The release marks the first time that European gamers will get the chance to play the widely-admired vertical shooter in its pure, un-touched form. As with most games in the Import section, the release marks the first time that many gamers will get to play the direct-from-Japan import. Shienryu will satisfy fans of fast-moving shoot'em-ups, featuring detailed level environments and ultra smooth controls. The classic is currently available at the affordable price of EU €4.99.
"The PlayStation Network gets another classic from the Japanese vault. We hope Arcade Hits: Shienryu appeals to our user’s distinct understanding of Japanese game development. The game is feverishly fun and addictive, presented with fine craftsmanship,” said John Greiner, President of MonkeyPaw Games. “We look for games like Shienryu that show this Japanese development excellence.”
About Arcade Hits: Shienryu
Shienryu is a classic vertical-scrolling arcade shoot’em-up that was faithfully translated to the PlayStation with good flair and fun. Warashi developed the game in 1999 with stunning arcade graphics and gave intricate detail, which makes this shooter a wonderful play to this day. The amount of particles on the screen and their effects in the background as they fall to the ground are superbly displayed. The variety of power-ups and weapons gives incredible diversity and lends longevity.
You’re captain of a sleek space craft out to defend the planet against a horrific enemy. The game can be flown alone or with a friend for added power (and laughs!). You’ll face off against towering alien mechs and endure a bedlam of bullets that will test your steel. Shooter fans converge; you won’t want to miss this classic Japanese import!
Instructions and tips on how to play
Control - In Game - Menu Screens
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Control Pad - Move ship - Change menu options
X Button - Fire Bomb - Cancel
Circle Button - Shoot - Confirm
Triangle Button - Fire Bomb
Square Button - Shoot
Start Button - Pause Game - Start Game
Power-ups
Weapon Power (red square with a P in it)
Increases your weapon power by one level. There are three levels of power for each weapon. Collecting a power increase while at maximum power will allow you to carry upgrade-levels over to your next life. Collecting one once your next ship reaches maximum power gives you 5000 points.
Increases your weapon power by one level. There are three levels of power for each weapon. Collecting a power increase while at maximum power will allow you to carry upgrade-levels over to your next life. Collecting one once your next ship reaches maximum power gives you 5000 points.
Ship Speed (blue square with an S in it)
Increases your ship’s speed by one level. There are three levels of speed. Collecting one once your ship reaches maximum speed gives you 5000 points.
Increases your ship’s speed by one level. There are three levels of speed. Collecting one once your ship reaches maximum speed gives you 5000 points.
Super Power (moving, flashing square with a P in it)
Upgrades your ship to full weapon power and speed, and gives you a shield that will protect you from a single hit.
Upgrades your ship to full weapon power and speed, and gives you a shield that will protect you from a single hit.
Bomb (shifts between a red B and a bomb icon)
Increases your bomb stock by one. You gain a bonus for unused bombs at the end of a level. Bomb effect changes with current weapon.
Increases your bomb stock by one. You gain a bonus for unused bombs at the end of a level. Bomb effect changes with current weapon.
LEDs (look like little poles with a red or blue light on top)
Cashed in for bonus points at the end of the level. 1 blue LED is worth 10 red LEDs.
Cashed in for bonus points at the end of the level. 1 blue LED is worth 10 red LEDs.
1UP (1UP in text)
An extra life.
An extra life.
Weapon Panels (red, yellow or blue panels with a circular eye-design in the middle)
Changes your weapon. Red swaps you to the Vulcan Guns, Blue swaps you to the Homing Lightning, Yellow swaps you to the Missiles. Collecting a Weapon Panel of the same sort as the one you’re currently using is worth 5000 points.
Changes your weapon. Red swaps you to the Vulcan Guns, Blue swaps you to the Homing Lightning, Yellow swaps you to the Missiles. Collecting a Weapon Panel of the same sort as the one you’re currently using is worth 5000 points.
Weapons
Vulcan Guns
Fires bullets forward in a wave pattern. Number of bullets and width of wave-pattern increases with power-level. At higher levels, also fires energy balls.
Fires bullets forward in a wave pattern. Number of bullets and width of wave-pattern increases with power-level. At higher levels, also fires energy balls.
Bomb Effect
Wide-spread laser that gradually narrows.
Wide-spread laser that gradually narrows.
Lightning
Fires homing lightning that deals continual damage before vanishing. Amount of damage dealt and number of bolts increases with power-level. At higher levels, lightning will arc from one target to another.
Fires homing lightning that deals continual damage before vanishing. Amount of damage dealt and number of bolts increases with power-level. At higher levels, lightning will arc from one target to another.
Bomb Effect
5 large lasers firing directly forward from near the ship.
5 large lasers firing directly forward from near the ship.
Missiles
Fires missiles in a forward formation. Number of missiles fired increases with power-level. At higher levels, homing-missiles are fired out to the sides.
Fires missiles in a forward formation. Number of missiles fired increases with power-level. At higher levels, homing-missiles are fired out to the sides.
Bomb Effect
short-range explosives surround the ship.
short-range explosives surround the ship.
Play field breakdown
Top Left: Player 1′s Score
Top Left (just below Player 1′s Score): Player 1′s lives remaining
Top Left (just below Player 1′s remaining lives): Next ship’s power-increases
Top Middle: High Score
Top Right: Player 2′s Score
Top Right (just below Player 2′s Score): Player 2′s lives remaining
Top Left (just below Player 2′s remaining lives): Next ship’s power-increases
Bottom Left: Player 1′s Bomb Stock
Bottom Right: Player 2′s Bomb Stock
Top Left (just below Player 1′s Score): Player 1′s lives remaining
Top Left (just below Player 1′s remaining lives): Next ship’s power-increases
Top Middle: High Score
Top Right: Player 2′s Score
Top Right (just below Player 2′s Score): Player 2′s lives remaining
Top Left (just below Player 2′s remaining lives): Next ship’s power-increases
Bottom Left: Player 1′s Bomb Stock
Bottom Right: Player 2′s Bomb Stock
Title Menu
Shienryu (Purple Flame Dragon) – the basic game, a direct arcade port.
Nuruiryu (Slow dragon) – “Easy Mode”.
Muzuiryu (Tricky dragon) – “Hard Mode”.
Omake (Extra modes) – Play a bunch of strange extra modes.
Extras Menu
Jienryu – Play the game on a GB-era system, complete with low-quality sound and monochrome LCD strangeness.
Stingy Mode – One life, One bomb, No continues, No power-ups. Oh, and all the enemies only give one point each. But hey, at least there won’t be that many bullets to dodge.
Merciless Mode – If you like every enemy firing superfast homing bullets, hair-tearing difficulty and your progress displayed as a percentage of the level, this is the mode for you. It is NOT for the faint of heart
Slow Mode – Everything’s slow in this horror-themed mode. Shots, enemies, your ship, everything. The screen’s also been darkened and the enemies scream when you blast them.
Ancient Mode – Play the game wit your Nostalgia Filter on, since it’s been made to look like an old movie, with weakened sound and film-reel graphics complete with cracks in the filmstock and hairs caught in the projector.