M.U.S.H.A.

From Sega Retro

n/a

  • NTSC-U
  • NTSC-J

MUSHA MD TitleScreen.png

MushaAleste MDTitleScreen.png

M.U.S.H.A.
System(s): Sega Mega Drive, Virtual Console, Nintendo Switch Online
Publisher: Toaplan (Japan), Seismic Software (US)
Developer:
Peripherals supported:
Sega Mega Drive
XE-1 AP[1]
Genre: Shooting[2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,8006,800 T-35013
Sega Mega Drive
US
35046
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600[8]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800[4]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU
900pts900[5]
PEGI: 7+
Wii Virtual Console
AU
900pts900[9]
OFLC: General (G)
Nintendo Switch Online
JP
SUBsub
Nintendo Switch Online
US
SUBsub
Nintendo Switch Online
EU
SUBsub
Nintendo Switch Online
UK
SUBsub
Nintendo Switch Online
AU
SUBsub

Musha Aleste: Fullmetal Fighter Ellinor (武者アレスタ), known in the US as M.U.S.H.A.: Metallic Uniframe Super Hybrid Armor, is a 1990 shoot-'em-up developed by Compile for the Sega Mega Drive. It was published in Japan by Toaplan and in the US by Seismic. There was no European release.

The game shares its basic mechanics with previous Aleste games but drastically reinvents the setting with the player piloting a large flying mecha in futuristic environments evoking feudal Japan. The word "musha" (武者) means "warrior" or "samurai" and signifies this aesthetic.

Story

MUSHA, Introduction.png

Ellinor

Dire 51, a supercomputer crafted to control a space colony, goes rogue and sends its attack robots to destroy mankind. A team of fighters in giant mecha try to stop it, but all but one, Ellinor (Terri in the US version), are killed, leaving Ellinor to save humanity from destruction on her own.

Gameplay

The game is a vertically scrolling shooter. The player pilots the advanced flying mecha M.U.S.H.A., which is moved in any direction with the D-Pad. Its movement speed can be changed by pausing the game with  START  and pressing the D-Pad. The M.U.S.H.A. has a main gun that is fired with C. It is initially a single stream of bullets but can be upgraded up to four streams by collecting Power Chips. The M.U.S.H.A. also has a secondary special weapon that is fired with B. Picking up an item for the currently equipped special weapon upgrades the weapon, up to four levels. Picking up an item for a different special weapon changes to that weapon but keeps the same weapon level. Both weapons have rapid-fire and unlimited ammunition, and they can be fired simultaneously.

For every three Power Chips collected, the player obtains an option, a drone that provides additional support fire. Only two options can be equipped at any one moment; extras are stored and dispatched automatically when an option is destroyed. These options can be set to one of six attack formations with A.

If the M.U.S.H.A. is hit while possessing a special weapon, the player loses the special weapon and the weapon level is downgraded by one level. Getting hit without a special weapon destroys the M.U.S.H.A. and costs the player a life. The M.U.S.H.A. respawns after a moment, but its weapon strength is reset to baseline. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but the player has infinite continues. The player gains an extra life at 100,000, 1,000,000, 5,000,000, and 10,000,000 points and then every 10,000,000 points after that.

Formations

MUSHA, Formations.png
Forward
The options shoot forwards, parallel to the M.U.S.H.A.'s main gun.
MUSHA, Formations.png
3-Way
The options shoot at 45-degree angles forwards.
MUSHA, Formations.png
Back
The options shoot at 45-degree angles backwards.
MUSHA, Formations.png
Reverse
The options shoot in the opposite of the last direction that the M.U.S.H.A. was moved in.
MUSHA, Formations.png
Roll
The options revolve around the M.U.S.H.A. and shoot outwards.
MUSHA, Formations.png
Free
The options freely chase enemies.

Weapons

MUSHA, Super Weapons, Blazing Beam.png

MUSHA, Items.png
Blazing Beam
Fires a strong laser beam forward that pierces through targets. Splits into two beams and becomes wider when upgraded.

MUSHA, Super Weapons, Vanishing Buster.png

MUSHA, Items.png
Vanishing Buster
Shoots bombs forward that explode for area damage. The bombs fan out in multiple directions when upgraded. When fully upgraded, the bombs explode into black holes.

MUSHA, Super Weapons, Defensive Detonator.png

MUSHA, Items.png
Defensive Detonator
Surrounds the M.U.S.H.A. in a barrier that protects against enemy fire and damages enemies that it touches. When fully upgraded, it can also fire energy bolts.

Items

The M.U.S.H.A. is temporarily invincible after collecting an item.

MUSHA, Items.png
Power Chip Carrier
Attack to release Power Chips.
MUSHA, Items.png
Power Chip
Upgrades the attack speed and power of the standard weapon, which can grow up to four parallel beams. Every three Power Chips collected gains an option. The Power Chip is marked with the kanji 力, meaning "power."
MUSHA, Items.png
Blazing Beam
Equips the M.U.S.H.A. with the Blazing Beam special weapon or upgrades it if already equipped.
MUSHA, Items.png
Vanishing Buster
Equips the M.U.S.H.A. with the Vanishing Buster special weapon or upgrades it if already equipped.
MUSHA, Items.png
Defensive Detonator
Equips the M.U.S.H.A. with the Defensive Detonator special weapon or upgrades it if already equipped.

