Difference between revisions of "Universal Soldier"

Revision as of 10:47, 26 January 2024

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Universal Soldier

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Ballistic

Developer: Rainbow Arts, Factor 5

The Code Monkeys

Licensor: Carolco

Genre: Action

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
US	1992	$54.9554.95^[1]	ACLD011
EU	1992-11^[2]		ACLD011
ES	1992
FR	1992
UK	1992-11-18^[3]^[2]	£34.9934.99^[4]^[5]	ACLD011
SE (Rental)	199x
CZ	199x
AU	199x		FUNI02GMC

Non-Sega versions
No results

Universal Soldier is an action game released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1992. Though the game was sold in stores, it was not licensed by Sega.

The game is essentially a reworking of Factor 5's Turrican II to act as a tie-in for the 1992 film Universal Soldier. The game gives no credit to the original Turrican II staff in any form, with the exception of Turrican creator Manfred Trenz.

Story

Luc Deveraux, a former U.S. Army soldier who was killed in the Vietnam War in 1969, has returned to life following a secret military project called the "Universal Soldier" program. Though his memory was erased, he finds out about his past and has to face his former superior officer, Sgt. Andrew Scott, who had lost his sanity in the Vietnam War and become a psychotic megalomaniac. Scott is intent on killing Deveraux and leading the Universal Soldiers.

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling run-and-gun played as the soldier Luc Deveraux. It plays similarly to Turrican. Levels are large and maze-like. Deveraux moves with and and kneels with . He jumps with or ; he jumps higher if the button is held for longer. Some enemies can be damaged by jumping on them. He fires his rifle with , which does not have rapid-fire. There are three special weapons that are equipped by collecting their icons in the levels. Deveraux has a special "lightning whip" weapon, a long energy beam that damages enemies continuously, that is activated by holding . The lightning whip can be rotated in a full circle around Deveraux with and .

Deveraux can transform into a "buzzsaw" form where he curls into a ball and rolls along the ground with +. This can be used to attack enemies or fit into small spaces. He is invulnerable while in this state. Unlike the other Turrican games for the Mega Drive, this ability can be used an unlimited number of times in this game. While rolling, he can drop mines with . Mines are also unlimited. Deveraux exits the rolling form by jumping.

Deveraux has two special screen-clearing attacks. The "power line" weapon, used with , sweeps the screen with two tall energy pillars. The power line can only be used a limited number of times, but the player can find items that allow for more uses. He bounces around the screen in his invulnerable ball form while firing his weapon and dropping mines with ++. This attack can only be used once per level.

Deveraux has an energy meter that depletes as he takes damage from enemies. He loses a life if he runs out of energy and revives in place after a moment if the player has extra lives remaining. Since Deveraux does not have a moment of invulnerability after taking damage (as is customary in platforming games), he can take a large amount of damage in a short span if the player is not cautious. Levels are timed, and the player loses a life if time runs out as well. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued if there are continues remaining. The player earns an extra life for every 100 crystals collected in the levels. The game has a password system for continuing.

Weapons

	Normal
	The starting weapon. Shoots energy bullets forwards.
	Multiple Shot
	Fires a conical spread shot.
	Laser
	Fires a large, powerful shot that penetrates through targets.
	Bounce Shot
	Fires a large energy ball that explodes into smaller balls, which ricochet off solid surfaces, after hitting something.

Items

	Item Container
	Shoot to release an item. The item container damages Deveraux if it touches him.
	P
	Fully restores Deveraux's energy meter.
	Multiple Shot
	Equips the Multiple Shot weapon.
	Laser
	Equips the Laser weapon.
	Bounce Shot
	Equips the Bounce Shot weapon.
	Lightning Whip
	Increases the length of the lightning whip.
	Shield
	Makes Deveraux temporarily invulnerable.
	Power Line
	Gives Deveraux another power line.
	Bomb
	Destroys all enemies on the screen when collected.
	Crystal
	Collect 100 to earn an extra life.
	1-Up
	Gives the player an extra life.

