Another Shooter With Space-Sounding Words in it: Solar Striker, Game Boy 1989

Solar Striker is a very, very simple vertical scrolling shooter released for the Game Boy in 1989, by Nintendo. By Nintendo standards the game is simplistic and boring, but it was one of the first shooters released on a system facing a glut of puzzlers and platformers.

I could be rough on Solar Striker, whether for its single, endlessly-repeating musical track, it’s lack of an interesting power-up system, or its easiness. I beat half the game on one try, and I was tired. However, I won’t be rough on it. Solar Striker is actually perfectly suited for the Game Boy.

First of all, it’s very simple. No giant bombs to clear the screen, no real power-up system, and very lackluster backgrounds (including some decidedly non-“solar” looking backgrounds like a highway lined with trees) are the order of the day. The upside, however, is that unlike Gradius (reviewed below) the Game Boy can actually handle it. There’s no lag or slow-down at all, making the controls feel as quick and responsive as an arcade game.

The predetermined enemy patterns and relative lack of bullets (you’re more likely to run into something) make it reminiscent of Tecmo’s Star Force, an arcade and NES classic. Making up for easy levels, however, are a variety of surprisingly well-rendered and challenging bosses, including a base-and-core boss where stationary guns fill the screen while you have to shoot a stationary, protected core.

And let’s not forget, Solar Striker is 1989! For such an early title, it’s really not bad at all. For a veteran gamer who cut their teeth in the arcades, Solar Striker is not even worth a look. But for an inexperienced gamer or a kid – who was the main Game Boy consumer in any case – it’s a decent, even good, game that recognizes the limits of the console and delivers a fun and playable, if ultimately forgettable, shoot-em-up experience.

Final Rating: 7/10
Final Comment: Eminently playable and fun shooter, though too stripped down to be a nostalgia-inducing classic. Reminds me why it's a good thing we moved beyond the Game Boy.