Difference between revisions of "Line of Fire"

Latest revision as of 07:39, 22 May 2024

For the redesigned Sega Master System port, see Line of Fire (Master System).

n/a

Line of Fire

System(s): Sega X Board, Amiga, Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum

Publisher:

Sega

U.S. Gold

Developer:

Sega R&D 1

Creative Materials

Tiertex

Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

Number of players: 1-2

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1989-12^[1]	¥?	?
US	1989	$?	?
AU	19xx	$?	?

UK	1991-01	£24.9924.99^[2]
UK	1991-01	£24.9924.99^[2]
ES (Cassette)	1990
ES (Disk)	1990
UK (Cassette)	1990-12^[3]	£10.9910.99^[3]
UK (Disk)	1990-12^[3]	£14.9914.99^[3]
UK (Cassette)	1990-12^[3]	£10.9910.99^[3]
ES (Cassette)	1990
UK (Cassette)	1990-12^[3]	£10.9910.99^[3]

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Line of Fire (ライン・オブ・ファイヤー), or sometimes called Line of Fire: Bakudan Yarou (ライン・オブ・ファイヤー爆弾野郎) in Japan , is a Sega X Board arcade light gun game developed by Sega R&D 1 and manufactured by Sega. First released to Japanese and American arcades in December 1989^[1], the game notably uses sprite scaling to simulate three-dimensional scenery, and saw contemporary ports to a number of personal computers.

One year later, Line of Fire was significantly redesigned and ported to the Sega Master System as the titular Line of Fire.

Gameplay

Missions

	Mission 1
	Capture the powerful machine gun unit from the enemy base!
	Mission 2
	Destroy the enemy jungle base.
	Mission 3
	Escape by high-speed boat.
	Mission 4
	Fighting in the canyon.
	Mission 5
	Do or die battle in the desert.
	Mission 6
	Foes await in the city's ruins.
	Mission 7
	Escape the enemies by aircraft.
	Mission 8
	Fly to your base by helicopter.

Story

In the game, you play as two escaping POWs who were captured after seizing a "secret machine gun unit" from the enemy.

Versions

Unlike most other Sega arcade conversions of the time, the Amiga and Atari ST versions feature some degree of software-based sprite scaling, although sprite limits meant this could not be implemented for the background of the first stage^[4]. To compensate, the number of on-screen enemies is reduced over the arcade, and several enemy types had to be removed entirely^[4].

The plan had originally been to use Vidi-ST to screenshot (or "digitise") graphics from the arcade board in monochrome, which would then be edited and coloured by hand, but this proved too slow. The team then purchased a different digitising solution - the Coloupic by JCL, but this was incompatible with the arcade machine's NTSC output^[5]. JCL offered to resolve it, but while the backgrounds came out okay, sprites did not^[5]. The team eventually built a custom Amiga expansion board that could interface with the arcade ROMs, converted Sega's graphics into Amiga IFF files, and edited through PIXmate^[5].

History

Legacy

Line of Fire did not receive a sequel, but was loosely followed up by Laser Ghost the following year, which pays tribute to its predecessor on the title screen with a tombstone marked 1988-1990 Line of Fire^[6].

Production credits

Main article: Line of Fire/Production credits.

Magazine articles

Main article: Line of Fire/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Line of Fire/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Arcade version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Commodore User (UK)

66

^[7]

	66
Based on 1 review

Line of Fire

X Board, JP

Amiga version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

ACE (UK)

82

^[8]

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

50

^[9]

CU Amiga (UK)

85

^[10]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

85

^[11]

The Games Machine (IT)

84

^[12]

Joystick (FR)

76

^[13]

Power Play (DE)

23

^[14]

Raze (UK)

70

^[15]

Tilt (FR)

50

^[16]

Zzap!64 (UK)

65

^[17]

	67
Based on 10 reviews

Line of Fire

Amiga, UK

Disk

Amstrad CPC version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Joystick (FR)

60

^[13]

Zzap! (IT)

38

^[18]

	49
Based on 2 reviews

Line of Fire

Amstrad CPC, UK (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, UK (disk)

Amstrad CPC, ES (cassette)

Amstrad CPC, ES (disk)

Amstrad CPC, ES (Especial 8 Bits)
Cover

Atari ST version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Aktueller Software Markt (DE)

45

^[9]

ST Action (UK)

59

^[19]

ST Format (UK)

39

^[20]

	48
Based on 3 reviews

Line of Fire

Atari ST, UK

Commodore 64 version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Commodore Format (UK)

