Metal Black
1991 · Horizontal Shooter · Arcade
Overview
Metal Black (1991) is Taito's horizontal shooter that began as a third Darius game, with no extra weapons or bombs, only a beam powered by collecting Newalone molecules.
Deep Dive
Rogue pilot John Ford flies the Black Fly against the alien Nemesis. The ship has no extra weapons or bombs; collecting Newalone molecules raises its beam level, and at high levels the beam can clash with a boss's own in a "beam duel". There are two endings.
Developer Story
Takatsuna Senba designed it, with music by Yasuhisa Watanabe, on Taito's F1 System board. It received mixed reviews and a Japan-only Saturn version in 1996.
Did You Know?
- It was developed as "Darius Part 22" and reworked as an original game because its tone was considered too dark.
- Its beam system inspired G.rev's Border Down.
Sources & further reading
- Metal Black (video game) — Wikipedia
