'''Blast Off''' (ブラストオフ - ''Burasuto Ofu''), is a vertical scrolling [[shooter]] arcade game, that was released by [[Namco]] in [[1989]] (only in Japan); it runs on that company's System 1 hardware, and is the sequel to [[Bosconian]], released eight years earlier in both Japan and the US (the latter under a [[Midway Games|Midway]] license).
'''Blast Off''' is a vertical scrolling [[shooter]] arcade game that was released by [[Namco]] in [[1989]] only in Japan. It runs on Namco System 1 hardware and is the sequel to [[Bosconian]], which was released 8 years earlier.
==Introduction==
The player must take control of the Star Fighter from the original game, for the second time; however, as with many other vertical scrolling shooters (such as Namco's own [[Xevious]]), it is now always facing top of the screen and constantly moving upward while the background scrolls down behind it bringing enemies (many of which are new ones) into view, that players will have their chances to kill for points. This game uses two buttons - one is used to fire circular shots at the enemies, while the other is used to cycle through that Star Fighter's four varieties of firing patterns. The patterns will be cycled through in the following order with each press of the pattern selection button, before reverting back to the first:
Like many other vertical scrolling shooters, the player controls a ship which is facing the top of the screen and always moving forward, while the background scrolls down, bringing enemies into view. The player may destroy them for points.
* '''Red''': Two shots will be fired directly ahead of the Star Fighter (in what can only be described as a "double-helix" twisting pattern); this is the pattern it begins out with, and will revert to it after death.
* '''Blue''': One shot is fired directly ahead of the Star Fighter, while another is fired directly behind it (it is the original firing pattern, but perhaps the one that's of the least use now due to the green one).
* '''Yellow''': One shot is fired directly ahead of the Star Fighter while another is fired to its left side and a third is fired to its right side; this one is particularly useful when getting attacked from both sides.
* '''Green''': Two shots are fired diagonally ahead of the Star Fighter (to the north-west and north-east) while a third one is fired directly behind it; this one is particularly useful when being attacked from behind.
The game has 2 buttons. One is used to fire shots at the enemies, while the other is used to change the ship's firing pattern. The patterns are as follows:
By pressing and holding down the firing button, the Star Fighter will fire more powerful, spherical shots at the enemies; they will not disappear after impact, and are particularly useful in the worlds' third areas (where the Star Fighter undergoes a dramatic increase in size), most notably against the bosses at the end of each one.
* '''Red''': two shots in a spiral pattern.
* '''Blue''': one shot straight ahead and one behind.
* '''Yellow''': one shot straight ahead, one left, and one right
* '''Green''': two shots diagonally forward (one to the left and one to the right), and one straight behind.
By pressing and holding the button, the ship will fire more powerful shots.
Even though the game is a sequel to Bosconian, Blast Off had more in common with Namco's own [[Dragon Spirit]] than with its predecessor. This is especially noticeable in the third area of every world, where the player's ship increases in size. Despite the gameplay differences, the connection with Bosconian was emphasized by Namco in the marketing of the game, with the hexagonal space stations from Bosconian appearing on the title screen and on the game's flyer, and also making appearances in the game itself.
<center><gallery>
File:Blast Off title screen.png|Title screen.
File:Blast Off gameplay.png|The first area of the first world (at a normal size).
File:Blast Off gameplay 2.png|The third area of the first world (at a larger size).
File:Blast Off gameplay 3.png|The "boss" for the first world (at a larger size).
File:Blast Off gameplay 4.png|The first area of the third world (at a smaller size).
Blast Off (ブラストオフ - Burasuto Ofu), is a vertical scrolling shooter arcade game, that was released by Namco in 1989 (only in Japan); it runs on that company's System 1 hardware, and is the sequel to Bosconian, released eight years earlier in both Japan and the US (the latter under a Midway license).
The player must take control of the Star Fighter from the original game, for the second time; however, as with many other vertical scrolling shooters (such as Namco's own Xevious), it is now always facing top of the screen and constantly moving upward while the background scrolls down behind it bringing enemies (many of which are new ones) into view, that players will have their chances to kill for points. This game uses two buttons - one is used to fire circular shots at the enemies, while the other is used to cycle through that Star Fighter's four varieties of firing patterns. The patterns will be cycled through in the following order with each press of the pattern selection button, before reverting back to the first:
Red: Two shots will be fired directly ahead of the Star Fighter (in what can only be described as a "double-helix" twisting pattern); this is the pattern it begins out with, and will revert to it after death.
Blue: One shot is fired directly ahead of the Star Fighter, while another is fired directly behind it (it is the original firing pattern, but perhaps the one that's of the least use now due to the green one).
Yellow: One shot is fired directly ahead of the Star Fighter while another is fired to its left side and a third is fired to its right side; this one is particularly useful when getting attacked from both sides.
Green: Two shots are fired diagonally ahead of the Star Fighter (to the north-west and north-east) while a third one is fired directly behind it; this one is particularly useful when being attacked from behind.
By pressing and holding down the firing button, the Star Fighter will fire more powerful, spherical shots at the enemies; they will not disappear after impact, and are particularly useful in the worlds' third areas (where the Star Fighter undergoes a dramatic increase in size), most notably against the bosses at the end of each one.
Title screen.
The first area of the first world (at a normal size).
The third area of the first world (at a larger size).
The "boss" for the first world (at a larger size).
The first area of the third world (at a smaller size).
