The Gunhed Star Fighter is the titular protagonist of the 1989 shoot 'em up Gunhed (also known as Blazing Lazers in North America). It is a specially-made starfighter created by the Earth Defense Force in order to destroy the Dark Squadron. The fighter is equip with a wide variety of primary and secondary weapons to help destroy eight enemy Super Weapons it comes across in-game.
History[]
The story of Gunhed / Blazing Lazers is partly different for both the Japanese and English versions.
55 years earlier, humanity successfully defeated an unknown adversary during the battle of Kyron 5, following this victory, a prolonged period of peace followed. Now however, that is all about to change, when a new entity known as the Dark Squadron launches an all-out invasion of the Solar System. Within a short period of time, half of the planets fall victim to the Dark Squadron's reign of terror; now they set their sights on Earth. A counterattack consisting of a large interception unit launched by the Earth Defense Force is sent to quell the invaders, but they are quickly crushed with the Dark Squadron virtually untouched. In a last ditch effort, the Earth Defense Force sends its last starfighter to fight off the invaders: a modified fighter called the Gunhed Star Fighter. This spacecraft is built with 80 tons of firepower, allowing it to potentially put a huge dent in the Dark Squadron's armada and destroy eight Super Weapons they possess. Once final preparations are completed, the fighter is subsequently launched to save the Earth from its impending destruction.
The Gunhed Star Fighter travels to eight different space bases and Earth-like environments (some of which are occupied by the Dark Squadron), where it encounters and destroys much of the Dark Squadron's forces as well as each of Super Weapons (which act as bosses). Once the final weapon is destroyed hidden within an alternate dimension, the fighter locates and infiltrates the headquarters of the Dark Squadron, there it battles through the heaviest resistance it has ever encounter, which not only consists of the remaining Dark Squadron forces, but also some of the previous Super Weapons (which were rebuilt at some point). After crushing the bulk of the Dark Squadron, the fighter confronts the Squadron's leader, the Dark Emperor. The emperor is prepared to battle the mighty fighter, as the battle against it that follows consists of three phases, one of which the emperor tricks the fighter by disguising itself as a hologram of a beautiful woman. Though despite its persistence, the Gunhed Star Fighter ultimately destroy the Dark Emperor, and in doing so, causes a chain reaction in the form of large explosion that destroys the headquarters. The fighter manages to escape in the nick of time as the Dark Squadron's fortress is completely destroyed in the resulting explosion.
Although the fighter escaped successfully, Gunhed is left badly damaged and adrift along with debris of Dark Squadron Flagship until it is picked up by a tractor beam shot by EDF salvage vassal sent to retrieve the banged-up Gunhed. With the Dark Squadron supposedly destroyed, it is hinted that a fragment of the Dark Squadron may have survived the explosion, and is now drifting aimlessly through outer space...
Weapons[]
The Gunhed Star Fighter's arsenal consists of a number of primary and secondary weapons and equipment. Both types of weapons can be upgraded by means of obtaining power-ups in the form of pink spheres, or by collecting the corresponding weapon power-up of the primary or secondary weapon that is currently equipped. When the fighter takes damage of any form, its current weapon will downgrade by one level.
One particular power-up known as "Full Power" will supercharge the currently equipped primary weapon to fire a more powerful variant of itself beyond what the normal power-up can achieve. Getting damaged however will downgrade the weapon to is normal maxed out state.
Primary[]
Photon Blaster - the default weapon of the Gunhed Star Fighter, it fires a twin rapid-fire stream of bullets that can destroy most small enemies quickly, but requires additional firepower against larger ones. When maxed out by normal power-ups, it will fire five streams in a star-shaped spread, similar to the default weapons in the Star Soldier series. With the "Full Power" power-up, the three frontal streams will be replaced by a powerful stream of energy bolts that explode upon contact, scattering bullets in the process.
Power Wave - fires a stream of large wave shots, which can be manipulated to move left or right by the fighter's horizontal movements. When maxed out by normal power-ups, an additional two streams will fire forwards from the sides of the fighter. With the "Full Power" power-up, an additional five wave shots will be fired in a horizontal line alongside the three main shots.
Field Thunder - fires a stream of lightning that can penetrate through small enemies. When upgraded, an additional streams will be fired from the sides of the craft that will travel in a zig-zag pattern. With the "Full Power" power-up, the streams will turn green and will gain homing properties, allowing them to track down nearby enemies.
Ring Blaster - in additon to firing a single stream of the Photon Blaster weapon, the fighter also deploys a pair of energy balls that rotate around the craft and absorb enemy fire. When upgraded, the number of energy balls increases to a maximum of four. With the "Full Power" power-up, the fighter will begin firing a stream of energy balls that travel forwards slowly in a helix pattern.
Secondary[]
Multi-Body - deploys an option drone that will follow the fighter's movement and provide additional firepower in the form of the currently equipped primary weapon, but only at its initial level. Up to two options can be deployed at once.
Homing Missile - fires a pair of missiles that will track down nearby enemies and destroy them. When upgraded, the number of missiles fired increases, up to maximum of eight.
Shield - deploys a force field around the fighter, allowing it to absorb a number of hits without downgrading the level of the primary weapon that is equipped. It can be recharged by picking up additional power-ups.
Other Weapons[]
- Smart Bomb - deploys a powerful bomb that clears the field of vision surrounding the Gunhed Star Fighter of all small enemies and projectiles, whilst also heavily damaging larger ones. The fighter only has a limited supply of these bombs, and it must replenish by picking up the power-up to the corresponding secondary weapon that is currently equipped to the craft. Up to 16 bombs can be stored at a time.
Gallery[]