Worlds

	World 1

	World 2

	World 3

	World 4

Versions

Universal Soldier replaces the three shoot-'em-up levels in Turrican II with three new levels of standard gameplay with completely different sets of graphics and using the same music as the discarded levels. Aside from that and a reordered sequence of the levels, the gameplay in the whole game is left mostly intact. New additions compared to the original also include a password system and selectable difficulty. A couple of bosses were edited to resemble the antagonist in the film, Sergeant Andrew Scott (portrayed by Dolph Lundgren).

A version of the game was released for the Game Boy. The Mega Drive and Game Boy versions of Universal Soldier were the only versions of Turrican II to be released in North America until the release of the Turrican Flashback collection for the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 in 2021.

A port of the game was also developed for the Super NES but not released.^[6]

Production credits

Produced by: Chris Bankston
Programmed by: The Code Monkeys
Programming: Colin Hogg
Aided by: Elliot Gay, Mark Kirkby
Graphics by: Joe Lewis and Manfred Trenz
Musicians: J.D. Rogers and Paul Kenny
Game Testers: Steve Graziano, Robert V. Daly, James R. Kucera
Technical Advice: Chris Bankston, Tim Wilson, Russell Shiffer, Dave Rogers, Natalie Healy

Source:

In-game credits (menu)^[7]

Produced by: Chris W. Bankston
Programmed by: The Code Monkeys
Graphics by: Joe Lewis
Music by: J.D. Rogers, Paul Kenny
Tested by: Robert Daly, James Kucera, Steve Graziano
Special Thanks: Al Miller, Bob Whitehead, Charlotte T. Skeel, and many others

Source:

In-game credits (ending)^[8]

Original Music and Sound Effects: Chris Hülsbeck

Source:

Uncredited

Magazine articles

Main article: Universal Soldier/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

60

^[9]

Consoles + (FR)

95

^[10]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

60

^[11]

Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)

45

^[12]

Game Power (IT)

81

^[13]

GamePro (US)

NTSC-U

65

^[1]

Joypad (FR)

41

^[14]

Joystick (FR)

PAL

43

^[15]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

PAL

60

^[16]

Mega (UK)

PAL

68

^[17]

MegaTech (UK)

PAL

60

^[18]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

47

^[19]

Play Time (DE)

PAL

68

^[20]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

91

^[21]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

89

^[22]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

89

^[23]

Sega Zone (UK)

PAL

88

^[24]

Sega Force (UK)

PAL

63

^[25]

Todo Sega (ES)

80

^[26]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

76

^[27]

	68
Based on 20 reviews

Universal Soldier

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, FR

Manual

Mega Drive, ES
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, SE rental (HENT orange)
Cover

Mega Drive, CZ (Datart)
Cover
Manual

Mega Drive, AU
Cover
Cart

Technical information

Main article: Universal Soldier/Technical information.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 GamePro, "January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 64
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 9
↑ Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-16), page 25
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 147
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 57
↑ https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0839
↑ File:Universal Soldier MD menu credits.pdf
↑ File:Universal Soldier MD credits.pdf
↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 254
↑ Consoles +, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 102
↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 366
↑ Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 113
↑ Game Power, "Febbraio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 68
↑ Joypad, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 170
↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 164
↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 56
↑ Mega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-17), page 46
↑ MegaTech, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-20), page 62
↑ Mean Machines Sega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-28), page 60
↑ Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 88
↑ Sega Power, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-03), page 44
↑ Sega Pro, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-12), page 36
↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68
↑ Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 16
↑ Sega Force, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 68
↑ Todo Sega, "Julio 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 66
↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27

Universal Soldier
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Maps \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

Turrican games for Sega systems
Turrican (1991) \| Universal Soldier (1992) \| Mega Turrican (Director's Cut) (1994)

[:File:GamePro_US_042.pdf_p64-1] 1.0 ^1.1 GamePro, "January 1993" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 64

[:File:SegaZone_UK_01.pdf_p9-2] 2.0 ^2.1 Sega Zone, "November 1992" (UK; 1992-10-28), page 9

[3] Computer Trade Weekly, "" (UK; 1992-11-16), page 25

[:File:MeanMachinesSega03UK.pdf_p147-4] Mean Machines Sega, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 147

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p57-5] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 57

