Difference between revisions of "Pop Breaker"
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==Story== | ==Story== | ||
{{ScreenThumb|Pop Breaker, Intermission.png|width=160|Yuki}} | {{ScreenThumb|Pop Breaker, Intermission.png|width=160|Yuki}} | ||
| − | Yuki Takeshita is a high school student who is taking the entry exam for FSWAT, a newly formed defense force. In the simulation, she pilots a hovertank named Diana. | + | Yuki Takeshita (竹下由紀) is a high school student who is taking the entry exam for FSWAT, a newly formed defense force. In the simulation, she pilots a hovertank named Diana (ダイアナ). |
==Gameplay== | ==Gameplay== | ||
{{ScreenThumb|Pop Breaker, Turret Select.png|width=160|Turret mounting}} | {{ScreenThumb|Pop Breaker, Turret Select.png|width=160|Turret mounting}} | ||
{{ScreenThumb|Pop Breaker, Gameplay.png|width=160|Gameplay}} | {{ScreenThumb|Pop Breaker, Gameplay.png|width=160|Gameplay}} | ||
| − | The game is a puzzle-based shooter. The player controls Yuki's hovercraft Diana from an overhead perspective and navigates through a board-like environment. The playfield is a large grid with different blocks and tiles that affect Diana's movement or weapon. Gameplay is a combination of navigating obstacles on the playfield and shooting enemies and dodging enemy fire. The D- | + | The game is a puzzle-based shooter. The player controls Yuki's hovercraft Diana (or "Daiana") from an overhead perspective and navigates through a board-like environment. The playfield is a large grid with different blocks and tiles that affect Diana's movement or weapon. Gameplay is a combination of navigating obstacles on the playfield and shooting enemies and dodging enemy fire. The D-Pad changes the direction that the craft faces or moves the craft in the direction it is already facing. The movement of the craft is fixed to the grid. The craft can fire an energy bullet with {{1}} but must stop before firing. It can only have three bullets out at a time. The craft can move backwards without changing direction by pressing {{2}}. It can fire while moving backwards, which is the only way it can fire while moving. Diana is a 3x3 square on the grid; before the game starts, the player can choose to mount the turret on the top-left, middle, or top-right of the craft. |
The goal of each stage is to destroy a green machine. The machine returns fire in the direction of the player very quickly, so the player must quickly evade it. The layout of the stage may require the player to clear the way to the machine or to use the behavior of the tiles to attack the machine. There are 50 stages in total. Blocks prevent movement; some are breakable and some are unbreakable. Some blocks and enemies require multiple hits to destroy. Arrows on the ground push the tank in a direction when the player drives over them, and triangular bumpers deflect the player's shots at right angles. | The goal of each stage is to destroy a green machine. The machine returns fire in the direction of the player very quickly, so the player must quickly evade it. The layout of the stage may require the player to clear the way to the machine or to use the behavior of the tiles to attack the machine. There are 50 stages in total. Blocks prevent movement; some are breakable and some are unbreakable. Some blocks and enemies require multiple hits to destroy. Arrows on the ground push the tank in a direction when the player drives over them, and triangular bumpers deflect the player's shots at right angles. | ||
| Line 31: | Line 31: | ||
Some stages contain power-up items that can be collected by driving over them. Diana's weapon is initially yellow but can be upgraded to red (twice as powerful) and blue (three times as powerful). The weapon level is retained from stage to stage but lost if the player loses a life. | Some stages contain power-up items that can be collected by driving over them. Diana's weapon is initially yellow but can be upgraded to red (twice as powerful) and blue (three times as powerful). The weapon level is retained from stage to stage but lost if the player loses a life. | ||
| − | Before the stage begins, the player can look around the entire stage using the D- | + | Before the stage begins, the player can look around the entire stage using the D-Pad. After starting the stage, the player can pause the game at any time by pressing {{Start}} and pan around the stage again. |
===Stages=== | ===Stages=== | ||
| Line 37: | Line 37: | ||
===Blocks=== | ===Blocks=== | ||
| − | {{InfoTable | + | {{InfoTable| |
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
| title=Unbreakable Block | | title=Unbreakable Block | ||
| Line 45: | Line 45: | ||
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
| title=Blue Block | | title=Blue Block | ||
| − | | sprite={{sprite | Pop Breaker, Tiles.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x=8 | crop_y= | + | | sprite={{sprite | Pop Breaker, Tiles.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x=8 | crop_y=0}} |
