Bosconian

Bosconian

Company type	Video game
Industry	Arcade games
Founded	1981
Founder	Namco
Products	Bosconian (arcade game)

Bosconian is a multidirectional shooting arcade title created and launched by Namco in Japan during 1981. In North America, distribution was handled by Midway Games. Players navigate a spacecraft capable of firing weapons both forward and backward simultaneously, targeting enemy missiles and bases to accumulate points.

While the game achieved commercial success and favorable reviews in Japan, it did not attain the widespread global popularity enjoyed by other shoot 'em ups from the arcade golden era. It was adapted for home computers under the name Bosconian '87 in 1987 and led to two follow-up titles: Blast Off (1989) and Final Blaster (1990). The title is acknowledged as a significant influence within the shoot 'em up category.

Gameplay

Players aim to earn points by eliminating enemy bases and missiles. The player controls the Starfighter, a craft capable of moving in eight directions while simultaneously firing forward and backward. Throughout gameplay, the ship remains centered on the display. Each level presents multiple green "base stars," which are enemy bases that must be destroyed to progress. These bases feature six cannons arranged in a hexagonal pattern surrounding a central core; destroying all cannons rewards bonus points. In later stages, cores actively defend themselves by opening and closing while launching missile attacks. A radar interface indicates enemy positions relative to the player’s ship. The game incorporates a color-coded alert system accompanied by voice announcements.

Players must also evade or destroy stationary hazards such as asteroids and mines, alongside various enemy missiles and ships that attempt collisions. Enemy bases occasionally dispatch squadrons flying in formation; taking down the squadron leader causes the group to scatter, but eliminating all enemies yields additional bonuses. Periodically, a spy ship appears which players must destroy to prevent the alert status from escalating to red. Throughout play, digitized voice alerts warn players of incoming dangers.

Plot

The narrative is set after the fictional Rock War, an interstellar conflict where alien forces nearly obliterated Earth's cities and enslaved humanity survivors. The game focuses on the Starfighter, an advanced human-built spacecraft designed to counterattack. Players assume control of its pilot with the mission of defeating alien invaders to save Earth.

Development

Originally, a Namco saleswoman recorded the game's voice lines aiming to attract American science fiction enthusiasts; however, her recordings were later replaced by those of Hideyuki Nakajima, who eventually became president of Namco America.

Reception

In Japan, Bosconian ranked seventh among arcade games in 1981 according to Game Machine, and appeared as the 22nd top-performing table arcade cabinet in August 1983. Globally, its impact was limited; numerous unsold units were converted into Galaga machines as that title's popularity surged.

At launch, it received positive critical feedback. Video Games Magazine commended its responsive eight-direction joystick despite conventional graphics and audio. Electronic Games praised its innovative full 360-degree movement combined with simultaneous front-and-back firing mechanics, along with solid gameplay and visual presentation.

By 1985, Computer Gamer described it as offering "good value" and remaining enjoyable years after release. A 1998 retrospective from Allgame highlighted its advanced firing system, radar interface, and alert features that set it apart from other games of its time.

The 2018 Sharp X68000 adaptation was praised by Akiba PC Hotline! for accurately reproducing the arcade experience along with its rearranged soundtrack. In contrast, the Sord M5 port received criticism from Beep! due to poor quality, low challenge level, and omission of features such as voice samples.

Awards

Bosconian secured the 1983 Arcade Award for "Best Science Fiction/Fantasy Coin-Op Game," outperforming competitors such as Atari's Gravitar and Sega's Zaxxon.

In 1998, the Japanese magazine Gamest honored Bosconian as one of the premier arcade titles of its time, emphasizing its groundbreaking radar feature, engaging environment, and compelling gameplay. It was recognized as a significant influence in the shooter genre with an expansive game environment and commended as "an excellent introductory game" for newcomers.

Follow-ups

The home computer adaptation, Bosconian '87, created by Binary Design, debuted in 1987 on systems such as the Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum, and Commodore 64. In 2003, PC Zone lauded the Spectrum 128 version's music, describing it as a "spiffing little game." Meanwhile, Sinclair User rated it seven out of ten stars.

A direct continuation titled Blast Off was released in Japan in 1989, followed by Final Blaster in 1990 for the PC Engine, both exclusively launched within the Japanese market.

Influence

Recognized as a trailblazer in multidirectional shooting games, Bosconian has been dubbed "a granddaddy of the multidirectional shooter" by Retro Gamer. Its design inspired prominent arcade games like Sinistar (1983) and Time Pilot (1982).

The title has appeared in various Namco Museum collections on PlayStation and other consoles, including Namco Museum Vol. 1, Namco Museum 50th Anniversary, Namco Museum Virtual Arcade, and Namco Museum Megamix. It was also part of Jakks Pacific's TV game controller lineup.

Among related creations is Draconian, a multidirectional shooter developed for the TRS-80 Color Computer by Mike Hughey and published by Tom Mix Software in 1984. This game was subsequently ported to the Dragon 32/64.