Gain Ground

From Sega Retro

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Gain Ground Title.png

Gain Ground
System(s): Sega System 24, Sega Mega Drive, Sega Master System, Super CD-ROM², Virtual Console, Steam
Publisher:
Developer:
Sound driver:
Sega Mega Drive
SMPS Z80
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up (box)/Action (official master list)

















Number of players:
Arcade
1-3,
Sega Mega Drive
Sega Master System
1-2, Template:PCECD 1
Release Date RRP Code
Arcade (System 24)
JP
¥? ?
Arcade (System 24)
US
$? ?
Arcade (System 24)
UK
£? ?





























Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,0006,000 G-4036
Sega Mega Drive
US
49056
Sega Mega Drive
EU
Sega Mega Drive
PT
Sega Mega Drive
AU
Sega Master System
EU
7045
Sega Master System
BR
Wii Virtual Console
JP
600pts600[12]
CERO: A
Wii Virtual Console
US
800pts800[7]
ESRB: Everyone
Wii Virtual Console
EU
800pts800[8]
PEGI: 7+
Wii Virtual Console
DE
800pts800[8]
USK: 6
Wii Virtual Console
AU
800pts800[13]
OFLC: Parental Guidance (PG)
CERO
Missing Parameter!

Gain Ground (ゲイングランド) is a 1988 arcade game released for the Sega System 24 arcade platform. It is a top-down gun game with strategy elements, in which the player controls one of twenty playable characters who must defeat all the enemies on screen or bring every character that player currently has to the exit. It appears that two different arcade versions exist, one allowing up to 3 players while another supports only 2 players.


Gameplay

Called by developers as a "Algorithm Action Game", Core gameplay of Gain Ground is same in all versions. Players must either eliminate all enemies on the level or evacuate all members from the level by moving them to the "EXIT". (Very time consuming and unnecessary) Every character in the game has strenghts and weaknesses and only by using the right character for the right situation will help players to finish the level. In addition to the enemies on the ground, some enemies are in the higher ground and can only be defeated with a character who posseses a weapon capable of hitting them.

Each character has one regular and one special weapon. Besides that only thing changes between characters is the movement speed. Primary weapon can be fired with button 1 and special weapon can be fired with button 2.

Each character has only one life and single hit is enought to defeat them. When defeated, a small symbol of the character remains in the battlefield. That character can be rescued the same way of recruiting them: taking them to the "EXIT". If the character saving the downed character also killed, previously defeated character will dissappear.

Each "Era" is divided into ten levels. At the final, 10th level, players will face against a boss.

Playable Characters (Arcade, Mega Drive and PC-Engine)

Athra

Very fast. Main weapon is a short ranged but very fast firing spear throw. Button 2 lobs the spear towards any direction in a short parabolic arc, allowing player to hit enemies above or those behind the obstacles. Useful for close range combat and rescuing other characters. Avaiable from beginning.

Gascon

Same as Athra except he can only fire his special weapon northwards in a strafing motion.

Johnny

Fast. Main weapon is a long ranged, fast firing semi-automatic rifle. Special weapon fires directly northwards while strafing, allowing players to fall back while firing. Avaiable from beginning. Useful as long as there are no enemies in the high ground.

Professor

Same as Johnny, except his special weapons can fire both left and right at the same time.

Betty

Fast. Main weapon is a medium ranged pistol. Special weapon is a short ranged grenade that can be lobbed over obstactes while strafing. Avaiable from beginning. Useful for close range combat and eliminating enemies in the high ground.

Honey

Same as Betty, except she can throw her grenade towards any direction.

Verbal

Very Fast. Main weapon is a medium ranged longbow. Special weapon is a very long ranged arrow that can hit enemies in the high ground or those behind the obstacles. Most useful character in the game.

Mars

Same as Verbal, except he can fire his long range arrow in a strafing motion.

Lobby

Very Slow. Main weapon is a weak pistol. Special weapon is an extreme range, elevated missile that can be fired any direction and hit enemies on the high ground. Good for eliminating such enemies.

Mud Puppy

Very Slow. Main weapon is a weak pistol. Special weapon is an extreme range, regular missile that can only hit enemies on the same level as you. Great for sniping enemies on the low ground from long range.

Cyber

Very Slow. Main weapon is a weak pistol. Special weapon fires a cluster missile that will spread northwards and affect a large area. Very useful for crowd control but not recommended for close combat.

