fiction setting, players choose one of three characters to attempt to overthrow an army of enemies led by the on-board supercomputer at the automated Yggdrasil space station and seize full control of it once again.

<i>Robo Army</i> 1991 video game

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.

<i>Andro Dunos</i> 1992 video game

Andro Dunos is a scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Visco Corporation and originally published by SNK on June 15, 1992. It is the first title to be created by Visco for both the Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and Neo Geo AES (home) platforms. Andro Dunos, along with 1996's Breakers are the only two Visco developed games to be officially licensed for distribution on the Neo Geo AES platform. All other Visco games were only released on the Neo Geo MVS arcade platform.

<i>Power Spikes II</i> 1994 video game

Power Spikes II is a volleyball arcade video game developed by Video System and originally published by Taito on October 19, 1994. A follow-up to Hyper V-Ball on Super Nintendo Entertainment System, it was first launched for Neo Geo MVS (arcade) and later ported to Neo Geo CD. It is the final installment in the Super Volleyball series. It is also the only volleyball game released on the Neo Geo.

<i>Super Sidekicks</i> (video game) 1992 video game

Super Sidekicks is a 1992 soccer arcade video game developed and published by SNK. It is the first installment in the eponymous series and the second soccer game released for Neo Geo MVS, succeeding Soccer Brawl (1991). Featuring an arcade-style approach to soccer compared to other games released at the time, the title allows players to choose any of the available game modes with AI-controlled opponents or other human players with the team of their choosing. Its gameplay uses a simplified two-button configuration.

References

  1. "Neo•Geo CD: The Arcade In A Box - Ghost Pilots". GamePro . No. Premiere Supplement. IDG. Spring 1996. p. 105.
  2. Ghost Pilots user's manual (Neo Geo AES, US)
  3. 1 2 "ACA NeoGeo: Ghost Pilots for Nintendo Switch". GameRankings . CBS Interactive. 2019. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  4. 1 2 Biondich, Paul (1998). "Ghost Pilots (Arcade) - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on 16 November 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  5. 1 2 Knight, Kyle (1998). "Ghost Pilots (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review". AllGame . All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  6. 1 2 Hermelin, François; Kun, Kaneda (September 1991). "Neo Geo Review - Ghost Pilots". Consoles + (in French). No. 1. M.E.R.7. pp. 98–99.
  7. 1 2 O'Connor, Frank (October 1991). "Reviews - Neo Geo -- Ghost Pilots". Computer and Video Games . No. 119. Future Publishing. p. 62.
  8. 1 2 "NEO GEO GAMES CROSS REVIEW: ゴーストパイロット". Famitsu (in Japanese). No. 332. ASCII. 28 April 1995. p. 25.
  9. 1 2 Mortis, Rigor (January 1992). "Neo Geo For Real! - Ghost Pilots". GamePro . No. 30. IDG. pp. 100–101.
  10. 1 2 del Campo, Manuel (November 1993). "Neo Geo - Ghost Pilots - Héroes De Altos... Duelos". Hobby Consolas (in Spanish). No. 26. Axel Springer SE. pp. 162–164.
  11. 1 2 Demoly, Jean-Marc (April 1991). "Tests - Neo Geo - Ghost Pilots". Joystick (in French). No. 15. Sipress. p. 116.
  12. 1 2 Lopes, Gonçalo (April 30, 2018). "Ghost Pilots Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)". Nintendo Life . Nlife Media. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  13. 1 2 Drevet, Cyril (November 1991). "Dossier: La NÉO GÉO brille de tous ses feux - Ghost Pilots". Player One (in French). No. 14. Média Système Édition. p. 94.
  14. 1 2 Pascual, Alberto (May 1992). "Consola - En pantalla: Ghost Pilots - Infierno aéreo (Neo-Geo: arcade)". Superjuegos (in Spanish). No. 1. Grupo Zeta. pp. 56–57.
  15. 1 2 Ladoire, Frank (November 1991). "Console Test – Ghost Pilot – Neo-Geo". Génération 4 (in French). No. 38. Computec Media France. p. 214.
  16. 1 2 S. Fernández, Javier (August 1995). "Versión Final - Neo-Geo CD - Ghost Pilots". Última Generación (in Spanish). No. 5. MV Editores. pp. 84–85.
  17. 1 2 "Ultimate review sector: Petit Test - Ghost Pilots (Neo Geo CD • SNK)". Ultimate Future Games . No. 9. Future Publishing. August 1995. p. 81.
  18. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 401. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 April 1991. p. 25.
  19. "The Player's Choice - Top Games Now in Operation, Based on Earnings-Opinion Poll of Operators: Best Software". RePlay. Vol. 16, no. 7. RePlay Publishing, Inc. April 1991. p. 4.
  20. Gaksch, Martin (June 1991). "Power Test / Automatenspiele - Satt-Action". Power Play (in German). No. 38. Future Verlag. p. 140.
  21. Knauf, Andreas (January 1992). "News - Neo Geo". Video Games (in German). No. 5. Future-Verlag. pp. 10–12.
  22. Yanma; Itabashi (July 1992). "Super Soft 大特集 - 今、『NEO・GEO』がおもしろい!: ゴーストパイロット". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 121. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. p. 208.
  23. Noak, Philipp; Hellert, Stefan (August 1993). "Special - Neo Geo - Ghost Pilots". Mega Fun (in German). No. 11. CT Computec Verlag GmbH & Co. KG. pp. 28–30. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2019-07-17.
  24. R.I.P. (February 1996). "The Final Word game review - Ghost Pilots -- SNK Corp". Game Zero Magazine. Game Zero. Retrieved 2019-10-02.
  25. Maciejewski, A.J. (August 12, 2019). "ACA NeoGeo Shoot 'em Ups - Ghost Pilots Review". videochums.com. Video Chums. Retrieved 2019-10-19.