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Game Info

Cover art of Baltron

3 / 5

12 votes

Platform
NES
Genres
Shoot 'em Up
Developers
Shouei System
Publishers
Toei Animation
Release date
March 19, 1986

Summary

Baltron is a horizontally scrolling shooter that originally appeared only on Japan’s Family Computer. The player pilots a sleek craft from a launch pad, blasting waves of enemy aircraft that scroll across the screen. Power‑ups drift by: a blue capsule tops off your energy, a yellow capsule grants temporary invincibility (though colliding with terrain still ends the run), and a koala icon awards an extra life. The game’s pacing forces you to balance aggressive firepower with careful navigation, because even the invincibility shield won’t protect you from the ground. Despite its limited release, Baltron’s quirky item icons and tight controls make it a hidden gem for retro shooter fans.

Storyline

Baltron on NES opens with a title screen that mimics the famous Star Wars opening crawl, even borrowing the iconic scrolling style. The screen flashes the phrase “A long long time ago,” a playful twist on the original saga’s introduction. The story is set in the year 2999, when humanity on the planet Star Lenion—clearly a stand‑in for Earth—finds itself under siege. The aggressors are the ruthless Bismark Empire, whose assault drives the game’s conflict. Players are thrust into this futuristic battle, fighting to defend their world from the imperial onslaught.

Edited by Maya Carter

Game Screenshots

  • Screenshot 1 of Baltron