Kou

Fast. Main weapon is a long range rifle. Special weapon is a three burst submachinegun stafing, which causes same damage but better hitbox.

Kid

Same as Kou except he can fire both sides at the same time with his special weapon.

Mam

Fast. Main weapon is a medium range pistol. Special weapon is a boomerang strafe that will come back after a while. Great for attacking hard to reach places.

Valkyrie

Same as above except she can throw her boomerang towards any direction.

General

Very Slow. Main weapon is a weak pistol. Special weapon is a very, very short ranged flamethower. Coupled with his slow speed, this makes this M.Bison wannabe the worst character in the game.

Fire Knight

Medium speed. Main weapon is a powerful projectile. Special weapon is a napalm weapon that will remain in place for a while and kill any enemies who touch it. Rarely used.

Glow Knight

Same as above except his special attack is a rolling barrier that will damage any enemies who touch the knight. Useful for close combat.

Water Knight

Same as above except his special attack can freeze enemies about a few seconds. Useful for rescues.

Zaemon

Same as above except his special attack is a whirlwind that can bounce after hitting obstacles or enemies. His survival depends on bit of a luck.

Playable Characters (Master System version)

Master System version uses symbols instead of small figurines to depict downed characters in the battlefield.

Spear Fighters

Same as Athra. Very fast but terrible range. Special weapon can hit elevated enemies. Avaiable from start. Depicted with a spear symbol.

Rifle Infantry

Same as Professor. Fast and good range. Special weapon is great for enemies trying to envelope you from both sides. Avaiable from start. Depicted with a rifle symbol.

Grenadiers

Same as Honey. Fast but short range. Grenades are quite powerful despite short range. Avaiable from start. Depicted with a potato masher grenade.

Archers

Same as Verbal. Fast and very long range. Can shoot arrows towards any direction. Most useful character in the game. Depicted with an arrow.

Ninjas

New characters for Master System version. Main weapon is fast shuriken throw with good range. Special weapon is a trap that will cause heavy damage to those who touch it. Depicted with a shuriken.

Boomerang Throwers

Same as Valkyrie. Fast and decent primary weapon. Decpited, of course, with a boomerang.

Flamethrowers

Same as General. Still somewhat useless but if you can reach enemy, they can drain enemy health very quickly. Rarest character. Appears only once. Depicted with a fire symbol.

Water Wizards

Same as the dude himself except their special attacks can freeze enemies for about 10 seconds. Depicted with a fountain symbol.

Missile Launchers

Same as Lobby. Very slow, weak primary weapon and can hit elevated enemies with a extreme range missile. Depicted with a single missile.

Cluster Missile Launchers

Same as Cyber. Very slow, weak primary weapon with powerful spread missile that can wreak havoc upon battlefield. Hits only enemies on the level ground. Depicted with a pointy missile.

History

Gain Ground was ported to the Sega Master System and Sega Mega Drive in 1990 and 1991 respectively. Mega Drive version got exclusive 4th round called "Present Age". In meanwhile Master System version recieved it's own exclusive last round "The Final Era". The game was also brought to the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² in the form of Gain Ground SX. Both The Master System and Mega Drive versions allow up to 2 players cooperative gameplay; the PC Engine Super CD-ROM² version is 1 player only.

Arcade, Mega Drive and PC-Engine versions are more or less the same game, except PC-Engine version has re-arranged Redbook audio.

Master System version differs significantly from the regular versions, with different characters portraits, slightly different character abilities (some characters are removed and some abilities are combined) and somewhat different level designs. Original versions has more western style character art while Master System version's art is closer to Anime style. Another interesting feature of the Master System version is that Player 1 uses male characters while Player 2 uses female characters. Besides the different portraits, there are no differences between male and female characters.

More recently the Mega Drive version was brought to the Wii's Virtual Console service, and the game was re-made for the Sega Ages 2500 series in Japan. It was also included in Sega Mega Drive Ultimate Collection.

