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Summary

Einhänder (often just called Einhänder) is a futuristic side‑scrolling shooter that blends 2.5D graphics with a techno‑driven soundtrack, giving the impression of depth while keeping the player on a two‑dimensional plane. The ship’s signature manipulator arm lets you snatch floating gunpods—cannons, missiles, even lightsaber‑like blades—and mount them in either an overhead or belly position for varied firing angles. Each pod has its own ammo pool, and when it runs dry it drops away, forcing you to constantly adapt your load‑out as you blast through waves of enemies and massive, destructible bosses.

The game’s scoring hinges on a hit‑counter multiplier: destroying enemy cores raises the bar, and when it flashes you can rack up huge bonuses in a short window. Square’s first true 3D shooter, it was directed by former Konami programmer Tatsuo Fujii, who infused the title with German terminology, Greek myth references, and even biblical nods. The North American release tweaked arm‑switch speed, altered some power‑ups, and stripped the “Free” mode that offered unlimited continues without scoring.

Critics praised Einhänder’s intense AI, diverse spacecraft options, and the way its techno/trance soundtrack amplified the high‑octane action, though they noted the short playtime and lack of a two‑player mode. Its striking visuals, detailed environments, and colossal bosses helped it stand out in the late‑90s shooter scene, earning generally favorable reviews and a cult following among retro enthusiasts.

Storyline

Einhänder is set in a fictional future where the Earth colony Sodom and the Moon colony Selene are locked in a second conflict after the First Moon War devastated most of Earth’s surface and installed a totalitarian regime. The Moon now attacks again, seeking natural resources, and Selene’s strategy relies on one‑man fighter spacecraft called Einhänder on kamikaze missions. The player assumes the role of one of these pilots, tasked with striking the Earth capital.

As the mission progresses, the Selenean military satellite Hyperion transmits orders while the on‑board computer EOS synthesizes them and logs the pilot’s battle data. After the final objective, Hyperion announces the completion of the latest EOS unmanned fighter’s battle pattern and offers the pilot the honor of becoming the target of the last EOS test. Death in the test advances the pilot two classes and grants the Sirius decoration, prompting the pilot to question why allies would terminate them.

A month later the pilot re‑emerges in space, still piloting an armed Einhänder. Hyperion labels the act treasonous and demands surrender, but the pilot fights through Selenean forces and confronts Hyperion as the final boss. The ending shows the damaged ship diving into a fleet with the Moon looming behind; an epilogue reveals the lone pilot ended the war by destroying both armies, ushering peace, though their name is erased from official records and remembered only by veterans. A post‑credits scene hints at another Einhänder powering up.

Edited by Maya Carter