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Silkworm

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Silkworm is a classic horizontally-scrolling shoot-em-up based on the 1988 Tecmo arcade game. The main difference between this game and many other side-scrolling shoot-em-ups is that you got to be on land as well as in the air. Player 1 would play as a helicopter, but if a second player joined...

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Developer
Tecmo

Released on
1990

Size
1–2 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
American Sammy

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Silkworm is a classic horizontally-scrolling shoot-em-up based on the 1988 Tecmo arcade game. The main difference between this game and many other side-scrolling shoot-em-ups is that you got to be on land as well as in the air.

Player 1 would play as a helicopter, but if a second player joined the game, they would play as a jeep. Both players would have to protect each other as well as themselves. After a certain number of kills, a “goose” helicopter would form on the screen. If the players managed to destroy it they would get a weapons powerup. This would go on throughout the entire game (a “goose” could appear even during the end of level baddie!).

Silkworm

Overview & History

Developed by Tecmo and ported to the Nintendo Entertainment System by Software Creations in 1990, Silkworm is a gritty, horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up that boldly diverges from standard sci-fi tropes by throwing military vehicles into the fray. Originally an arcade hit, the NES version retains the frantic cooperative spirit of its predecessor while condensing the action into single-player or alternating two-player campaigns. Set against rugged desert canyons and industrial military bases, the game tasks players with surviving waves of heavily armored ground units, soaring jets, and screen-filling boss mechs. Despite missing the arcade's simultaneous two-player mode, the 8-bit adaptation carves out its own distinct identity through challenging difficulty, varied vehicle handling, and atmospheric chiptune battle anthems composed by Tim Follin.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The defining hook of Silkworm is its asymmetrical vehicle selection. Players can choose to pilot either the swift, aerial Gunner helicopter or the rugged, ground-bound Jeeps (known as Armstrong). The helicopter boasts unrestricted mobility across the screen, firing forward projectiles while launching missiles at airborne threats, but it lacks ground-scraping firepower. Conversely, the Jeep is bound to the terrain, utilizing an adjustable turret that can fire straight ahead or angle upward to handle aerial assaults, punishing players who fail to time their positioning. As enemies are destroyed, they drop power-up icons that upgrade weaponry, increase speed, or deploy defensive shields. Progression requires memorizing enemy spawn patterns and leveraging the distinct strengths of your chosen ride to survive relentless bullet-hell conditions across multiple grueling stages.