| desc=These blocks can be destroyed in one standard hit. | | desc=These blocks can be destroyed in one standard hit. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
| title=Green Block | | title=Green Block | ||
| − | | sprite={{sprite | Pop Breaker, Tiles.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x= | + | | sprite={{sprite | Pop Breaker, Tiles.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x=0 | crop_y=8}} |
| desc=These blocks turn into blue blocks when hit, taking two standard hits in total to destroy. | | desc=These blocks turn into blue blocks when hit, taking two standard hits in total to destroy. | ||
}} | }} | ||
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
| title=Pink Block | | title=Pink Block | ||
| − | | sprite={{sprite | Pop Breaker, Tiles.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x= | + | | sprite={{sprite | Pop Breaker, Tiles.png | 2 | crop_width=8 | crop_height=8 | crop_x=8 | crop_y=8}} |
| desc=These blocks turn into green blocks when hit, taking three standard hits in total to destroy. | | desc=These blocks turn into green blocks when hit, taking three standard hits in total to destroy. | ||
}} | }} | ||
| Line 80: | Line 80: | ||
}} | }} | ||
| − | ===Power- | + | ===Power-ups=== |
| − | {{InfoTable | + | {{InfoTable| |
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
| title=T Bullet | | title=T Bullet | ||
| Line 115: | Line 115: | ||
===Enemies=== | ===Enemies=== | ||
| − | {{InfoTable | + | {{InfoTable| |
{{InfoRow | {{InfoRow | ||
| title=ユニット | | title=ユニット | ||
| Line 164: | Line 164: | ||
==Production credits== | ==Production credits== | ||
| − | |||
{{creditstable| | {{creditstable| | ||
*'''Program:''' Mick, Ron Ando, Hory | *'''Program:''' Mick, Ron Ando, Hory | ||
| Line 174: | Line 173: | ||
| pdf=Pop Breaker GG credits.pdf | | pdf=Pop Breaker GG credits.pdf | ||
| console=GG | | console=GG | ||
| − | |||
}} | }} | ||
Latest revision as of 20:40, 22 February 2024
| Pop Breaker | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| System(s): Sega Game Gear | ||||||||||
| Publisher: Microcabin | ||||||||||
| Developer: Microcabin | ||||||||||
| Peripherals supported: Gear-to-Gear Cable | ||||||||||
| Genre: Shooting[1][2] | ||||||||||
| Number of players: 1-2 | ||||||||||
|
Pop Breaker (ポップブレイカー) is a shooting game for the Sega Game Gear. It was only released in Japan.
Contents
Story
Yuki Takeshita (竹下由紀) is a high school student who is taking the entry exam for FSWAT, a newly formed defense force. In the simulation, she pilots a hovertank named Diana (ダイアナ).
Gameplay
The game is a puzzle-based shooter. The player controls Yuki's hovercraft Diana (or "Daiana") from an overhead perspective and navigates through a board-like environment. The playfield is a large grid with different blocks and tiles that affect Diana's movement or weapon. Gameplay is a combination of navigating obstacles on the playfield and shooting enemies and dodging enemy fire. The D-Pad changes the direction that the craft faces or moves the craft in the direction it is already facing. The movement of the craft is fixed to the grid. The craft can fire an energy bullet with 
but must stop before firing. It can only have three bullets out at a time. The craft can move backwards without changing direction by pressing 
. It can fire while moving backwards, which is the only way it can fire while moving. Diana is a 3x3 square on the grid; before the game starts, the player can choose to mount the turret on the top-left, middle, or top-right of the craft.
The goal of each stage is to destroy a green machine. The machine returns fire in the direction of the player very quickly, so the player must quickly evade it. The layout of the stage may require the player to clear the way to the machine or to use the behavior of the tiles to attack the machine. There are 50 stages in total. Blocks prevent movement; some are breakable and some are unbreakable. Some blocks and enemies require multiple hits to destroy. Arrows on the ground push the tank in a direction when the player drives over them, and triangular bumpers deflect the player's shots at right angles.
There are also various enemies that are hostile to the player. Enemies do not harm the player from contact but most have weapons. Diana can also be harmed by the explosion when enemies are destroyed. All shots are considered equivalent, so enemy shots can destroy blocks or each other and the player's own shots can destroy Diana if deflected. Diana is destroyed by a single hit, in which case the stage restarts. The player has limited lives. The game ends if the player runs out of lives. The player has unlimited continues, but the game starts at the beginning of the previously completed stage after continuing. The player can also choose not to continue the game and to receive a password instead (again, for the previously completed stage).
