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1989 · Port · Tose Co. · Arcade · Science

Dangerous Seed

Port

Dangerous Seed is a shooter released in 1989. You pilot the Moon Diver fighter, which is made up of α-Ship, β-Ship, and γ-Ship, to fight off the mysterious aliens. If you can keep all of your ships running through the battle, they can also combine and transform into an ultimate configuration.

Released: 1 December 1989
Platforms: Arcade Nintendo Switch PlayStation 4 Sega Genesis
Genres: Arcade Science Shoot 'em up Shooter
Developers: Tose Co.Namco
Publishers: Namco Hamster Corporation
Modes: Single-player
Themes: Action
Country: Japan
Age ratings: PEGI 7 CERO B ESRB E
Languages: English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Spanish (Spain)

About

Dangerous Seed is a 1989 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Namco for arcades. Controlling one of three different starships, the player is tasked with destroying an alien race known as the Danger Seed before they wipe out all of mankind. Each ship has their own set of weapons and abilities, such as shots that dissolve enemies and target-seeking projectiles, and can sustain multiple hits before being destroyed. The player's ships can also combine into a new ship, the Moon Diver, featuring a stronger shield and additional weapons.

The game was designed by Yuichiro Shinozaki, a character artist for Namco's own Babylonian Castle Saga franchise, with music composed by Yoshinori Nagumo. Early versions of the game were known as Kristallkern, which remains in-game during the end credits. A conversion for the Sega Mega Drive was released a year later in 1990, which included new features such as additional stages and an arranged soundtrack.

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

Dangerous Seed is a vertically scrolling shooter video game. The player controls a fleet of ships — Alpha, Beta and Gamma — as they must wipe out the alien race known as Danger Seed before they destroy all of mankind. Each ship features different attack types; Alpha has a standard shot, Beta has a V-shaped laser weapon, and Gamma has the ability to shoot forwards and backwards. All three also have a health meter that will deplete when they are inflicted with enemy fire, and having one of the ships destroyed will cause the player to take control of the next ship.

If all three ships are destroyed, the game will be over. The three ships can also find power capsules by destroying large "Turtle" enemies that upgrade their abilities, such as homing missiles, "ring lasers" that track enemies, and a melt-missile that dissolves enemies when they are hit.

Development

Dangerous Seed was released by Namco for arcades only in Japan in December 1989. It was designed by Yuichiro Shinozaki, who was a character designer for the Babylonian Castle Saga franchise. The game was originally known as Kristallkern in early prototypes, with the end credits still retaining this name — the credits also hint at a follow-up with a vague "To be continued" message, but a sequel was never released. The soundtrack was composed by Yoshinori Nagumo, which was re-released by Victor Entertainment in 1990. A Sega Mega Drive conversion was released exclusively in Japan on December 18, 1990, adding new features such as additional stages and an arranged soundtrack.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Dangerous Seed as the seventeenth most successful table arcade game of 1989. The Mega Drive version in particular was met with mixed reviews, being praised for its colorful graphics, fast-paced gameplay and soundtrack, but criticized for its lack of originality and being unable to stand out among other shooters in the market.

Japanese publication Famitsu liked the game's fast-paced gameplay, colorful graphics and soundtrack, while German magazine Aktueller Software Markt (ASM) praised its detailed graphics and intense gameplay, labeling it was one of the best shooting games released for the Mega Drive. ASM also liked the game's soundtrack and large, impressive boss fights. Power Play applauded the game's level of suspense and vibrant graphics, alongside its unique enemy designs and power-up items. Super Gaming magazine was the most positive towards the game, who praised its graphics, boss fights, power-up items and "sonic-filled" gameplay, saying it was one of the most unique shooters available.