Metal Black

n/a

Metal Black
System(s): Sega Saturn
Publisher: Ving
Developer: Ving
Original system(s): Taito F2 System
Developer(s) of original games: Taito
Sound driver: SCSP/CD-DA (21 tracks)
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code JP 1996-05-24 ¥5,800 (5,974)5,800e T-19902G JP (Satakore) 1998-07-23 ¥2,8002,800 T-19909G
Non-Sega versions Arcade

Metal Black (メタルブラック) is a shoot-'em-up developed by Taito and released in arcades 1991. It was subsequently updated and brought to the Sega Saturn in 1996. The Saturn version was only released in Japan.

Story

In the future, earth is attacked by aliens that possess the ability to harness the power of "Newalone", a strange, molecule like structure. Earth counters by buidling it's own fleet also based on "Newalone" technology, but freezes the project on favour of peace with the alien. The contract is very oneside and earth is dying. A single solider breaks into a military complex and manages to steal a "Black Fly", a space ship designed to use "Newalone"

Gameplay

In typical shooting game manner, Metal Black uses a two button setup, with one being used for standard shots, and the onther one for beam attacks. Both attacks can be powered up by collecting Newalone, which floats around freely in stages. The beam weapon becomes a screen covering burst attack when the maximum amount of Newalone has been collected. The Burst can be refocused to a beam by holding down the beam button.

Bosses also use beam attacks, and one can duel with the bosses by countering with a beam attack. The outcome of these duels depends on the accumulated Newalone.

Two special stages exist where one has to lock onto enemies in a pseudo 3D space and fire missiles. The random nature of these stages, combined with the fact that score largely depends on fast lockons, has been the target of criticism.

An alternative ending can be viewed by dying and not continuing on the last stage.

History

The game is also titled Project Gun Frontier 2, although there are no connections to Gun Frontier content wise. Allegedly content from a canceled Darius sequel was also reused for this game, supported by fish and crustecan enemies found in the game. The beam mechanic was also used in G Darius, which was not released on SEGA hardware

The game was a major inspiration for Border Down, both games also had the same composer.

Versions

Aside from unavoidable loading times, this appears to be a perfect portation.

Production credits

Project Gun Frontier 2

• Producer: Senba Takatsuna, Hori Takamasa
• Game Design: Senba Takatsuna, Hori Takamasa, Kuroki Naoya, Ohno Tomohiro, Seguchi Takashi, Mizobe Kumi, Watanabe Yasuhisa, Sawaki Jun, Katsuhisa Ishikawa
• Thanks: Kimura Chiho, Taniyama Norihito, Miyazawa Takayuki
• Art Director: Senba Takatsuna, Ohno Wepokichi
• Programmer: Tarabar, Kuroki Naoya, Seguchi Takashi
• Hardware Engineer: Sawaki Jun, Takeda Tomio
• Decorator: Mizobe Kumi
• Sound Director: Yack. (Zuntata), Babio Ishikawa (Zuntata)
• Bit Pattern: Moriyama Yoshihiro, Tanaka Kuniaki, Yoshikatsu Nakahara, Tsuneoka Masatoshi, Vap-Awave
• Cast: Ho Lee Chan, Zuntata, John Neianik 6Th, Sakou Menme
• Special Thanks: 3D Master, Mar., Karu, Wiz. Master, Nomura Akio, Mihara Hiromitsu, Tajima Kazunari, Fujita Tsukasa$, Zak Munn, Kouno Yoshiaki, Ogata Masaki, Fujisue Ichirou, Fujiwara Hidehito, Sakou Hiroyuki, Yagi Chan, Yoshida Sayuri, Sekiguchi Satomi, Shirou Imaoka, Yuki Hisao, Shimizu Shigenobu, Ohishi Kenji, Shimizu Fumihiko, Shintaku Satoyuki, Naomitsu Abe, Ishii Hide, Ushiroda Tatsuya, Yasukouchi Daisuke, Kurabayashi Akira, Takaaki Tomita, Nakamura Taicho, Ootsuki Akira, Sugiyama Kazuhiko, Default Members

Saturn'S Staff

• Programmer: Takahiro Kuribayashi, Satoru Morikawa, Jun Takemoto
• Promotion & Manual Writer: Ryusei Baba
• Director: Takashi Noto
• President: Ryozo Sugawara
• Programmed by: Ving Sapporo
• Presented by: Ving

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Metal Black/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Flyer

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-05: "1996-05 (1996-03-22)" (1996-03-08)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-06: "1996-06 (1996-04-12)" (1996-03-22)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-07: "1996-07 (1996-04-26)" (1996-04-12)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-08: "1996-08 (1996-05-10,24)" (1996-04-26)

Print advert in Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) #1996-09: "1996-09 (1996-06-14)" (1996-05-24)

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average
Publication Version Score Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J 50 Fun Generation (DE) NTSC-J 40 Intelligent Gamer (US) NTSC-J 83 Joypad (FR) NTSC-J 20 MAN!AC (DE) NTSC-J 47 Mega Force (FR) NTSC-J 77 neXt Level (DE) NTSC-J 65 Playmag (FR) NTSC-J 62 Saturn Fan (JP) NTSC-J 69 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 73 Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J 86

	61
Based on 11 reviews

Metal Black

Saturn, JP
Cover
Spinecard Disc

Saturn, JP (Satakore)
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
✔	CRC32 MD5 SHA-1	494,769,072	1996-03-24	CD-ROM (JP)	T-19902G V1.000

Track list

1. Data track

2. Red & Yellow (1:17)
From: Attract

3. Take Off (0:20)
From: Opening

4. Born To Be Free (2:29)
From: Round 1 -Down To The Earth-

5. Visitor (3:07)
From: Boss A -Round 1-

6. Dancing Horming (3:02)
From: Bonus A -Override-

7. Dual Moon (2:42)
From: Round 2 -Cry For The Moon-

8. Yueez (3:09)
From: Boss B -Round 2-

9. Memory (0:24)
From: Clear -Round 2-

10. Area 26-10 (3:06)
From: Round 3 -Dream Land-

11. Dio Panic! (3:07)
From: Boss C -Round 3-

12. Non Fiction (2:03)
From: Bonus B -Black Out-

13. Waste Days (2:20)
From: Round 4 -Crystal-

14. The Gate Of Guardian (3:17)
From: Boss D -Round 4-

15. Doubt (2:49)
From: Round 5 -Nemesis Crisis-

16. Phantasm (3:07)
From: Boss E -Round 5-

17. Time (4:02)
From: Round 6 -A Mirage Of Mind Gaia-

18. Game Is Over (1:30)
From: Bad End

19. A Mirage Of Mind #1 (1:07)
From: Endtitle

20. Into The H.I. (0:37)
From: Name Set 1

21. A Mirage Of Mind #2 (1:34)
From: Staff Roll

22. Into The H.I. -All Clear- (1:00)
From: Name Set 2

► Running time: 46:09