Known as "GunHed" in Japan (Based on a Japanese sci-fi film), this top-down shooter from Hudson and Compile is really one of a kind. I've been a fan of shooters since the 80's and grew up playing games like Gyruss, Galaga, Life Force, etc. I was definitely a Nintendo kid in the late 80's and early 90's and though I always wanted to get my hands on a Turbografx 16, it wasn't until recently that I did. Blazing Lazers was the first game I threw on when I received my system and I was immediately blown away. The speed is great, the graphics are impressive for 1989, and there is never slow down or the frustrating blinking sprites you get on a lot of NES games that attempt to do too much at once. The power-up system is fairly unique, as you can switch between weapons by picking up 'Gels' labeled by Roman Numeral I-IV. You can then continue to power up each weapon by picking up purple 'Gels'. The leveling system for weapons ramps up fast and you really need to just not get hit if you want to get really powered up. There are secondary (passive) power-ups too, which consist of a Shield, Homing Missiles, and Multi-Fire. It takes some playing to find the best combinations of the 2 types of weapons, which helps the replay value. The music is decent but some of the sounds are a bit harsh, unbalanced, and probably could have been better developed (especially for a game that looks and plays so great). When you get a 1-up the music freaks out and there is a sound that plays, followed by silence before the music kicks back in. This seems to be a pretty standard Compile tactic as it's also this way in Zanac for NES, but I found it to be a bit jarring. Perhaps the most unique feature is the ability to change the speed of your ship's movement (control sensitivity) with the select button on the fly. This is such a cool feature. There are many times where you need to move at lightning speed back and forth on the screen but also times where moving more slowly and precise will be in your best interest. Overall I would probably give the game a 4.5/5 but that is not an option on ebay. The difficulty is at a good level for fans of the genre. It's not an impossible game but you do need to concentrate. If you own a TG16 and don't have this game, what are you doing? If you don't own a TG16 and are thinking about it, this is a great grame to get your collection going.Read full review
Blazing Lazers is one of the best, if not the best, console shoot-em-ups of the 8/16-bit era. The game is easy enough during the early stages to keep you from getting frustrated and difficult enough during the later stages to challenge you. The graphics are quite good for the time; quite colorful and populated with large and detailed sprites and background images. I've found it particularly cool that the game is played on an area wider than a television will display, requiring you to fly to the extreme right or left of the screen in order to see parts of the game screen. If you own a Turbo Grafx and can get your hands on this game, do it. I'm very, very happy that I did.
Good game a Little on the expensive side.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: Pre-owned
This is one of my favorite Turbo Grafx 16 games. Instead of moving right to left, you move up and down. Its a verticle shooting game, unlike Ordyne and Sidearms. I love the upgrades and different weapons that you can use and the different levels are challenging. Great Game.
Blazing Lazers is an essential classic for the Turbografx 16. It's just a pleasing experience - the music, the graphics, the chained power-ups, etc. And unlike a lot of shooters, it gradually gets more challenging without being too frustrating. Highly, highly recommended.
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