View source for Silver Surfer (video game)

{{Short description|1990 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| collapsible = yes
| state       = expanded
| title       = Silver Surfer
| image       = Silver Surfer NES box.jpg
| alt         = Silver Surfer NES cover art
| caption     = Cover art by [[Joe Jusko]]
| developer   = [[Acclaim Studios Manchester|Software Creations]]
| publisher   = [[Mastertronic#Arcadia Systems|Arcadia Systems]]
| platforms   = [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]
| released    = {{Video game release|NA|November 1990}}
| genre       = [[Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters|Scrolling shooter]]<ref name = "GamePro"/>
| modes       = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]]
| director    = [[Graeme Devine]]<br>[[Rob Landeros]]
| programmer  = Kevin Edwards
| artist      = Neal Sutton<br>Craig Houston<br>Anthony Anderson
| composer    = [[Tim Follin]]<br>Geoff Follin
}}

'''''Silver Surfer''''' is a 1990 [[Shoot 'em up#Scrolling shooters|scrolling shoot 'em up]] [[video game]] developed by [[Acclaim Studios Manchester|Software Creations]] and published by [[Mastertronic#Arcadia Systems|Arcadia Systems]]. The game was released in November 1990 in the [[United States]] exclusively for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. ''Silver Surfer'' is based on the [[Marvel Comics]] character [[Silver Surfer]], and is primarily known for its high difficulty and highly praised music.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.retrojunk.com/article/show/989/top-10-hardest-nes-games|title=Top 10 Hardest NES Games - Retro Junk Article|website=www.retrojunk.com}}</ref><ref>[http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/hz20tx/screwattack-s-top-ten-top-10--hardest-nes-games Top Ten Hardest NES Games], ''[[ScrewAttack's Top 10]]'' {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830095959/http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/hz20tx/screwattack-s-top-ten-top-10--hardest-nes-games |date=August 30, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gvnRBywkUZ0 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/gvnRBywkUZ0 |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Silver Surfer - NES - Angry Video Game Nerd - Episode 27|last=Cinemassacre|date=8 December 2008|publisher=|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://bestnestracks.captaintortilla.com/results/index.php?back=5|title=Top 100 NES tracks as voted by The Shizz|website=bestnestracks.captaintortilla.com|access-date=2013-09-05|archive-date=2014-07-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714203709/http://bestnestracks.captaintortilla.com/results/index.php?back=5|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.technobuffalo.com/top-10-obscure-nes-theme-songs|title=Top 10 Obscure NES Theme Songs|date=3 December 2011|website=TechnoBuffalo|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=3 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200203154027/https://www.technobuffalo.com/top-10-obscure-nes-theme-songs|url-status=dead}}</ref>

== Gameplay and synopsis ==
[[File:Silver Surfer gameplay.gif|thumb|left|''Silver Surfer'' is widely regarded as one of the hardest video games on the NES, a quintessential example of a “[[Nintendo hard]]” game.]]

In ''Silver Surfer'', the player controls the character [[Silver Surfer]] through various levels that alternate between a side-scrolling and an overhead perspective.

Each stage is divided into sections. At the end of each section, a mini-boss appears, and the Silver Surfer must shoot the main enemy while many other enemies attack as well. These are the only times where the screen stops scrolling forward. The third and final section contains a super-villain from the comic book series who will take more hits to defeat. The villains featured in the game are [[Reptyl]], [[Mephisto (comics)|Mephisto]], [[Possessor (comics)|Possessor]], [[Firelord (comics)|Fire Lord]], and [[Skrull|Kylor, the self-proclaimed emperor of the Skrull]].

After the first set of levels is complete, [[Galactus]] appears and sends Silver Surfer on a final mission into the Magik Domain to collect a "Cosmic Device" from a villain whose identity is less than clear. Despite previous claims, the final boss is actually a giant purple being with a handgun that does not appear to have been in the comics, although the image near the boss's health bar suggests that the main antagonist is X-Men villain [[Mister Sinister]]. Once Silver Surfer defeats him, the rest of the Cosmic Device is his; he tells Galactus that no one must have access to it and hides it for safe keeping so it may not fall into the wrong hands.

