Phalanx
Phalanx is a classic horizontal-scrolling shooter published by Kemco for the SNES, released in 1992, and it features a unique and memorable cover art featuring an old man playing a banjo. You pilot a spaceship, flying through a series of levels, shooting waves of enemy aircraft, and dodging a relentless barrage of enemy fire, with a focus on fast-paced action, reflexes, and strategic use of power-ups.
The gameplay involves moving your ship across the screen, shooting enemies with a standard gun, and collecting power-ups to upgrade your weapons, including spread shots, lasers, and missiles, and you can also collect "bombs" that clear the screen of enemies. A unique feature is the "weapon" variety – the game features a wide array of power-ups and weapons, and you can also collect "speed" power-ups to increase your movement speed. The levels include various sci-fi environments, each with unique enemy patterns and challenging boss encounters.
The game features a health bar and a continue system, and you can also earn bonus points by collecting items. The graphics are colorful and detailed, with a sci-fi theme and well-rendered sprites, and the backgrounds are varied and detailed. The music is fast-paced and energetic, with an electronic and driving soundtrack that keeps the adrenaline high. Critics praised the action, the weapon variety, and the challenge, making it a solid horizontal shooter for the SNES. It supports one player. Phalanx is a fun and engaging shooter that offers a great sci-fi experience.