Hellfire (Arcade, Genesis, TurboGrafx CD)

 

EUR Box Art

In the world of classic arcade gaming, few developers have left as lasting an impact as Toaplan. Known for their fast-paced, action-packed shoot 'em ups like Tiger-Heli, Flying Shark, and Twin Cobra, Toaplan's games have stood the test of time as some of the most challenging and enjoyable experiences in the genre. One of their lesser-known, but no less influential titles is Hellfire, a horizontally scrolling shooter that was first released in arcades in 1989.

Conceived by Tatsuya Uemura during his time working at Toaplan and developed in conjunction with Truxton, Hellfire served as an experiment to translate the company's shoot 'em up gameplay style in a horizontal format. However, it faced a problematic development cycle and went through various changes before its eventual launch to the market. Despite these challenges, Hellfire was met with positive reception from video game magazines upon its release in arcades, with many praising its unique weapon system, challenging gameplay, and fast-paced action.

First Final Boss (Arcade)

In the game, players assume the role of Space Federation member Captain Lancer, who must take control of the CNCS1 space fighter craft in a surprise attack to overthrow the robotic dictator Super Mech and his army, as well as the Black Nebula space matter that threatens to engulf human-controlled galaxies. The game features six increasingly difficult levels, each with a boss at the end that must be fought before progressing any further.

One of the standout features of Hellfire is its weapon system. Players are equipped with four main weapons at the beginning that can be upgraded by picking up "P" icons and switch between them by pressing the change button, with each one shooting at a fixed direction no matter which way players move. Other items can also be picked up along the way such as speed increasers and "B" icons that grants a number of points, which are crucial for reaching high-scores to obtain extra lives.

MegaDrive Version

After its initial release in arcades, Hellfire was ported to the Sega Genesis by NCS Corporation and published worldwide by Masaya, Seismic, Tectoy and Sega between 1990 and 1992. The PC Engine Super CD-ROM² conversion by NEC Avenue was also published exclusively in Japan on April 12th, 1991. Each version of the title features various additions and changes compared with the original release.

The Genesis port introduced the titular main weapon as a bomb capable of obliterating any enemy caught within its blast radius, as well as a shield and a satellite "option". It was also well-received by critics and players alike, with many praising its faithful recreation of the arcade experience. The PC Engine Super CD-ROM version also received similar positive response for its unique features and improvements over the arcade version.

It's worth noting that the game's engine would later be repurposed into Zero Wing, another Toaplan's title, which became known for its poor English translation and its meme-worthy dialogues.

As of 2019, the rights to the title is owned by Tatsujin, a company founded in 2017 by former Toaplan member Masahiro Yuge and now-affiliate of Japanese arcade manufacturer exA-Arcadia alongside many other Toaplan IPs.