Shock Troopers

For other uses, see Shock troop (disambiguation).

Shock Troopers
File:Shock Troopers arcade.png Arcade flyer
Developer(s)	Saurus
Publisher(s)	SNK
Director(s)	Yasushi Okahara
Producer(s)	Nobuyuki Tanaka
Designer(s)	Kenji Ishimoto
Composer(s)	Masahiko Hataya Masaki Kase
Platform(s)	Arcade, Neo Geo, Virtual Console, PlayStation Network, IOS, Linux, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
Release	Template:Vgy Virtual Console JP: May 22, 2012 NA: October 25, 2012 PAL: November 8, 2012 Computers WW: January 8, 2016 Nintendo Switch JP: March 3, 2017 NA: March 9, 2017 PAL: March 3, 2017
Genre(s)	Run and gun
Mode(s)	Single-player, two-player co-op
Arcade system	Neo Geo

Shock Troopers (ショックトルーパーズ) is a run and gun arcade game developed by Saurus and published by SNK in 1997 for the Neo-Geo arcade and home platform. Gameplay involves taking command of one or three soldiers in an eight-way shooter. It was released for the Wii's Virtual Console service in 2012 and also incorporated into the PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable Neo Geo classics line in 2011. SNK Playmore released it for iOS, Linux and Windows via Humble Bundle and Steam in 2016.

Shock Troopers was included in SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1. A second game in the series, Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad, followed up in 1997.

Gameplay

At the beginning of each session, players choose whether to go through the game in one of two modes, "Lonely Wolf" or "Team Battle". In "Lonely Wolf", one character is controlled throughout the game, while "Team Battle" allows selecting a band of three soldiers through their missions, switching between them on-the-fly. Choosing to go it alone gives a higher starting life total, while proceeding as a team will give a wider variety of special weapons as well as a higher starting total (ten for each of the three characters instead of twenty for one).

At the beginning of the game, there is also a choice to travel through the Mountain, Jungle, or Valley route. Halfway through the game, a different route can optionally be chosen otherwise stay on the current path. Characters and paths chosen determine how much life bonus is received at the beginning of each level. Each stage is interspersed with boss battles (both in the middle and at the end of each stage). Until the very end, battling the enemy commander atop an aircraft.

Each character has their own virtues over other selections. Some might start with higher life totals, while others could move faster. Regardless of choice, the soldiers each possess a unique special weapon or "bomb", which varies in distance and range. Controls consist of an eight-way joystick and four buttons. Players move in eight directions with the joystick and fire, do evasive maneuvers, use their special weapon, and switch characters with the A, B, C, and D buttons, respectively.

Players must progress through six stages, each ending in a boss fight. The weapons can be fired in all eight directions, but holding down the fire button allows strafing. Attacking within close range of an enemy will yield items, including point bonuses, weapon power-ups, and life. Enemy fire can be avoided with the dodge button. In "Team Battle" mode, the three selected soldiers can be cycled to utilize the traits and special weapons of each.

Plot

The Bloody Scorpions terrorist group have kidnapped a scientist and his granddaughter Cecilia in order to gain the powerful drug, Alpha-301, which converts normal people into superhuman soldiers. A special team composed of eight soldiers from different countries must fight through their ranks in order to get to their leader and save the scientist's granddaughter and the world. (The sequel, Shock Troopers: 2nd Squad, has a completely unrelated story and different characters.)

Reception

The game was very well received. Classic Game Room described Shock Troopers for the PlayStation 3 as an "amazing" shooter with "fantastic" gameplay, controls, and the best game of 2011, despite being just a re-release. Nintendo Life's Corbie Dillard scored the Virtual Console release a 7/10 and opined it "succeeds in offering up an intense and explosive run-and-gun experience." Digitally Downloaded reviewer awarded it four-and-half stars out of five, stating: "If you’ve never played a run-n’-gun shooter before, Shock Troopers should be one of your top contenders, regardless of your skill level." According to Hardcore Gaming 101, unlike the version included in SNK Arcade Classics Vol. 1, the VC version "runs almost perfectly." The website especially hailed the game's "fantastic presentation that ranks among the best in the genre."

External links

• Shock Troopers at MobyGames
• Shock Troopers at the Killer List of Videogames