Pulstar

Hardcore shoot 'em up for the Neo Geo CD with a tough but fair relationship between the player's vessel and the enemy hoards. Relies on memorising the attack waves to aid progress and a lot of joypad dexterity rather than just pummelling fire. Irem's influence is there to see with the detachable probe, but the overall design is very much a unique SNK master plan with some sumptuous backgrounds and slinky animation. Power charge weapons certainly help escape a claustrophobic corner of the screen.