Rounds

MUSHA, Stage 1-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 1-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 1-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 1-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 1-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 1-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 1 Boss.png

Round 1

MUSHA, Stage 2-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 2-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 2-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 2-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 2-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 2-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 2 Boss.png

Round 2

MUSHA, Stage 3-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 3-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 3-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 3 Boss 1.png

MUSHA, Stage 3 Boss 2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 3-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 3-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 3-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 3 Boss 1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 3 Boss 2.png

Round 3

MUSHA, Stage 4-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 4-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 4-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 4 Boss 1.png

MUSHA, Stage 4 Boss 2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 4-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 4-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 4-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 4 Boss 1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 4 Boss 2.png

Round 4

MUSHA, Stage 5-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 5-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 5-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 5 Boss 1.png

MUSHA, Stage 5 Boss 2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 5-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 5-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 5-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 5 Boss 1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 5 Boss 2.png

Round 5

MUSHA, Stage 6-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 6-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 6-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 6 Boss 1.png

MUSHA, Stage 6 Boss 2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 6-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 6-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 6-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 6 Boss 1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 6 Boss 2.png

Round 6

MUSHA, Stage 7-1.png

MUSHA, Stage 7-2.png

MUSHA, Stage 7-3.png

MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 1.png

MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 3.png

MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 4.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7-1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7-2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7-3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 1.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 3.png

  • MUSHA, Stage 7 Boss 4.png

Round 7

History

Legacy

It is the first game in Compile's Aleste series of shoot-'em-ups to be released on the Mega Drive, and it is the first released-overseas game in the series to not use the Power Strike name. It was followed almost two years later by Robo Aleste on the Mega-CD.

The game has since been released on at least the Japanese Virtual Console; according to Sega of Japan, the game is licensed from Naxat Soft,[15] who are thus presumed to have bought the rights from either Compile or D4Entertainment after Compile's bankruptcy.

Versions

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English M.U.S.H.A. M.U.S.H.A.
Japanese 武者アレスタ Musha Aleste

Production credits

Source:
In-game credits
MUSHA MD credits.pdf
[16]

Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: M.U.S.H.A./Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Musha MD US PrintAdvert.jpg
US print advert
Musha MD US PrintAdvert.jpg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[17]
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
60
[18]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
80
[19]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
78
[20]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
71
[21]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
71
[22]
Console Mania (IT)
90
[23]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
80
[24]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
70
[25]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
60
[26]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
68
[27]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
92
[28]
Games-X (UK)
92
[29]
Génération 4 (FR)
84
[30]
Joystick (FR) NTSC-J
90
[31]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC-J
52
[32]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
84
[33]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
85
[3]
MegaTech (UK)
71
[34]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
71
[35]
Power Play (DE)
84
[36]
Raze (UK) NTSC-J
80
[37]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
50
[38]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
83
[39]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
80
[40]
Sega Force (UK) NTSC-U
70
[41]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
84
[42]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
65
[43]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)
70
[44]
Video Games (DE)
85
[45]
Sega Mega Drive
75
Based on
30 reviews

M.U.S.H.A.

Mega Drive, JP
MUSHA MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
Musha MD JP CartTop.jpg
MUSHA MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Musha md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Genesis, US
MUSHA MD US Box.jpg
Cover
MUSHA MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Musha md us manual.pdf
Manual
MUSHA MD US pcb.jpg
PCB

Technical information

Main article: M.U.S.H.A./Technical information.

External links

  • Sega of Japan Virtual Console pages: Mega Drive
  • Nintendo catalogue pages: US, AU

References

  1. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1992" (JP; 1992-01-08), page 149
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  3. 3.0 3.1 Mega Play, "February 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
  4. 4.0 4.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/jgNPR-FcauHSwnwqrrmVgRKVuuB-s_K3 (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 22:50)
  5. 5.0 5.1 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/musha (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-05 00:23)
  6. https://www.nintendo.fr/Jeux/Console-virtuelle-Wii-/MUSHA--278249.html (archive.today)
  7. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/07.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:01)
  8. http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_musha/ (Wayback Machine: 2008-04-01 23:40)
  9. http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19755&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 01:44)
  10. https://store-jp.nintendo.com/list/software/70010000046986.html (Wayback Machine: 2021-10-26 03:04)
  11. @NintendoAmerica on Twitter (archive.today)
  12. @NintendoEurope on Twitter (archive.today)
  13. @NintendoUK on Twitter (archive.today)
  14. @NintendoAUNZ on Twitter (archive.today)
  15. http://vc.sega.jp/vc_musha/
  16. File:MUSHA MD credits.pdf
  17. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 15
  18. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 119
  19. Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 120
  20. Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 36
  21. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 32
  22. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 48
  23. Console Mania, "Ottobre 1992" (IT; 1992-xx-xx), page 62
  24. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 126
  25. Computer & Video Games, "February 1991" (UK; 1991-01-16), page 39
  26. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 327
  27. Famitsu, "" (JP; 199x-xx-xx), page 1
  28. GamePro, "March 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 78
  29. Games-X, "27th June-3rd July 1991" (UK; 1991-06-27), page 39
  30. Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 99
  31. Joystick, "Mars 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 128
  32. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 93
  33. Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
  34. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 79
  35. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 140
  36. Power Play, "4/91" (DE; 1991-03-15), page 129
  37. Raze, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-03-28), page 66
  38. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 54
  39. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 18
  40. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  41. Sega Force, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-10), page 68
  42. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  43. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 7
  44. VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "March 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 42
  45. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 80


M.U.S.H.A.

MUSHA MD TitleScreen.png

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Aleste/Power Strike games for Sega systems/published by Sega
Sega Master System
Power Strike (1988) | Power Strike II (1993)
Sega Mega Drive
M.U.S.H.A. (1990)
Sega Game Gear
GG Aleste (1991) | Power Strike II (1993) | GG Aleste 3 (2020)
Sega Mega-CD
Robo Aleste (1992)
Wii Virtual Console
M.U.S.H.A. (2008)
Sony PlayStation 4
Nintendo Switch
Aleste Collection (2020)
Aleste-related media
Music
Aleste Collection: Music Album (2022)