Phalanx (video game)

Infobox VG
title = Phalanx


developer = ZOOM Inc., Kemco
publisher = Nintendo
designer =
engine =
released = 1992
genre = Shooting
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = Sharp X68000, Super NES, GBA
media = cartridge
requirements =
input =

"Phalanx" is a space shooter video game designed by ZOOM Inc. for the Sharp X68000, and Kemco for the Super Nintendo and Game Boy Advance."Phalanx" is infamous for the incongruous box art in its American release: it displays a bearded elderly man dressed in overalls, wearing a fedora and playing a banjo while a futuristic spaceship flies in the background. The popular media site IGN named it their 5th "Most Awesome Cover" in a recent Top 25 Countdown on their website [http://ps3.ign.com/articles/776/776279p5.html] .

The box art designers later admitted that they had deliberately chosen this theme in order to attract the customer with something original considering there were many space shooters in the market that looked alike.Fact|date=February 2007 The Game Boy Advance release redesigned the cover in favor of a prominent spaceship image.

A mini version called Tiny Phalanx was featured in the ZOOM Inc. 1995 Playstation beat 'em up, Zero Divide. To access it,turn the Playstation on, and hold Select and Start on controller 2 untilyou see the Tiny Phalanx title screen.

Gameplay

The player's ship can switch to different speeds at any time, allowing the player to move fast to avoid enemies and obstacles entirely, or slow down to weave between enemy bullets. An unusual addition for a shooter at the time is the ability for the player's ship to take multiple hits before losing a life. A variety of weapons can be picked up from items that certain enemies leave behind, and up to three can be stored at a time. The player can switch between these weapons freely, and sacrifice a weapon to produce a "smart bomb" effect, freeing up the slot to grab another weapon.