Production credits

System 24 version

  • Directed by: Mac Austin, Yang Watt
  • Graphic Design By: Sea-Gup, Max Nelson, KAO
  • Programmed by: Mina & Mana, Bee3, Kuriboh!!
  • Music by: Q-Chan, Dolphin
  • Industrial Design By: RKO
  • And Special Thanks To: Eiro, Doydoy
  • Presented by: ©Sega 1988
Source:
In-game credits (JP)


Source:
Interview [16]


Mega Drive version

Source:
In-game credits [17]


Master System version

Source:
In-game credits [18]


Super CD-ROM² version

  • Executive Producer: S.Ishihara
  • Producer: T.Tabeta
  • Director: S.Miyazaki, Max.Inde, K.Saitou
  • Programmer: K.Kuge
  • Support: Masas
  • Sound Composer: T's Music
  • Graphic designer: Mat.Kakisisu, Yax.Takahara, Nama.Ninnin, Momo, Fill In Cafe, Max.Inde
  • Special Thanks: H.Nakamura, Toruneko, S.Miyazaki, J.M.Kim, Sony.Kim, H.Mesuda, Y.Komatsuda, T.Kuwahara
©1992 NEC Avenue / Bits Laboratory
Source:
In-game credits [19]


Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Gain Ground/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Gain Ground/Promotional material.

Physical scans

System 24 version

System 24, JP
System 24, US
GainGround System24 US Manual.pdf
Manual

Mega Drive version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
70 №1991-01, p32[20]
74 №, p83[21]
49 [22]
49 [23]
70 №1991-02, p41
66 №1, p81[24]
65 [25]
75 №5, p92
77 №9, p20
43 [26]
65 [27]
92 [28]
91 №8, p34/35[29]
71 №21, p12
60 №23, p53
89 [30]
88 №18, p65
61 №2/91, p88[31]
Sega Mega Drive
70
Based on
18 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[32]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[33]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
76
[34]
Console XS (UK) PAL
88
[35]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
29
[36]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
70
[37]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
66
[38]
Joystick (FR)
65
[25]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) PAL
75
[39]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
75
[40]
Mega (UK) PAL
77
[41]
Mega (UK)
77
[42]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
48
[43]
MegaTech (UK)
43
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
43
[44]
Player One (FR)
65
[27]
Raze (UK) NTSC
92
[28]
Raze (UK) PAL
91
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
71
[3]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[45]
Sega Pro (UK)
89
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
88
[46]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
74
[47]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
77
[48]
Video Games (DE)
61
[49]
Sega Mega Drive
68
Based on
25 reviews

Gain Ground

Mega Drive, US
GainGround MD US Box.jpg
Cover
GainGround MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Gain Ground MD US Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
GainGround MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
GainGround MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
Gain Ground MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
GainGround MD JP CartTop.jpg
GainGround MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
GainGround MD jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, FR

Gain Ground MD FR Manual.pdf
Manual

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
58 №1990-11
32 [50]
32 [51]
76 №29, p87
60 №13, p119
62 [52]
62 [53]
61 [54]
35 №12/90, p164[55]
71 [56]
70 №16, p42/43
60 №23, p56
81 [30]
76
76 [57]
Sega Master System
61
Based on
15 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Ação Games (BR)
67
[58]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
53
[59]
Console XS (UK) PAL
82
[60]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
32
[61]
Joystick (FR)
60
[62]
Mean Machines (UK)
62
[63]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
62
[53]
Player One (FR)
61
[54]
Power Play (DE)
35
[64]
Raze (UK) PAL
71
[29]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
70
[65]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
50
[66]
Sega Pro (UK)
81
[30]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
82
[67]
User (GR) PAL
67
[68]
Zzap! (IT)
76
[69]
Sega Master System
63
Based on
16 reviews

Gain Ground

Master System, EU
Gain Ground SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
GainGround SMS EU Cart.jpg
Cart
GainGround SMS EU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU

GainGround SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, BR
GainGround SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover
GainGround SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart

Super CD-ROM² version

Super CD-ROM², JP
GainGroundSX SuperCDROM2 JP Box Back.jpgGainGroundSX SuperCDROM2 JP Box Front.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 83e7b8ae
MD5 fa43881a792fadf1ab737294fff1bcc3
SHA-1 3cc501086f794ac663aad14d5c5a75b648041151
512kB 1990-12 Cartridge (US/EU)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 aee20a64
MD5 250033f6c91fbb7714782cd66fcece82
SHA-1 148d166d594535c6526cb450c461cfb003b59f93
512kB 1990-12 Cartridge (EU)
Sega Mega Drive
CRC32 8641a2ab
MD5 3b0ad9167e152ed3719ae0d45e50db6a
SHA-1 a5017e44b5f470e0499f4a9b494385c567632864
512kB 1990-12 Cartridge (JP)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 3ec5e627
MD5 7d54230748fa41bb62b6f08e5dcede08
SHA-1 62c0ca61ad8f679f90f253ab6bbffd0c7737a8c0
256kB Cartridge (EU)

