pulstar

pulstar

Neo-geo, 1995

There’s a reason Aicom’s challenging shooter feels like an enhanced update of R-type – it’s largely made by the same team of talented developers. While Pulstar features a similar aesthetic to Irem’s biomechanical shooter – albeit with distinctive prerendered visuals – it does build on R-type’s design with additions like being able to destroy your orb in exchange for a powerful one-off shot, and the ability to switch between rapid-firing and more powerful charged shots.

Pulstar also remains incredibly challenging, so you’ll need exceptional skills (or plenty of credits) to reach its final stage.