Composer(s) Tatsuya Uemura Initial release date 1989 Mode Single-player video game | Genre(s) Scrolling shooter Developer Toaplan | |
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Release date(s) Arcade
INT: 1989
Mega Drive/Genesis
JP: September 28, 1990
EU: 1991
NA: 1991
PC Engine CD-ROM²
JP: April 12, 1991 Platforms Sega Genesis, Arcade game, TurboGrafx-16 Publishers Taito, Masaya, NEC Avenue, Ltd., Seismic Inc. Similar Toaplan games, Shoot 'em up games | ||
Hellfire (ヘルファイヤー) is a 1989 scrolling shooter video game developed by Toaplan and published by Taito. The game was initially released in the arcades before it was ported to the Mega Drive/Genesis and the PC Engine CD-ROM² System, the latter under the name Hellfire S. Hellfire S contained notable differences from the other versions, including a remixed, more orchestral soundtrack, animated cut scenes, and the replacement of the leading male character Lancer with a female character called Kaoru (voiced by voice actress Yumi Tōma).
Contents
Plot
The story to Hellfire takes place in 2998, where man has reached a great point in galactic travel and colonization with the help of a peaceful society. However, a mysterious space matter known as Black Nebula appears and starts engulfing different stars before reaching man's latest colonized galaxy. It is eventually revealed that the force behind this matter is Super Mech, a mysterious robotic dictator from the farthest regions of space with the only intention to destroy any resistance that it and its massive space armada faces.
A Space Federation member known only as Captain Lancer decides to initiate a surprise attack against Super Mech by piloting the only available space fighter craft, the CNCS1, loaded with the strongest weapon available in the galaxy: Hellfire.
In the arcade and Mega Drive versions, Lancer returns safely to Earth after having defeated the Black Nebula. The PC Engine CD-ROM version features a more poignant ending, with the main character Kaoru taking her own life in a heroic act of self-sacrifice in order to save the Earth.
Development
The music in Hellfire was composed by Tatsuya Uemura.
Reception
MegaTech magazine said it was "a slick and very good looking blaster which oozes playability". Mega placed the game at #4 in their Top Mega Drive Games of All Time.