40

^[21]

Power Play (DE)

11

^[22]

Your Commodore (UK)

55

^[23]

Zzap!64 (UK)

32

^[17]

Zzap! (IT)

32

^[18]

	34
Based on 5 reviews

Line of Fire

Commodore 64, UK

ZX Spectrum version

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

Crash (UK)

70

^[24]

Computer & Video Games (UK)

85

^[11]

Svet Kompjutera (YU)

60

^[25]

Sinclair User (UK)

82

^[26]

Your Sinclair (UK)

72

^[27]

	74
Based on 5 reviews

Line of Fire

ZX Spectrum, UK

Cassette

ZX Spectrum, ES

ZX Spectrum, ES (Especial 8 Bits)
Cover

Specifications

Dimensions

Sit-Down	Upright
1.05 m (41.339") 1.8 m (70.866") 1.8 m (70.866") ^[28]	720 mm (28.346") 1.88 m (74.016") 1.03 m (40.551") ^[28]
Mass: 230 kg (506 lbs)	Mass: 150 kg (330 lbs)

References

Line of Fire
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Credits \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Promotional material No results

[:File:Sega_Arcade_History_JP_EnterBrain_Book-1.pdf_p101-1] 1.0 ^1.1 Sega Arcade History, Enterbrain, page 101

[:File:ACE_UK_40.pdf_p55-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 55

[:File:CVG_UK_109.pdf_p167-3] 3.0 ^3.1 ^3.2 ^3.3 ^3.4 ^3.5 ^3.6 ^3.7 Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 167

[:File:Zero_UK_14.pdf_p19-4] 4.0 ^4.1 Zero, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-1x-xx), page 19

[:File:Zero_UK_14.pdf_p22-5] 5.0 ^5.1 ^5.2 Zero, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-1x-xx), page 22

[:File:LaserGhost_System18_Title.png_p-6] File:LaserGhost System18 Title.png

[:File:CommodoreUser_UK_77.pdf_p89-7] Commodore User, "February 1990" (UK; 1990-01-26), page 89

[:File:ACE_UK_41.pdf_p60-8] ACE, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-08), page 60

[:File:ASM_DE_1991-03.pdf_p59-9] 9.0 ^9.1 Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 59

[:File:CUAmiga_UK_011.pdf_p56-10] CU Amiga, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 56

[:File:CVG_UK_110.pdf_p74-11] 11.0 ^11.1 Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 74

[:File:TheGamesMachine_IT_028.pdf_p42-12] The Games Machine, "Febbraio 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 42

[:File:Joystick_FR_012.pdf_p200-13] 13.0 ^13.1 Joystick, "Janvier 1991" (FR; 199x-xx-xx), page 200

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-03.pdf_p120-14] Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 120

[:File:Raze_UK_05.pdf_p52-15] Raze, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-01-31), page 52

[:File:Tilt_FR_087.pdf_p79-16] Tilt, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 79

[:File:Zzap64_UK_071.pdf_p69-17] 17.0 ^17.1 Zzap!64, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 69

[:File:Zzap_IT_54.pdf_p16-18] 18.0 ^18.1 Zzap!, "Marzo 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 16

[:File:STAction_UK_34.pdf_p82-19] ST Action, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-xx), page 82

[20] ST Format, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-10), page 90

[:File:CommodoreFormat_UK_06.pdf_p42-21] Commodore Format, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-21), page 42

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-04.pdf_p119-22] Power Play, "4/91" (DE; 1991-03-15), page 119

[:File:YourCommodore_UK_77.pdf_p24-23] Your Commodore, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-22), page 24

[:File:Crash_UK_84.pdf_p63-24] Crash, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-13), page 63

[:File:SvetKompjutera_YU_081.pdf_p75-25] Svet Kompjutera, "Jun 1991" (YU; 1991-xx-xx), page 75

[:File:SinclairUser_UK_107.pdf_p52-26] Sinclair User, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-18), page 52

[:File:YourSinclair_UK_61.pdf_p25-27] Your Sinclair, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 25

[:File:LineofFire_Arcade_JP_Flyer.pdf_p-28] 28.0 ^28.1 File:LineofFire Arcade JP Flyer.pdf