External links

References

  1. http://sega-interactive.co.jp/special/history/title/gainground.html
  2. 2.0 2.1 Raze, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-04-25), page 35
  3. 3.0 3.1 Sega Power, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-07-04), page 12
  4. Mean Machines, "January 1991" (UK; 1991-01-03), page 41
  5. File:CVG UK 111.pdf, page 80
  6. File:Supergame BR 03.pdf, page 36
  7. 7.0 7.1 http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/sbWh7p1AtxNkxJSHeFa4ozZizjAYJrA2 (Wayback Machine: 2010-11-22 23:50)
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 http://www.nintendolife.com/games/megadrive/gain_ground (Wayback Machine: 2017-07-05 11:19)
  9. https://archive.is/ncX40
  10. https://archive.is/1KhIq
  11. https://www.nintendo.co.jp/wii/vc/software/02.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-03-05 23:11)
  12. http://vc.sega.jp:80/vc_gground/ (Wayback Machine: 2007-02-02 02:36)
  13. http://www.nintendo.com.au/index.php?action=catalogue&prodcat_id=41&prod_id=19743&pageID=4 (Wayback Machine: 2012-04-03 02:02)
  14. 14.0 14.1 14.2 14.3 https://steamdb.info/app/34275/ (Wayback Machine: 2017-05-22 06:27)
  15. 15.0 15.1 15.2 15.3 http://steamdb.info/app/34275/ (Wayback Machine: 2013-05-22 19:18)
  16. https://sega.jp/fb/album/08_gg/interview1.html
  17. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7dsT1B2dgwc
  18. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rFQAvXLH_t0
  19. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zZbK5fvAh8
  20. File:BeepMD_JP_1991-01.pdf, page 34
  21. File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf, page 85
  22. Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 72
  23. Computer + Video Giochi, "Aprile 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 88
  24. File:HobbyConsolas ES 001.pdf, page 73
  25. 25.0 25.1 Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 131
  26. 26.0 26.1 MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 78
  27. 27.0 27.1 Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 32
  28. 28.0 28.1 Raze, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-03-28), page 64
  29. 29.0 29.1 29.2 File:Raze UK 08.pdf, page 34 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 08.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Raze UK 08.pdf_p34" defined multiple times with different content
  30. 30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3 Sega Pro, "Christmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-12), page 18
  31. File:VideoGames DE 1991-02.pdf, page 84
  32. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 84
  33. Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 34
  34. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 115
  35. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 130
  36. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 49
  37. Hippon Super, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-07), page 41
  38. Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 81
  39. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 92
  40. Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
  41. Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 20
  42. Mega, "August 1994" (UK; 1994-07-21), page 79
  43. Mega Play, "March/April 1991" (US; 1991-04-xx), page 43
  44. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 139
  45. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  46. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  47. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  48. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 15
  49. Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 88
  50. Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 78
  51. Computer + Video Giochi, "Aprile 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 94
  52. Mean Machines, "January 1991" (UK; 1991-01-03), page 40/41 (40)
  53. 53.0 53.1 Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 133
  54. 54.0 54.1 Player One, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 56
  55. File:PowerPlay DE 033.pdf, page 164
  56. Raze, "June 1991" (UK; 1991-04-25), page 34/35 (34)
  57. Zzap!, "Marzo 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 26/27 (26)
  58. Ação Games, "Setembro 1991" (BR; 1991-09-xx), page 30
  59. Aktueller Software Markt, "November 1990" (DE; 1990-10-26), page 144
  60. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 140
  61. Computer & Video Games, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-16), page 94
  62. Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 119
  63. Mean Machines, "January 1991" (UK; 1991-01-03), page 40
  64. Power Play, "12/90" (DE; 1990-11-16), page 164
  65. Sega Power, "March 1991" (UK; 1991-02-07), page 42
  66. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 56
  67. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 71
  68. User, "Septémvrios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 91
  69. Zzap!, "Marzo 1991" (IT; 1991-xx-xx), page 26
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Gain Ground

Gain Ground Title.png

Main page | Comparisons | Credits | Hidden content | Magazine articles | Reception | Promotional material | Region coding | Bootlegs


Music: Crack Down/Gain Ground (1989)
Sega Master System
Prototypes: Prototype

Sega Mega Drive
Prototypes: 1990-07-27