Pulstar

Before the dazzling Blazing Star came along, the Aicom studio laid the foundation of this line of shooters with a game called Pulstar. This horizontal shoot 'em up for the Neo Geo from the mid-nineties is often compared to the legendary R-Type series, and that is no coincidence — it shares with it a slower, more tactical pace as well as an emphasis on memorizing the layout of enemies and hazards.

Pulstar stood out with pre-rendered graphics that gave the ships and biomechanical bosses a plastic, organic look reminiscent of the work of H. R. Giger. Backgrounds full of tentacles, sinews, and cosmic monsters created an oppressive atmosphere that differed markedly from the more colorful, action-packed shooters of the time.

In terms of gameplay, the game rested on the charged shot: holding the button accumulated energy for a powerful attack, so the player constantly had to weigh when to fire normally and when to save up a devastating salvo. This mechanic, together with the merciless difficulty and the need to learn the levels by heart, made Pulstar a title for patient and determined players.

Pulstar built a reputation as one of the most demanding and, at the same time, most beautiful shooters on the platform. As with a number of Neo Geo exclusives, its high purchase price turned it into a rarity that collectors still crave today, and original cartridges are among the prized pieces.

Thanks to later digital reissues and collections, it also reached a new generation of players who appreciate its atmosphere as well as its tough but fair challenge. For connoisseurs of the genre, Pulstar remains an unmissable gem among 2D shooters.

Why play: For the oppressive biomechanical atmosphere, the tactical charged-shot system, and an honest R-Type-style challenge.