[https:.2F.2Fsnescentral.com.2Farticle.php.3Fid.3D0839-6] ttps://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0839

[:File:Universal_Soldier_MD_menu_credits.pdf_p-7] File:Universal Soldier MD menu credits.pdf

[:File:Universal_Soldier_MD_credits.pdf_p-8] File:Universal Soldier MD credits.pdf

[9] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 254

[:File:ConsolesPlus_FR_015.pdf_p102-10] Consoles +, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 102

[11] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 366

[:File:MeanMachinesEssentialSegaGuide_Book_UK.pdf_p113-12] Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 113

[:File:GamePower_IT_14.pdf_p68-13] Game Power, "Febbraio 1993" (IT; 1993-0x-xx), page 68

[:File:Joypad_FR_014.pdf_p170-14] Joypad, "Novembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 170

[:File:Joystick_FR_033.pdf_p164-15] Joystick, "Décembre 1992" (FR; 1992-1x-xx), page 164

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p56-16] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 56

[:File:Mega_UK_04.pdf_p46-17] Mega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-17), page 46

[:File:MegaTech_UK_12.pdf_p62-18] MegaTech, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-20), page 62

[:File:MeanMachinesSega04UK.pdf_p60-19] Mean Machines Sega, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-28), page 60

[:File:PlayTime_DE_1993-01.pdf_p88-20] Play Time, "1/93" (DE; 1992-12-09), page 88

[:File:SegaPower_UK_38.pdf_p44-21] Sega Power, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-03), page 44

[:File:SegaPro_UK_14.pdf_p36-22] Sega Pro, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-12), page 36

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p68-23] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 68

[:File:SegaZone_UK_02.pdf_p16-24] Sega Zone, "December 1992" (UK; 1992-11-xx), page 16

[:File:SegaForce_UK_13.pdf_p68-25] Sega Force, "January 1993" (UK; 1992-12-10), page 68

[:File:TodoSega_ES_04.pdf_p66-26] Todo Sega, "Julio 1993" (ES; 1993-0x-xx), page 66

[27] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 27

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@@ Line 15: / Line 15: @@
 | md_date_eu=1992-11{{magref|segazuk|1|9}}
 | md_code_eu=ACLD011
-| md_date_uk=1992-11{{magref|segazuk|1|9}}
+| md_date_uk=1992-11-18{{magref|ctw|413|25}}{{magref|segazuk|1|9}}
 | md_code_uk=ACLD011
 | md_rrp_uk=34.99{{magref|mms|3|147}}{{magref|mdag|5|57}} <!-- 24.99{{magref|megatech|12|62}} 39.99{{magref|sfuk|13|69}} -->
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 | md_date_es=1992
 | md_date_au=199x
-| md_code_au=FUNI02SMC
+| md_code_au=FUNI02GMC
 | md_date_cz=199x
 | md_date_se_r=199x
@@ Line 246: / Line 246: @@
 | console=Mega Drive
 | region=ES
-| front=
+| front=UniversalSoldier MD EU front.jpg
+| back=UniversalSoldier MD ES Box Back.jpg
+| spinemissing=yes
+| cart=UniversalSoldier MD US Cart.jpg
+| manual=UniversalSoldier MD ES Manual.jpg
 }}{{Scanbox
 | console=Mega Drive
-| region=SE (Rental)
+| region=SE rental (HENT orange)
 | cover=UniversalSoldier MD SE rental cover.jpg
 }}{{Scanbox
@@ Line 268: / Line 272: @@
 ==Technical information==
 {{mainArticle|{{PAGENAME}}/Technical information}}
-===ROM dump status===
-{{romtable|
-{{rom|MD|sha1=9ac1416641ba0e6632369ffe69599b08fc3c225f|md5=1546f822e7fe5b5d7fa54067968628dd|crc32=352ebd49|size=1MB|date=1992-10|source=Cartridge (US/EU)|comments=|icon=|quality=good}}
-}}
 ==References==

Difference between revisions of "Universal Soldier"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 10:47, 26 January 2024

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Weapons

Items

Worlds

Versions

Production credits

Magazine articles

Physical scans

Technical information

References