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Argus

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Argus is a vertical shooter by Jaleco and conversion of an arcade game originally released in 1986. The players takes control of a space-fighter equipped with a front laser gun and ground bombs. Although the game features power-ups, they follow an unusual and unique formula - tiles on the ground ...

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Developer
NMK

Released on
1986

Size
1–2 Players

Version
NES

Requirements
Nintendo Entertainment System

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Jaleco

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

Cooperative
Yes

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Description

Argus is a vertical shooter by Jaleco and conversion of an arcade game originally released in 1986. The players takes control of a space-fighter equipped with a front laser gun and ground bombs. Although the game features power-ups, they follow an unusual and unique formula – tiles on the ground must be destroyed in order to upgrade the main weapon or trigger special events.

However, three of these tiles must be destroyed to activate such power-ups – B creates a temporary barrier around the ship,P upgrades the primary weapon and L gives the player an extra bonus at the end of each stage. Another interesting twist to the game is the Uoru armor; a shadow sometimes appear on the ground and if the player aligns his own shadow with it, then the ship transforms into a powerful robot for a short amount of time. Each stage ends with the same boss battle; a large Mega Argus fortress with a slow flashing core at its center, and the only way to destroy this pernicious mothership is to bomb its core when it is fully exposed. After the boss is taken care of, the player must successfully land on a runway and be cautious not to crash the ship. Argus features nine levels and includes a two-player alternating option.

Argus

Overview & History

Developed and published by Jaleco, *Argus* made its debut in Japanese arcades in 1986 before being ported to the Family Computer (Famicom) later that same year. Diverging from traditional side-scrolling shooters of the era, *Argus* introduces a compelling science-fiction premise centered around an advanced prototype fighter craft tasked with reclaiming a post-apocalyptic Earth overrun by mechanized alien forces. The game stands out historically for its seamless blending of dual-perspective gameplay, shifting dynamically from aerial dogfights to intense terrestrial combat zones.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

The core mechanic of *Argus* revolves around its transformative gameplay loop. Players pilot a versatile ship that must constantly balance aerial engagement with surface assaults. While flying through the stratosphere, players shoot down airborne threats, collect power-ups to upgrade weapons, and manage fuel supplies. However, the true challenge arises when navigating into specific sector zones where the perspective shifts to a vertical-scrolling ground level. In this mode, the ship must dock with a mobile mecha-suit, altering player physics to master platforming jumps, dodge ground-based turret fire, and deploy surface-bombing ordnance to destroy subterranean enemy strongholds. Mastering this dual-layer strategy is crucial for survival, as miscalculating fuel or failing to upgrade the arsenal results in swift destruction across the game's increasingly brutal stages.