The game has a password feature that allows a number of upgrades, such as invincibility. The game has cut-scenes between the levels to move the story line ahead, and allows the player to pick the levels in any order, similar to the ''[[Mega Man (series)|Mega Man]]'' games. The game also features two additional 'quests', the first of which is unlocked by entering a password given to the player upon completing the "Magik Domain" mission.

Silver Surfer is armed with silver pellets that shoot out of his hands to destroy enemies and their projectiles. The player can collect silver spheres that serve as "options", which shoot additional pellets alongside the Silver Surfer. By pressing the B button, the spheres switch position to shoot forward, sideways or backward, while the Silver Surfer continues to fire forward.

There are two other kinds of power-ups: collecting squares with an "F" can make shots gradually stronger to make the shots look like fire pellets. Up to five can be collected before they give bonus points instead. Collecting squares with a "B" will stock screen-clearing bombs, used by pressing the Select button; every life starts with one of these in stock.

When a life is lost, all spheres, firepower, and extra bombs are lost and must be re-obtained.

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
|EGM=6.75/10{{efn|In ''Electronic Gaming Monthly''{{'}}s review, three critics gave ''Silver Surfer'' a 7/10 and one a 6/10.<ref name = "EGM">{{cite magazine|last1=Harris|first1=Steve|last2=Semrad|first2=Ed|last3=Alessi|first3=Martin|author4=Sushi-X|title=Silver Surfer|magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]|page=16|issue=17|date=December 1990}}</ref>}}
|GamePro=4.2/5{{efn|''GamePro'' gave ''Silver Surfer'' two 5/5 scores for graphics and challenge, two 4/5 scores for sound and fun factor, and a 3/5 rating for gameplay.<ref name = "GamePro">{{cite magazine|author=Slo' Mo|date=March 1991|title=Silver Surfer|issue=20|magazine=[[GamePro]]|page=35}}</ref>}}
|NP=3.1/5{{efn|''Nintendo Power'' gave ''Silver Surfer'' a 3.6/5 score for graphics and sound, 3/5 for sound, and two 2.9/5 ratings for challenge and theme/fun.<ref name = "NPower">{{cite magazine|title=Now Playing|date=January 1991|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|volume=20|pages=84–85}}</ref>}}
}}
''Silver Surfer'' received mostly mixed reviews. While enthusiastic about the game's presentation, ''GamePro'' also noted its intense difficulty: "You'll battle seemingly endless waves of tanks, monsters, mutants, ghosts, bats, and robots. Opponents always attack in groups, most take several hits to destroy, and none of them are slow. Robo-guns and traps are everywhere. And be careful not to crash into the scenery".<ref name = "GamePro"/>

The music of the game, however, is highly praised for its composition and technical accomplishments.<ref>{{cite podcast |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2011/10/31/game-scoop-presents-8-bit-radio-ep-3 |title=Game Scoop! Presents: 8-bit Radio Ep. 3 |website=ign.com |host=Daemon Hatfield |date=October 31, 2011 |time=:22 |accessdate=February 23, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/game-music-of-the-day-silver-surfer/ |title=Game music of the day: Silver Surfer |last1=Elston |first1=Brett |date=June 23, 2012 |website=GamesRadar |accessdate=23 February 2014}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
* {{MobyGames|/silver-surfer}}

{{Silver Surfer}}
{{Portal bar|1990s|Video games|United Kingdom}}

[[Category:1990 video games]]
[[Category:Arcadia Systems games]]
[[Category:Horizontally scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Entertainment System-only games]]
[[Category:North America-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Silver Surfer]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:Superhero video games]]
[[Category:Vertically scrolling shooters]]
[[Category:Video games about extraterrestrial life]]
[[Category:Video games based on Marvel Comics]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Video games scored by Tim Follin]]
[[Category:Video games set on fictional planets]]