Elemental Master

From Sega Retro

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ElementalMaster MD US title.png

ElementalMaster MDTitleScreen.png

Elemental Master
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Technosoft (Japan), Renovation Products (US)
Developer:
Sound driver: T.S v1.21 (Technosoft)
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e[3] T-18043
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9949.99[5] T-49236

Elemental Master (エレメンタルマスター) is a 1990 shoot-'em-up by Technosoft for the Sega Mega Drive released exclusively in Japan before Renovation Products brought it to the US in 1993.

Story

Long ago in the fantasy kingdom of Lorelei, the followers of an evil being called Gyra were sealed underneath the city's castle. However, a seemingly heroic sorcerer known as Aryaag betrayed the king's trust and unleashed the power of Gyra on the kingdom with the intention of letting the evil influence spread. Laden, the strongest sorcerer in the kingdom, was ready to attack Aryaag, but was stopped in shock when Aryaag revealed himself to be Laden's brother Roki. Backed by Gyra's most dedicated followers, Roki banished Laden from the conquered kingdom. However, Laden vows to stop Gyra's influence from spreading and to stop Gyra's ambitions.

Gameplay

Elemental Master, Stage Select.png

Stage selection

Elemental Master, Cutscene.png

Cutscene

The game is an autoscrolling shooter. The screen scrolls vertically, and the player must navigate the terrain of each stage while destroying enemies and avoiding obstacles. Players control Laden and can move him in any direction using the D-Pad. He can shoot forwards with B and backwards with A. While the controls do not have rapid-fire, each button press fires a flurry of shots.

Laden starts the game with the power of Light. The first four stages can be played in any order, and completing each one imparts mastery of a new element to Laden: Fire, Water, Earth, or Air. The player can switch the element with C, which changes Laden's weapon. The element can be changed when the game is paused. Each element can be charged by holding the fire button, which increases the power bar on the side of the screen. Releasing the fire button when the power bar is at maximum capacity performs a powerful special attack. Each element has its own unique special attack, but the Light attack is not initially available.

After completing the first stage, regardless of which stage is played first, Laden is joined by the fairy Neena. Neena follows Laden in subsequent stages and assists by attacking enemies automatically. After completing the first five stages, Neena transforms into a legendary ring, which grants Laden the special charged attack for the Light element.

Laden starts the game with four hit points and loses one each time he takes damage from an enemy or an environmental hazard. He can gain additional hit points, up to a maximum of eight, by finding the Mysterious Medicine item or restore missing hit points by collecting the Fruit of Life item. When he runs out of hit points, the game ends. The game can be continued if the player has credits remaining, though Laden loses any additional hit points he may have accrued and the player's score is reset. The game is continued from the beginning of the current stage (or from the stage select if the first four stages have not yet been completed).

There are three standard difficulty levels (Normal, Hard, and Expert). There is also a Practice mode where the player can play through one of the first four stages with all elemental powers unlocked, but the entire game cannot be completed this way. The Options menu is accessed by pressing A+ START  at the title screen.

Elements

Elemental Master, Weapons, Light.png

Elemental Master, Weapons, Light Charged.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Light.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Light Charged.png

Elemental Master, Weapons.png
Light
The starting weapon. Shoots a narrow torrent of projectiles in front of Laden. This element initially has no charged attack, but after the first five stages are completed, Laden is able to unleash a powerful light beam attack that can destroy many bosses with only a couple of hits.

Elemental Master, Weapons, Fire.png

Elemental Master, Weapons, Fire Charged.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Fire.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Fire Charged.png

Elemental Master, Weapons.png
Fire
Gained after completing the Fire Zone stage. A spreadshot that fires in three directions. Its charged attack diffuses jets of flame in a spiral around Laden.

Elemental Master, Weapons, Wind.png

Elemental Master, Weapons, Wind Charged.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Wind.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Wind Charged.png

Elemental Master, Weapons.png
Wind
Gained after completing the Wind Zone stage. Shoots waves in a wide area of effect. Its charged attack hurls lightning balls around the screen.

Elemental Master, Weapons, Earth.png

Elemental Master, Weapons, Earth Charged.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Earth.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Earth Charged.png

Elemental Master, Weapons.png
Earth
Gained after completing the Earth Zone stage. Shoots a slow but powerful line of fireballs straight ahead. Its charged attack shoots large energy balls in a fan.

Elemental Master, Weapons, Water.png

Elemental Master, Weapons, Water Charged.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Water.png

  • Elemental Master, Weapons, Water Charged.png

Elemental Master, Weapons.png
Water
Gained after completing the Water Zone stage. Shoots a stream of small projectiles directly in front of Laden as well as streams of larger projectiles to each side. The side streams roll up walls that they hit. The charged attack is two horizontal lines that sweep the screen.

Items

Elemental Master, Items.png
Chest
Shoot to reveal an item.
Elemental Master, Items.png
Amethyst Crystal
Surrounds Laden with a protective barrier that can withstand 3 hits before dissolving.
Elemental Master, Items.png
Mirror
Creates 3 mirror images that follow Laden for a duration and provide support fire.
Elemental Master, Items.png
Mysterious Medicine
Gives Laden another hit point, up to a maximum of 8.
Elemental Master, Items.png
Fruit of Life
Restores 2 hit points.

