The VC Advantage: VC Advantage R
by JC Fletcher 
{ May 21st 2008 at 9:00PM }
Star Soldier R is unique among Wii shooters in that it's completely score-focused. While most shmups are, at least for normal players, completion-focused, SSR's time limits and leaderboards make it clear that getting more points than other players is the only true goal. The short play sessions mean that you can not only memorize the stage layouts, but you can plan your route for maximum score achievement. This brings a level of play normally reserved for the best shmuppers to the rest of us. The fact that you can share scores online means that you may have motivation to take part in that level of play as well.
Gallery: Star Soldier R
On the official Star Soldier R website, in addition to awesome wallpapers, Hudson has also written up helpful guides that may immediately help boost your score. There aren't any cheats or anything, but the information works as a primer to Star Soldier R score-attacking.
"Master Higgins' Hints and Tips" lay out the point values of everything you could shoot, from enemies to powerups. There is some basic (obvious) hint-type information as well, like "For the 2-Minute Mode, prioritize destroying the end boss ASAP. If you need to take hits to do so, don't hesitate." More interesting is the detailed guide to destroying the "Lazarus" enemy in a way that awards you the most possible points -- there's even a video. This section reveals that killing the Lazarus in a certain way awards a bonus, which suggests a surprising level of depth in the simple shooting.
It's clear that someone at Hudson actually cares about Star Soldier R enough to put this information together. It reads as if someone working there just liked the game enough to write this up. It's certainly not a necessity to offer this much information about a WiiWare game. The enthusiasm, we believe, is infectious.
The VC Advantage is a weekly look at the secrets inside games -- not just cheat codes, but assorted trivia and oddities. We aim to bring back the feeling of the hint columns from game magazines, except when we do something else.
"Master Higgins' Hints and Tips" lay out the point values of everything you could shoot, from enemies to powerups. There is some basic (obvious) hint-type information as well, like "For the 2-Minute Mode, prioritize destroying the end boss ASAP. If you need to take hits to do so, don't hesitate." More interesting is the detailed guide to destroying the "Lazarus" enemy in a way that awards you the most possible points -- there's even a video. This section reveals that killing the Lazarus in a certain way awards a bonus, which suggests a surprising level of depth in the simple shooting.
It's clear that someone at Hudson actually cares about Star Soldier R enough to put this information together. It reads as if someone working there just liked the game enough to write this up. It's certainly not a necessity to offer this much information about a WiiWare game. The enthusiasm, we believe, is infectious.
The VC Advantage is a weekly look at the secrets inside games -- not just cheat codes, but assorted trivia and oddities. We aim to bring back the feeling of the hint columns from game magazines, except when we do something else.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dash @ May 21st 2008 11:29PM
The tips on the Hudson site are great, but I still want to know how the hell did the guy pressed 16 times per second. My record on Star Soldier is 8.7.
No wonder they did a game about him (Adventure Island).
James @ May 22nd 2008 4:05PM
He's actually a failed Terminator prototype.
"Can he withstand a blast from a tank cannon?"
"No, but he can move his finger *really really fast*."
"Meh. Send him back to the eighties."
Shogan @ May 22nd 2008 2:00AM
So how is this game, really? As of now, it's the only thing that comes close to appealing to me on the service. Is it worth the price, as well as the space?
Julien @ May 22nd 2008 9:22AM
I own this and defend your castle and the two ROCKS :)
Flaken2000 @ May 22nd 2008 6:40PM
I had read a couple of reviews on this game but wasn't convinced until i read this article.
"The enthusiasm, we believe, is infectious." That statement alone made me really want to try it.
I downloaded it, tried it and i checked the Star Soldier R website. I absolutely love it.
Thanks for the great article.