Power Strike

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Power Strike
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Compile
Distributor: Tonka (US), Tec Toy (BR)
Peripherals supported: FM Sound Unit
Genre: Shooting, Action
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code JP 1988-02-29 ¥5,0005,000 G-1352 US 1988-12 5109 EU 1988 MK-5109-50 UK 1988-12 £24.9924.99 MK-5109-50 SE 19xx AU 19xx $69.9569.95 MX 19xx BR 19xx KR 1988-10 GB-1004
Non-Sega versions MSX

Power Strike, known as Aleste (アレスタ) in Japan, is a shoot-'em-up by Compile released in 1988 by Sega for the Sega Master System. It is the first game in Compile's Aleste series of shoot-'em-ups. Compile released the game to the MSX computer in Japan.

In North America, Power Strike was initially only available through mail order from Sega, but it eventually had a limited retail release. While the MSX game received two sequels, Compile would take the franchise further on other platforms through 1994. Most Aleste games released outside Japan would use the Power Strike moniker, with a few exceptions (MUSHA, Robo Aleste, the SNES game Space Megaforce). The Master System game was followed by Power Strike II in 1993; this is an outlier in the series and was only released in Europe.

Story

In Space Year 6180, the planet Rimar entrusts its environmental maintenance to the supercomputer DIA51. One day, while DIA51 is genetically engineering a new plant for oxygen synthesis, a massive earthquake occurs that causes DIA51 to malfunction and alter the DNA sequence of the plant.

A month later, DIA51 begins to go haywire, severing communication with the military base in which it is located, and the temperature of the planet begins to rise. The planetary defense forces learn that DIA51 is creating intelligent plant life to infect human brains, and they dispatch the advanced Aleste fighter to eliminate the DIA51.

Gameplay

The game is a vertically scrolling shooter. The player pilots the Aleste (or the Power Strike in the English localizations), which is moved in any direction with the D-Pad. The Aleste is equipped with a standard pulse beam that is fired with and a special weapon that is fired with . Either can be held down for continuous fire. Both weapons have unlimited ammunition and can be fired simultaneously. The standard weapon can be upgraded by collecting Power Chips. The special weapon can be switched or upgraded by picking up numbers corresponding to each weapon. All of the special weapons except the first, which is initially equipped, only last a certain duration and revert back to the starting special weapon once their timers run out.

The Aleste is destroyed if it takes damage from an enemy, costing the player a life. The ship respawns after a moment, but the player loses any power-up effects after losing a life. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued from the title screen as long as the player has continues remaining. The player gains an extra life at 20,000 and 100,000 points and then every 100,000 points after that.

Weapons

	Directional Shot (1)
	Initially equipped. Shoots energy balls in the direction that the Aleste was last moved, including sideways, backwards, and diagonal directions. Shoots two energy balls faster when upgraded.
	Web Gun (2)
	Fires a potent shot that penetrates through multiple targets. Hold to charge and release to fire. When upgraded, the time to charge is reduced.
	Laser Cannon (3)
	Shoots a laser beam. Shoots two parallel beams when upgraded.
	Rolling Fire (4)
	A ball of plasma that revolves around the Aleste. The sizes of the ball and the revolutions increase when upgraded.
	Homing Flame (5)
	Releases two revolving energy balls that seek out targets. Upgrading improves speed and power.
	Swing Web (6)
	Shoots arc-shaped projectiles forwards or in diagonal directions when moving left or right.
	Plasma Ball (7)
	Generates a large plasma ball that stays front of the Aleste and protects the front of the ship. Attacks ground targets as well when upgraded.
	Wipe Laser (8)
	Fires a laser that moves forward in a helical pattern.

Items

Items are dropped by item carriers when they are destroyed and can then be collected by flying over them.

The Aleste is temporarily invincible after collecting an item.

	Power Chip
	Upgrades the attack speed and power of the standard pulse beam. The standard weapon eventually grows to two and then three parallel beams. Drops down when released from an item carrier.
	Special Weapon
	Changes the special weapon to one of the eight special weapons. Picking up a number of a weapon that is already equipped upgrades the weapon. Floats upward when released from an item carrier.

Rounds

	Power Strike Takeoff
	Map: 1️⃣
	Deep Forest
	Map: 1️⃣
	Great River
	Map: 1️⃣
	Mu-Plant
	Map: 1️⃣
	Invaded
	Map: 1️⃣
	HQ
	Map: 1️⃣

Versions

Localised names

Also known as

Language	Localised Name	English Translation
English	Power Strike	Power Strike
English (US)	Power Strike	Power Strike
Japanese	アレスタ	Aleste

Production credits

• Produce: Moo
• Program: Lunarian, Terubo, Pochi
• Graphic Design: Janus
• V.G.M. & S.E.: Myarmo, Shant, Shin-kun
• Sound Program: Jemini
• Game Design: Janus, Komehika
• Special Thanks to: Mnc-Nui

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Power Strike/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source

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Based on 0 review

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 90 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 90 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 90 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL 90 Console XS (UK) PAL 90 Game Mania (UK) 90 Génération 4 (FR) 91 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 50 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 90 Megazone (AU) PAL 70 Power Play (DE) 80 S: The Sega Magazine (UK) 90 Sega Power (UK) PAL 100 Sega Pro (UK) 89 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 90 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 89 Tilt (FR) 60

	85
Based on 17 reviews

Power Strike

Master System, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, US
Cover
Manual Poster

Master System, EU
Cover

Master System, EU (Sega®)
Cover

Master System, EU ("No Limits")
Cover

Master System, SE

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart File:PowerStrike-SMS-BR-Manual.pdf Manual

Master System, MX

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 4077efd9 MD5 8d9f02dcfea8f9728a3665ca12b044d1 SHA-1 f6f245c41163b15bce95368e4684b045790a1148	128kB		Cartridge (EU/US)
?	CRC32 d8c4165b MD5 810f65d7a7a8462c40c01bea3d5d7d01 SHA-1 cba75b0d54df3c9a8e399851a05c194c7a05fbfe	128kB		Cartridge (JP)

References

Aleste/Power Strike games for Sega systems/published by Sega
	Power Strike (1988) | Power Strike II (1993)
	M.U.S.H.A. (1990)
	GG Aleste (1991) | Power Strike II (1993) | GG Aleste 3 (2020)
	Robo Aleste (1992)
	M.U.S.H.A. (2008)
	Aleste Collection (2020)
Aleste-related media
	Aleste Collection: Music Album (2022)