Stages

The first four stages can be played in any order. The remaining stages are played in sequence.

Elemental Master, Stage 1.png

Elemental Master, Stage 1 Boss.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 1.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 1 Boss.png

Fire Zone
Laden gains mastery over the element of Fire after completing this stage.

Elemental Master, Stage 2.png

Elemental Master, Stage 2 Boss.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 2.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 2 Boss.png

Wind Zone
Laden gains mastery over the element of Wind after completing this stage.

Elemental Master, Stage 3.png

Elemental Master, Stage 3 Boss.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 3.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 3 Boss.png

Earth Zone
Laden gains mastery over the element of Earth after completing this stage.

Elemental Master, Stage 4.png

Elemental Master, Stage 4 Boss.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 4.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 4 Boss.png

Water Zone
Laden gains mastery over the element of Water after completing this stage.

Elemental Master, Stage 5.png

Elemental Master, Stage 5 Boss.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 5.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 5 Boss.png

Stage 5
Laden fights Clauss, the Black Dragon King.

Elemental Master, Stage 6.png

Elemental Master, Stage 6 Boss.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 6.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 6 Boss.png

Stage 6
Laden fights the evil princess Salome.

Elemental Master, Stage 7.png

Elemental Master, Stage 7 Boss 1.png

Elemental Master, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 7.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 7 Boss 1.png

  • Elemental Master, Stage 7 Boss 2.png

Stage 7
Laden must fight all of the bosses from the previous stages before facing Roki.

Production credits

  • メイン&ボスプログラム: 玄海難の遊び人
  • 敵移動プログラム: まいぺ~すがんちゃん
  • 美術 (背景): ヘビーメタル・アーミー
  • 美術 (敵&デモ): パンクス・ムートン
  • 音響効果大佐: ゆんけるマタイ
  • 音響効果工兵: ふぁんきい素浪人
  • 影の監督: T.O
  • その他: ETC.
COPYRIGHT 1990 Tecno Soft
Source:
In-game credits (JP)
Elemental Master MD JP credits.pdf
[6]

  • Director of Programming: Asobi-Nin
  • Assistant Programmer: Gan-Chan
  • Art Director (Background Design): Army
  • Art Director (Enemy Design): Muton
  • Sound Effects: Matai, Su-Rounin
  • Producer: T.O
Source:
In-game credits (US)
Elemental Master MD US credits.pdf
[7]


Digital manuals

Magazine articles

Main article: Elemental Master/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Main article: Elemental Master/Promotional material.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[8]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
70
[9]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
75
[10]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
82
[11]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
81
[12]
Cool Gamer (RU)
10
[13]
Digitiser (UK) PAL
80
[14]
Electronic Games (1992-1995) (US) NTSC-U
85
[15]
Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK)
79
[16]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
65
[17]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
83
[5]
Génération 4 (FR)
72
[18]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
60
[19]
Joystick (FR)
90
[20]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
70
[21]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
77
[22]
MegaTech (UK)
78
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
78
[24]
Power Play (DE)
79
[25]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
50
[26]
Sega Pro (UK)
77
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
81
[28]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
75
[29]
Super Gaming (US)
90
[30]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
75
[31]
User (GR)
87
[32]
Video Games (DE)
81
[33]
Sega Mega Drive
73
Based on
27 reviews

Elemental Master

Mega Drive, JP
ElementalMaster MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ElementalMaster MD JP CartTop.jpg
ElementalMaster MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
ElementalMaster MD JP Manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
ElementalMaster MD US Box.jpg
Cover
ElementalMaster MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Elementalmaster md us manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Elemental Master/Technical information.

References

  1. File:ElementalMaster MD JP Box.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  3. Beep! MegaDrive, "February 1991" (JP; 1991-01-08), page 138
  4. GamePro, "March 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 171
  5. 5.0 5.1 GamePro, "May 1993" (US; 1993-xx-xx), page 62
  6. File:Elemental Master MD JP credits.pdf
  7. File:Elemental Master MD US credits.pdf
  8. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 71
  9. Aktueller Software Markt, "März 1991" (DE; 1991-02-22), page 119
  10. Beep! MegaDrive, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 34
  11. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 84
  12. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 129
  13. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 77
  14. Digitiser (UK) (1993-05-21)
  15. Electronic Games (1992-1995), "May 1993" (US; 1993-04-xx), page 56
  16. Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide, "" (UK; 1993-11-18), page 41
  17. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-1x-xx), page 1
  18. Génération 4, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 94
  19. Hippon Super, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-04), page 40
  20. Joystick, "Février 1991" (FR; 1991-0x-xx), page 92
  21. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 91
  22. Mega Drive Fan, "March 1991" (JP; 1991-02-08), page 99
  23. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 77
  24. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 138
  25. Power Play, "3/91" (DE; 1991-02-15), page 140
  26. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 53
  27. Sega Pro, "December 1991" (UK; 1991-11-21), page 55
  28. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 65
  29. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  30. Super Gaming, "Fall 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 11
  31. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 65
  32. User, "Ioúlios-Ávgoustos 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 86
  33. Video Games, "1/91" (DE; 1991-03-27), page 82


Elemental Master

ElementalMaster MD US title.png

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Music: Technosoft Music Collection: Elemental Master (2022)

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