Vulgus
North American arcade flyer of Vulgus.
Developer(s)	Capcom
Publisher(s)	Capcom, SNK
Designer(s)	Tokuro Fujiwara
Platform(s)	Arcade, PC Windows In Capcom Generation 3: PlayStation, Sega Saturn In Capcom Classics Collection: PlayStation 2, Xbox, PlayStation Portable
Release date(s)	September 10, 1984
Genre(s)	Vertical Scrolling shooter
Mode(s)	One or two players, alternating
Input methods	8-way joystick, 2 buttons
CPU	Z80 (@ 4 MHz)
Sound	Sound CPU: Z80 (@ 3 MHz) Sound Chips: (2x) AY8910 (@ 1.5 MHz)
Display	Raster, 224 x 256 pixels (Vertical), 256 colors

Vulgus (バルガス^?) is an interesting vertically scrolling shooter developed and published by Capcom in Japan in 1984, and was later released in North America by SNK the same year. The game has the distinction of being Capcom's debut video or arcade game. The game is also included in Capcom Classics Collection and is now available as freeware.

Contents 1 Gameplay 2 Ports and related releases 3 References 4 External links

[edit] Gameplay

The player controls a spaceship with a single objective: destroy incoming enemies. The vessel has two different weapons: a primary weapon with infinite ammo and a limited supply of bombs. By picking up the "Pow" icons, which sporadically appear throughout the levels, the player can replenish supplies. In contrast to most other titles of this genre, the game does not have distinctive levels. Instead, the background alternates between the surface of a planet and a space field. The game repeats with increased difficulty until the player has lost three lives. Thus the game can be considered, in terms of gameplay, somewhere between a fixed shooter and a scrolling shooter. Because the player's ship is destroyed if hit only once and there are no continues available, it is generally a better strategy to avoid enemies than to try destroying them.

[edit] Ports and related releases

A fully complete quasi-sequel/port was made for the Nintendo Entertainment System titled Titan Warriors, featuring new music and a several new features, but was ultimately unreleased. ^[1] Vulgus is available in the compilation title Capcom Generation 3 for the Sony PlayStation and Sega Saturn. The game was also included in the 2005 Capcom Classics Collection for the Sony PlayStation Portable and PlayStation 2 as well as Microsoft's Xbox. In 2001, Capcom released Vulgus as freeware for IBM PCs and PDAs. The port was done by Hanaho, makers of the Hotrod joystick.

Captain Commando duly notes Vulgus' position in gaming history as Capcom's first game in one of his Marvel vs. Capcom win quotes.

Capcom's first game was Vulgus, made in 1984!

The Pow icon is re-used in many other Capcom games, like 1941: Counter Attack, Bionic Commando, and Exed Exes. Likewise, the Yashichi enemy has made later appearances in many Capcom games, usually in a more benign role as a power-up. Valgas, a boss character from Power Stone series, has his name based on this game.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Vulgus at the Killer List of Videogames
• Vulgus for PC