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@@ Line 54: / Line 54: @@
 One year later, ''Line of Fire'' was significantly redesigned and ported to the [[Sega Master System]] as the titular ''[[Line of Fire (Master System)|Line of Fire]]''.
+==Gameplay==
+===Missions===
+{{InfoTable|imagewidths=200|
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 1
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Capture the powerful machine gun unit from the enemy base!''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 2
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Destroy the enemy jungle base.''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 3
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Escape by high-speed boat.''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 4
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Fighting in the canyon.''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 5
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Do or die battle in the desert.''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 6
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Foes await in the city's ruins.''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 7
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Escape the enemies by aircraft.''
+}}
+{{InfoRow
+| title=Mission 8
+| screenshot=Notavailable.svg
+| desc=''Fly to your base by helicopter.''
+}}
+}}
 ==Story==
@@ Line 62: / Line 107: @@
 The plan had originally been to use ''Vidi-ST'' to screenshot (or "digitise") graphics from the arcade board in monochrome, which would then be edited and coloured by hand, but this proved too slow. The team then purchased a different digitising solution - the ''Coloupic'' by JCL, but this was incompatible with the arcade machine's NTSC output{{magref|zero|14|22}}. JCL offered to resolve it, but while the backgrounds came out okay, sprites did not{{magref|zero|14|22}}. The team eventually built a custom Amiga expansion board that could interface with the arcade ROMs, converted Sega's graphics into Amiga IFF files, and edited through ''PIXmate''{{magref|zero|14|22}}.
+==History==
+===Legacy===
+''{{PAGENAME}}'' did not receive a sequel, but was loosely followed up by ''[[Laser Ghost (System 18)|Laser Ghost]]'' the following year, which pays tribute to its predecessor on the title screen with a tombstone marked ''1988-1990 Line of Fire''{{fileref|LaserGhost System18 Title.png}}.
 ==Production credits==
-===X Board version===
+{{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Production credits}}
-{{creditstable|
-*'''Produced by:''' [[Sega]]
-*'''Programmed by:''' [[Tatsuya Watanabe|Wata]]
-| source=Internal ROM text{{ref|https://tcrf.net/Line_of_Fire_(Arcade)}}
-| console=XBD
-}}
-{{creditstable|
-*'''Music:''' [[Bluetz Lee]]{{intref|Hyper Drive}}
-| source=Developer mentions
-| console=XBD
-}}
-While the game has no ending credits, as was common for arcade games of its time, the developers names are referenced in the default high score table.
-{{multicol|
-{{creditstable|
-*'''Programmed by:''' [[Rikiya Nakagawa]]{{fileref|Sega Arcade History JP EnterBrain Book.pdf|page=30}} (D&K)
-*MIY
-*RYU
-*ICH
-*'''Programmed by:''' [[Tatsuya Watanabe]] (TAT)
-*'''Programmed by:''' [[Yoshio Fukushima]]{{ref|1=https://twitter.com/fukushimasan/status/735394319511719936}} (YOS)
-*NAM
-*ABC
-*DEF
-*GHI
-*DAI
-| source=In-game high score table
-| console=XBD
-}}
-}}
-The title screen also features various names which may be developer references as well.
-{{creditstable|
-*Makimaki, Yochamhamajiboo
-*Iichan, [[Last Survivor]], [[Rikiya Nakagawa|Dai:Ken]]
-*Makoto, Kajikaji, Shimaroo, Harihari
-| source=Title screen background
-| file=
-| console=XBD
-}}
-===Amiga version===
-The production credits are found in a rant located in the file s/startup-sequence, which explains that Sega would not allow them to put their names in the game.
-{{creditstable|
-*'''Programming:''' Richard Aplin
-*'''Music:''' [[David Lowe|Uncle Art]]
-*'''Graphics:'''
-**'''extracting bitmaps from the original arcade game's video output:''' Andy Heike, Nick Vincent
-**'''extracting sprites from the original arcade game ROM:''' Richard Aplin
-**'''color reduction for the Amiga:''' Andy Heike, Nick Vincent, "and some students in Manchester"
-*'''PCM sample extraction:''' Richard Aplin
-*'''Copy protection:''' [[Tiertex]]
-*'''Management:''' Steve Fitton (US Gold), Tony Porter (US Gold)
-| console=Amiga
-}}
-===Atari ST version===
-The rant mentioned above notes that Richard Aplin is also the programmer for that version, but unlike most Sega Amiga ports, this version was developed later.
 ==Magazine articles==

Difference between revisions of "Line of Fire"

From Sega Retro

Latest revision as of 07:39, 22 May 2024

Contents

Gameplay

Missions

Story

Versions

History

Legacy

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Arcade version

Amiga version

Amstrad CPC version

Atari ST version

Commodore 64 version

ZX Spectrum version

Specifications

Dimensions

References