Some stages contain power-up items that can be collected by driving over them. Diana's weapon is initially yellow but can be upgraded to red (twice as powerful) and blue (three times as powerful). The weapon level is retained from stage to stage but lost if the player loses a life.
Before the stage begins, the player can look around the entire stage using the D-Pad. After starting the stage, the player can pause the game at any time by pressing START and pan around the stage again.
Stages
- Main article: Pop Breaker/Maps.
Blocks
| Unbreakable Block | |
|---|---|
| These blocks serve as barriers and cannot be destroyed. | |
| Blue Block | |
| These blocks can be destroyed in one standard hit. | |
| Green Block | |
| These blocks turn into blue blocks when hit, taking two standard hits in total to destroy. | |
| Pink Block | |
| These blocks turn into green blocks when hit, taking three standard hits in total to destroy. | |
| Chevrons | |
| Pushes Diana in the direction of the arrow when driven over. | |
| Deflector | |
| Deflects shots at a right angle if hit on the inside (on the hypotenuse). It can be destroyed if hit on the outside. | |
| Mine | |
| This terrain explodes immediately when the player drives over it. | |
| Explosion | |
| This terrain explodes shortly after it has been driven over, destroying anything that remains in the area of effect. The blast area stretches partly outside of the marked terrain. |
Power-ups
| T Bullet | |
|---|---|
| Upgrades Diana to a red shot, which is twice as powerful as the standard yellow shot. This item has no effect if the player already has the superior blue shot. | |
| P Bullet | |
| Upgrades Diana to a blue shot, which is three times as powerful as the standard yellow shot. | |
| Gathering | |
| Strikes an entire row or column of the board with 3x3 bombs, from the one end to the other. The row or column passes through the location of the item. | |
| Bomber | |
| Strikes random locations on the board with 3x3 bombs, destroying blocks, enemies, or the player if caught in the blast. | |
| Destroy | |
| Removes all blocks on the board, including special terrain, leaving enemies and power-ups. | |
| 1-Up | |
| Gives the player an extra life, up to a maximum of 99. |
Enemies
| ユニット | |
|---|---|
| The objective of each stage. Yuki must destroy this machine. It fires three volleys of three shots back in the direction of the player whenever it is hit. | |
| ヨキキ | |
| This enemy moves left and right and fires up and down. | |
| タキキ | |
| This enemy moves up and down and fires left and right. | |
| ンサー | |
| This enemy is immobile and shoots a single shot from its turret when the player drives past. | |
| ラダム | |
| This enemy is immobile and shoots in random directions from the turrets on its corners. | |
| タミー | |
| This enemy is immobile and shoots a flame that spans three squares on an interval. | |
| ウタオ | |
| This enemy shoots two shots in every direction after it has been attacked. | |
| タクサ | |
| This enemy quickly moves in any direction and attacks with two shots from the same side. | |
| ヒヒニ | |
| This enemy slowly moves in any direction and attacks by exploding. It resembles a power-up item. |
Production credits
- Program: Mick, Ron Ando, Hory
- Music: Dragon, Nas
- Debug: Ito Jr
- Amuse: Papa, Hidemaro
- Thanks: Kantoku
Magazine articles
- Main article: Pop Breaker/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1991-01: "January 1991" (1990-12-08)[5]
also published in:
- Mega Drive Fan (JP) #12: "January 1991" (1990-12-08)[6]
- Mega Drive Fan (JP) #13: "February 1991" (1991-01-08)[7]
also published in:
- Mega Drive Fan (JP) #14: "March 1991" (1991-02-08)[8]
Physical scans
| Sega Retro Average | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
 |
63 |
|---|---|
| Based on 10 reviews | |
| Game Gear, JP |
|---|
   Cover
|
 Cart  Manual |
Technical information
ROM dump status
| System | Hash | Size | Build Date | Source | Comments | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
128kB | Cartridge (JP) |
References
- ↑ File:PopBreaker GG JP Box Front.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 http://sega.jp/fb/segahard/gg/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2013-01-01 20:24)
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "April 1991" (JP; 1991-03-08), page 92
- ↑ File:Pop Breaker GG credits.pdf
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 26
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 34
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 92
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 104
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 85
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 35
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 149
- ↑ Hippon Super, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-07), page 43
- ↑ Hippon Super, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-04), page 43
- ↑ Joystick, "Avril 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 125
- ↑ Power Play, "6/91" (DE; 1991-05-10), page 136
- ↑ Sega Pro, "March 1992" (UK; 1992-02-20), page 21
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 74
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 88
| Pop Breaker | |
|---|---|
|
Main page | Maps | Bugs | Magazine articles | Reception | |
