Gulkave

Gulkave is a horizontal-scrolling shooter developed by Compile and released in 1985 for Microsoft MSX and Sega SG-1000. The game places you in control of a spaceship tasked with destroying eight fortresses across a parallax-scrolling landscape.

Enemy spaceships attack by ramming or firing, while asteroids add further hazards. Damage reduces a barrier meter rather than destroying the ship immediately, and bonus points are awarded at the end of each level according to the remaining barrier. Losing a ship also removes all weapon upgrades.

Power-ups appear as numbered pods released from Zanac-style blocks. Upgrades can increase shot counts, allow more simultaneous bullets, or produce larger energy waves. Bonus ships are awarded at certain score intervals. The SG-1000 version contains two fewer levels than the MSX release.

Game Details

• Developer: Compile
• Publishers: Pony Canyon, Sega
• Genres: Arcade, Shooter
• Release date: December 31, 1985