Silver Surfer (NES)

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Silver Surfer
Silver Surfer - NES.jpg
Platform: NES
Year: 1990
Developer: Software Creations

Silver Surfer is a horizontal-scrolling shooter, similar to Gradius. In this game, the Silver Surfer is summoned by Galactus to collect pieces for a powerful device. To do this, the Silver Surfer must traverse through six worlds, collecting a piece each world is completed. Each of these levels features an enemy from the comic series such as Reptyl, Mephisto, Possessor, Fire Lord, and Kylor. Each stage features a few sub-levels. The game also has an overhead view in some sections, playing similar to Galaga.

The game was highly criticized for its high difficulty; one hit kills you, and there are no kinds of health powerups or temporary invincibility. Pair this with obstacles all over the screen trying to kill you, and you've got a game that's near impossible to complete. However, the game was highly praised for its music.

Screenshots

Silver Surfer - NES - Title Screen.png

The title screen.

Silver Surfer - NES - Gameplay 1.png

The opening cutscene.

Silver Surfer - NES - Gameplay 2.png

The level select.

Silver Surfer - NES - Gameplay 3.png

Playing Reptyl section 1.

Silver Surfer - NES - Gameplay 4.png

Playing Reptyl section 2, which changes to an overhead view.

Silver Surfer - NES - Gameplay 5.png

This screen is burned into most people's minds who have played it.

Music

The game's soundtrack has been highly praised, some of which calling it one of the best video game soundtracks of all time. The soundtrack consists of fast-paced rock tunes that give the player the high energy. Tim and his brother Geoff collaborated to create a great soundtrack. Also, even though there's only 2 in-game tunes, they're both pretty lengthy and catchy, so the listener is unlikely to get bored of the music.

To create the music, the Follin brothers had to painstakingly write the music in 6502 assembly machine code, using a sound driver by Software Creations programmer Stephen Ruddy.

It is unknown who composed which track, though it's believed Tim wrote the Hi Score music, as it shares an identical style to Treasure Master and Pictionary, games that only he composed the music for, while the BGM songs are thought to be composed by Geoff, as they have a more atmospheric sound to them, something that Tim said his brother was prone to doing more than he.

# Title ComposerProgrammer Length Listen Download
01 Title Screen Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 3:11
Download
02 Summoned by Galactus Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 0:32
Download
03 World Selected Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 0:08
Download
04 BGM 1 Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 3:03
Download
05 BGM 2 Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 3:28
Download
06 Section Complete Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 0:06
Download
07 Device Completed Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 1:08
Download
08 Game Over Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 0:09
Download
09 Hi Score Tim Follin, Geoff FollinStephen Ruddy 2:35
Download

Credits

(Source)

The game's credits only appear after the ending after the start button is pressed. Stephen Ruddy has confirmed programming Software Creations' NES sound driver.

Audio Devices

The game uses the 2A03. The DPCM channel is never used. The game uses Stephen Ruddy's sound driver.

Game Rip

Format

Download

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Releases

  USA.svg   USA
Silver Surfer - NES.jpg
Title: Silver Surfer
Platform: Nintendo Entertainment System
Released: 1990-11-??
Publisher: Arcadia Systems