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Nostradamus

Arcade

Arcade

Nostradamus is a vertically scrolling shoot' em up. Players control either a male pilot named Dalas (player one) or a female pilot named Joanna (player two). Dalas' ship is faster and has a weaker, but wider-coverage shot that loops behind the ship, whereas Joanna's ship is a bit slower but provi...

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Developer
FACE

Released on
1993

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

Nostradamus is a vertically scrolling shoot’ em up. Players control either a male pilot named Dalas (player one) or a female pilot named Joanna (player two). Dalas’ ship is faster and has a weaker, but wider-coverage shot that loops behind the ship, whereas Joanna’s ship is a bit slower but provides more powerful forward-firing shots. You can power up your shot up to seven times by collecting purple crystals. There’s also an option weapon called the E.B.A. (Energy Boost Acceleration) which attaches to the sides of your ship and adds additional weaponry. It comes in two colors: blue one gives you homing plasma shots while the red one provides fireball shots. Collecting another E.B.A. item of the same color powers up the extra shots while grabbing the opposite color switches over. By holding down the fire button the player can charge up the system thus forming an energy barrier behind the ship which serves as a shield that protects the ship from rear attacks. Once the player releases the button, the E.B.A. will discharge a wave weapon: the blue E.B.A. unleashes the Plasmic Wave – a large blue laser beam that reaches the full vertical length of the screen, while the red E.B.A. grants you the Phoenix Wave, which creates a fiery pair of wings that cover and roast a wide horizontal area. The game consists of nine stages.

Nostradamus

Overview & History

Released in 1993 by Face, Nostradamus is an eccentric and wildly imaginative side-scrolling shoot-'em-up that trades traditional sci-fi starships for the supernatural, mysticism-infused world of Renaissance prophecy. Loosely inspired by the famous prognosticator's apocalyptic quatrains, the game thrusts players into a surreal 16th-century fantasy realm where historical mysticism clashes with demonic monsters, flying galleons, and clockwork monstrosities. Unlike mainstream shoot-'em-ups of its era, Nostradamus stands out for its vibrant, painterly aesthetic and its bizarre bestiary, blending gothic horror with classical European mythology across six distinct, visually striking stages.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Players pilot mystical flying contraptions through relentless waves of demonic hordes, soaring gargoyles, and towering stage bosses. The core mechanic revolves around an upgradable elemental orb system, where collecting colored magical crystals transforms your primary projectile attack into searing fireballs, freezing ice shards, or piercing lightning bolts. Additionally, players can charge a screen-clearing "Prophecy Bomb"—represented by esoteric astrological symbols—that obliterates smaller enemies and grants temporary invulnerability. Power-ups also summon rotating familiar spirits that shield your ship and add supplementary firepower, making tactical positioning essential in claustrophobic, projectile-heavy encounters.