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'{{refimprove|date=July 2008}} {{Infobox VG |title = Power Blade |image = [[Image:Power Blade Boxart.jpg|256px]] |caption = Power Blade box art |developer = [[Taito]] |publisher = [[Taito]] |distributor = |designer = |released = {{vgrelease|NA=March {{vgy|1991}}<ref name="GameFAQ1">{{citation|title=''Power Blade'' Release Date|publisher=[[GameFAQs]]|accessdate=2008-07-22|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587520.html}}</ref>|EU={{Start date|1992|1|23}}<ref name="GameFAQ1" />}} |genre = [[Action game|Action]]/[[Platformer]] |modes = [[Single player]] |ratings = |platforms = [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] |media = [[Cartridge (electronics)|Cartridge]] |requirements = |input = [[Gamepad]] }} '''''Power Blade''''' is a [[Platformer|platforming]] [[video game]] developed and published by [[Taito]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]].<ref name="GameFAQ1" /> It was released in North America in March {{vgy|1991}} and in Europe on {{Start date|1992|1|23}}.<ref name="GameFAQ1" /> The game spawned a sequel, ''[[Power Blade 2]]'', released in {{vgy|1992}}.<ref name="GameFAQ2">{{citation|title=''Power Blade 2'' Release Date|publisher=[[GameFAQs]]|accessdate=2008-07-22|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587521.html}}</ref> ''Power Blade'' takes place in the colony of New Earth in the year 2191 and follows NOVA, the Chief Security Officer of a [[supercomputer]] called the Master Computer. He must restore the Master Computer — which has been taken offline by [[extraterrestrial life|aliens]]<ref name="Allgame">{{citation|last=Weiss|first=Brett Alan|title=''Power Blade'' — Overview|publisher=[[Allgame]]|accessdate=2008-07-22|url=http://www.allgame.com/cg/agg.dll?p=agg&sql=1:1278}}</ref> — by retrieving data tapes located in six sectors. The game features gameplay similar to the ''[[Mega Man]]'' series, in which players can select any of the six levels to play.<ref name="1up">{{citation|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|title=Total Makeover — Same Game, Different Name|publisher=[[1UP.com]]|date=2007-04-13|accessdate=2008-07-22|url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=7&cId=3158520}}</ref> Armed with a [[boomerang]], players must complete all six levels, overcoming obstacles and defeating any enemies in the way. ''Power Blade'' is a reworked and localized version of the Japanese Famicom game ''Power Blazer'', which was released also by Taito on {{Start date|1990|4|20}}.<ref name="GameFAQ3">{{citation|title=''Power Blazer'' Release Date|publisher=[[GameFAQs]]|accessdate=2008-07-22|url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/console/nes/data/587522.html}}</ref> The original title for North America was ''Power Mission'', after reworking the game they went with the name ''Power Blade''.<ref>{{citation|last=Covell|first=Chris|title=''Power Blade''|magazine=Digital Press|issue=5|page=196|url=http://www.nesworld.com/mirror/nr.htm}}</ref> The reworking included a complete overhaul of the levels, a change of the look of the main character from a cartoon–like robot to an [[Arnold Schwarzenegger]] look–alike, and a significant improvement in gameplay controls.<ref name="1up" /> The game's name comes from an item found in several levels; The Power Suit is an item that looks like a helmet. When collected Nova automatically equips the metal suit. This allows the player to shoot energy blasts known as "Power Blades" in any of the 8 directions and through most surfaces.<ref>''Power Blade'' Instruction manual</ref> ==Gameplay== [[Image:power blade gameplay.png|left|framed|Area 1 of ''Power Blade''.]] The player controls NOVA in a two-dimensional [[platformer|platforming]] environment. The object is to restore the Master Computer by going into each of six sectors of the Master Computer, accessing their databases, and recovering their data tapes. The player is armed with a [[boomerang]] in which the player can fire in all eight directions, destroying enemies. Throughout each sector, players can upgrade the power, range, and number of boomerangs by collecting various [[power-up]]s. The player has a [[Health (game mechanic)|life meter]] which decreases every time the player is hit by an enemy; players lose a life if their life meter runs out, if they fall into a pit, or if time runs out. The game ends when the player has lost all lives, but the game has a [[continue]] feature in which players can restart their game at the beginning of the level in which their game ended. ''Power Blade'' also has a [[Password (video games)|password]] feature which allows players to restart the game at a specific [[checkpoint (video gaming)|checkpoint]] at any time.<ref name="Allgame" /> In ''Power Blade'', players can go through the six sectors in any order via a stage select screen. The objective in each sector is to find the agent who can give players access into that sector's database and then enter the database's security room, where players must defeat a security guard ([[boss (video games)|boss]]) in order to gain access to the database itself and retrieve the tape. Once all six tapes have been gathered, the player gains access to the Master Computer's control center, where the player must destroy the alien overlord and restore the Master Computer back to its original state.<ref name="Allgame" /> One aspect of ''Power Blade'' that sets it apart form ''Power Blazer'' and ''Power Blade 2'' is that if the player falls off the screen they will die. In the other two games the player simply falls back to the previous area. {{fact|date=August 2008}} ==Plot== {{in-universe|date=September 2008}} After years of fighting that took millions of casualties, Earth was recovering from revolts in the 22nd century. In 2191, New Earth has a Master Computer that holds a secret database of the colony-planet's functioning. In wrong hands, the database could prove fatal to the whole planet. One day, aliens attack the Master Computer, making the Master control program malfunction. Nova, a lord of the ancient Power Blade is summoned to take care of the situation. The Power Blade is a glowing energy boomerang that Nova uses to defend himself. In order to access the Master Computer's Control Center, Nova first has to obtain tape units from the six sectors surrounding the Master Computer.<ref>''Power Blade'' Instruction manual</ref> Each sector is heavily guarded by aliens, and Nova has to locate and contact an agent first to receive an ID card used to access the security room located at the same sector. After defeating the security room guards, Nova can obtain the sector's tape unit and use it to disarm the sector. After the six sectors have been disarmed, Nova must fight his way through the Control Center, destroy the Master Computer and restore order to the society. ==Reception== ''Power Blade'' was the featured article and was on the cover in the April {{vgy|1991}} issue of ''Nintendo Power'' magazine.<ref>{{citation |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |issue= 23 |year= 1991 |date= April 1991}}</ref> ''Power Blade'' was one of the games covered in the NES section of the November 1991 issue of the U.K. gaming magazine ''Mean Machines'', where it received an 88% rating.<ref>{{citation |magazine=[[Mean Machines]] |issue= 14 |year= 1991 |date= November 1991}}</ref> ==References== {{reflist}} ==External links== *{{moby game|id=/power-blade|name=''Power Blade''}} *[http://hg101.classicgaming.gamespy.com/powerblade/powerblade.htm''Power Blade''] at Hardcore Gaming 101 [[Category:1991 video games]] [[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]] [[Category:Platform games]] [[Category:PlayChoice-10 games]] [[Category:Taito games]] [[ru:Power Blade]]'