Battle Marine
Overview
Battle Marine is a simple naval barrage STG.
Enjoy a somewhat retro yet new and exhilarating game experience by firing a barrage of shots, inducing explosions, sweeping with powerful lasers, and automatically collecting medals (recovery and score) by jumping.
Destroying enemies consecutively within a certain time frame will result in a HIT combo. Aim for 999 HITs!
Your rank will be assessed according to the results of your play. Aim for the rank of FLEET ADMIRAL!
Controls
This game can be played with a gamepad or keyboard.
Use the cursor keys to move left and right, press B to shoot, and A to jump.
Press and hold the B button to charge the laser, and release it when the charge is maxed out to fire the laser.
Press A briefly for small jumps and long for large jumps.
Button assignments can be freely customized in the SteamInput menu.
Keyboard Controls (Windows)
- Cursor keys: D-Pad (Can be changed in the key configuration)
- X key: A button (Can be changed in the key configuration)
- Z key: B button (Can be changed in the key configuration)
- Space key: START button (Can be changed in the key configuration)
- ESC key: SELECT button (Can be changed in the key configuration)
- CTRL+X: Exit the game (CTRL+Q, CTRL+C also work)
- CTRL+R: Reset
- Alt+Enter: Toggle full screen (CTRL+F also work)
- CTRL+A: Toggle screen aspect mode
- CTRL+L: Toggle scanline filter
- CTRL+S: Screen Resolution Settings
- CTRL+K: Key configuration for the Keyboard
- CTRL+V: Volume control of background music and sound effects
Keyboard Controls (Linux and macOS)
- Cursor keys: D-Pad
- X key: A button
- Z key: B button
- Space key: START button
- ESC key: SELECT button
- Q: Exit the game
- R: Reset
Notes on the Linux and macOS version
- Supported screen displays are for Aspect-Fit only.
- Configuration UI is not exist yet
Configuration for Linux and macOS
When you launch Battle Marine, a configuration file called config.json will be generated.
The config.json file is saved under the directory opened by opening the Battle Marine page in the Steam client and selecting “Settings Icon” > “Manage” > “Browse local files”.
You can customize the following items:
- graphic.isFullScreen: true = full screen, false = window mode
- graphic.isScanline: true = with screen effects, false = without screen effects
- gaphic.windowHeight: height of the screen in window mode
- gaphic.windowWidth: width of the screen in window mode
- sound.volumeBgm: Volume of background music (0-100)
- sound.volumeSe: Volume of sound effect (0-100)
- keyboard.a: Key code for A button (jump)
- keyboard.b: key code for B button (fire)
- keyboard.start: key code for START button (pause)
- keyboard.select: key code for SELECT button (n/a)
- keyboard.up: key code for up button
- keyboard.down: key code for down button
- keyboard.left: Key code for left button
- keyboard.right: Key code for right button
- keyboard.reset: Reset button key code
- keyboard.quit: Key code for quit button
The keycode specifies the SDL keycode.
Detailed Gameplay
- When you destroy an enemy, a green or red medal will appear.
- Taking the green medal will restore your LIFE.
- Your score will increase if you take a red medal.
- If you keep defeating enemies within a certain time (120 frames), your combo will increase and medals will be collected automatically when you reach 100 HITs or more.
- Medals are also automatically collected by jumping.
- You are invincible during the laser (after the firing motion is complete).
- Unlike normal STGs, explosions also have hit points.
- If you keep collecting green medals while your LIFE is full, the red medal’s base points will continue to increase.
- The number of crowns at the bottom of the screen will increase for every 16 green medals you take while your LIFE is full.
- The maximum number of crowns displayed is 30 (480 green medals), but the maximum number of crowns is 4,095 (65,535 green medals).
- When you collide with enemy bullets, your LIFE will be reduced and the number of crowns will be strongly reduced.
- With the exception of some enemies (crabs), red medals will appear when enemies are killed by lasers.
- Obtaining a medal also resets the combo duration to 120 frames
Video distribution, etc.
There are no restrictions on the distribution of this game on TV, YouTube, or other video distribution sites.
Of course, there are no restrictions on monetization.
There is no need to contact the author prior to or after the event.
Similarly, there are no restrictions on publishing screenshots in magazines, web media, social media, etc.
About VGS-Zero
This game is made with the SDK called VGS-Zero.
VGS-Zero is a virtual game machine with a fast 16MHz Z80 CPU, old-fashioned VDP (Video Display Processor) and VGS (chip-tuned sound system).
There may be many 8-bit style games, but the games made with VGS-Zero are real 8-bit games.
If you want to develop games like Battle Marine, please try to develop games with VGS-Zero.
Games you develop with VGS-Zero can be sold on Steam (Windows, Linux and macOS) using the VGS-Zero SDK for Steam.
Game Discussion
Steam User 0
All thrills, no frills.
This neat little shooter offers complex scoring mechanics, frantic action, responsive controls, an enjoyable retro feeling and equally enjoyable and equally retro graphics and sound.
The fact it runs on a virtual fantasy machine makes it even more noteworthy and interesting. And additional kudos is due for offering a macOS version.
It would be great in a full-on arcade cab, which should tell a lot about how good it is.
Steam User 2
Battle Marine is a fun little shoot'em up. Drop bombs or use your laser to destroy enemies, collect medals while avoiding danger from above and below. Increase your multiplier and chain for big scores.
To keep your hit chain going you need a successive hit within 2s, without a miss or your ship getting hit.
Map "c" to a button for auto-fire.
Collect green medals for health or to increase multiplier when at full health and collect yellow medals for points. Using laser only gives yellow medals except when used on crabs.
Steam User 1
Interesting game that i recommend wth some reservations (specially auto-fire button)
you are a boat in a 2d plane above water. most of the enemyes appear from the water, but some appear in the sky
There are 2 buttons one for shoot other for jump, other for jump. if you hold the fire button for some time you have a charged shot that lasts for a few seconds.if have a energy bar that deplets with enemy bullets
Pros
- the artstyle may be basic and retro but works well because bullet visibility is great.
- The gameplay is retro and at the same time very original and unique
- The action is frantic and fun
I- nteresting and deep score system that is simple at the same time
Cons
- There is a lack of fire button. I have a madcatz arcade stick so fortunaly i could program a extra buton for fire.. We are at 2025 and it´s beyond compreension why the devs don´t change add a extra button as carpal tunnel is a serious health problem. Personaly if i did not had a joystick board that allowed that i would rate with a negative review. Saw the discussion board and there are complains about that with more than one year. So dev´s are not much interesting in fixing that.
- There is a lack of game modes. There could a mode with lifes instead of energy bar and a mode with shorter stages (they drag a bit) and probably you will get bored before reaching later stages.
There could be a in game manual explaing the mechanics.
Still, i had fun with the game.