Power Blade is a 2D action Platform Game by Taito. Released in 1991 for the NES. It originally went by the name of Power Blazer in Japan and was a different game, but was re-purposed into a different title for Western audiences.
In the not too distant year of 2191, the planet Earth is living a peaceful existence under the guidance and protection of a super computer. Until one day, the master controls to the computer malfunction, creating mass chaos. Enter our hero Nova, a special agent tasked to infiltrate the Master Computer's control system and shut it down. Armed with a boomerang, Nova has to fight through dangerous enemies and acquire ID cards from contact agents within the sectors.
Power Blade draws heavy inspiration from popular platform games of its era like Mega Man (Classic) and the Castlevania games. You get to choose between a total of six levels that can be played in any order. The goal of each level to find Nova's contact in the level, who will give him the I.D. card which will allow access to the boss room. Nova comes armed with a throwable boomerang, which can be upgraded with items that increase its range and power. Also hidden within the levels is a special armor item that gives Nova stronger attacks as well as giving him extra hit points. The stages themselves are quite large and spacious, with lots of hidden items and secrets.
The game was followed by a sequel, Power Blade 2, released a year later in 1992. The Delta Foundation is offering its next generation of combat cyborgs to the Department of Defense for sale, but makes it clear that if rejected, they'll sell the war machines to the nation's enemies. Nova is assigned to destroy the Delta Foundation and stop their blackmail.
This video game contains examples of:
- A.I. Is a Crapshoot: The main problem in this game is caused by the Master Computer completely losing it circuits and malfunctioning.
- The Ahnold: Nova even looks like him.
- American Kirby Is Hardcore: An interesting early example. The player character in Power Blazer is a short little Super-Deformed guy with a helmet on. In Power Blade, he's a much more realistically-proportioned Action Genre Hero Guy who bears an uncanny resemblance to Arnold Schwarzenegger on the game's cover. Read more about it here.
- Battle Boomerang: Your main weapon. You can get items to increase its throw range and power, as well as how many you can throw at once.
- Body Armor as Hit Points: The armor gives Nova extra hits on top of his own Life Meter.
- Breakable Power-Up: The armor has three hit points on its own. Losing all three causes Nova to lose the armor and is downgraded back to his boomerangs.
- Discard and Draw: The Armor power exchanges Nova's boomerangs for a powerful wave attack.
- Dolled-Up Installment: In Japan, the game originally went by the name of Power Blazer and starred a squat Mega Man-expy. The game was a lot more comedic and silly in tone as well. The hero was replaced with Nova in the American release.
- Emergency Energy Tank: Rations are special items located in the levels. It restores Nova's health to full when it's used.
- Flame Spewer Obstacle: Sector 2 has floor and ceiling mounted flame emitters that spew jews of flame.
- Hub Level: You have full access to six different levels in the start that can be selected in any order. Beating all six unlocks the seventh and final stage, as you may expect.
- Master Computer: The main antagonist of the game.
- Mecha-Mooks: Numerous robot enemies litter the levels.
- No Celebrities Were Harmed: Nova on the box looks similar to Tobey Maguire, in the game however, it's clear he's meant to give off the impression of Arnold himself, or rather his Terminator likeness.
- Powered Armor: Getting the armor power-up coats Nova in a completely full-armored body, making his normal attacks stronger as well as rewarding him extra hit points.
- Power-Up Food: Hamburger power ups restore a little of Nova's health.
- Sentry Gun: Enemy roster includes floor-mounted automatic gun turrets.
- Smart Bomb: Grenades clear the screen of enemies with each use.
- Spikes of Doom: Spikes are fairly uncommon in this game, but they do exist and should be avoided.
- Weaponized Exhaust: One of the attacks of the final boss involves trying to damage the player with steam exhausts.
