Line of Fire (Master System)

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Line of Fire
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega CS, Sanritsu
Peripherals supported: 3-D Glasses
Genre: Shooting
Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code EU 1992-01 9006 BX 199x UK 1992-01 £32.9932.99 9006 AU 199x BR 199x KR 199x GB-4011JG

Line of Fire is a Sega Master System re-interpretation of the Sega X Board arcade game of the same name. As the Master System cannot handle real-time scaling and rotations, the game is reduced to just being a vertical shoot-'em-up.

Story

Jack, a solider of the Allied Forces, manages to infiltrate the enemy base and discovers a state-of-the-art assault rifle. Soon after however, he is detected and attacked by enemy soldiers. Hijacking an enemy jeep and later a boat and a helicopter, Jack must pass through enemy lines and reach Allied Headquarters.

Gameplay

Line of Fire is a simplistic shoot-'em-up. Button fires the guided missiles while button fires machine guns. While machine guns can hit any enemies, the missiles' hit range depends on the vehicle the player is using. If they are using the jeep or the boat, missiles will hit air targets, and while in a helicopter they will only hit enemies on the ground. This arrangement seriously limits players' tactical options. Missiles, while having no homing ability, have limited guidance as they can be moved with the D-Pad after firing.

There are two types of power-ups: Medical kits increase the health of the vehicle while missile bundles increase the player's amount of missiles. Every level has a mid-boss and an end boss.

Levels

	Mission 1: Enemy Base
	Enemies are hot on the player's tail. Jump on your hijacked jeep and engage rifle armed and grenade throwing enemy infantry. Defeat the gigantic soldier with shield to escape outside. Enemy gun emplacements and jeeps will make escape problematic. The Big Tank with two powerful artillery guns at the end of the level will be powerful adversary, but at least the player can evade its cannon fire by remaning mobile.
	Mission 2: Jungle
	This thick jungle is divided by many small rivers, so the player should use ramps to jump over them. In addition to the soldiers, attack helicopters will start to harass the player. Be on the look out for the supply trucks which will drop valuable supplies. At the end of the level, the player will face a large dual rotor transport helicopter that will drop parachutes bombs on them. They should bring it down with missiles or machine guns while jumping over the ramps.
	Mission 3: River
	It is time to switch to the boat. The whirlpools will damage the boat and make the player lose control momentarily. Avoid floating mines and falling bridges. Frogmen will appear out of nowhere to send the player into the depths. In addition to the new attack helicopters and other small attack boats, propeller-driven bombers will test their World War II-era dive bombing techniques on the player. As usual, sink supply boats for additional supplies. The player will have to sink a destroyer and then a river submarine (?) to finish the level.
	Mission 4: Canyon
	Back in the Jeep again, the player will be fighting for their life in a very enclosed road. As they try to avoid the boulders, enemy jeeps will attack them from behind. Bazooka-armed soldiers can turn the player's jeep into a smoldering heap while gun batteries will distract them from the bombers from the air. Destroy the Jumbo Bomber at the end of the level with missiles.
	Mission 5: Desert
	The player has found an enemy helicopter but shouldn't celebrate just yet. A massive desert and equally massive number of enemies are waiting for them in this level. Even more advanced attack helicopters, fighter planes that look like F-14s will attempt to bring the player down. From the ground, the player will be facing relentless SAM batteries, two different types of gun batteries, cannon mounts and tanks. Shoot down supply planes for supplies. At the end of the level, the player will be facing a massive flying fortress. Bring it down by eliminating engines, gun mounts, missile launchers and finally, the cockpit.
	Mission 6: Enemy Front Base
	The player is now very close to friendly lines, but the enemy is also equally desperate to stop them this time. Enemy commandos will hide in the forests and attempt to shoot the player down with their MANPADS, a new type of gun battery and mobile battery will fill the sky with flak. From the air, the player will be facing an even newer version of the enemy attack helicopter and three different types of fighter planes that will attack them. Destroy the supply trains for much needed power-ups. At the end of the level, the player will stopped by a seemingly-indestructable enemy fortress, complete with small fighter hangars, gun mounts, missile launchers, and laser guns. Destroy the control tower to end the mission.

Production credits

• Planner: Y.Maeda
• Designer: H.Ohnishi, Gaga
• Programmer: T.Hagiwara, H.Kawaguchi
• Sound: Hiko
• Special Thanks: Nonchan, CBX1000, T.Asano, Kou
• Test Player: Amacha, Yone
• Presented by: Sega

Source:

In-game credits

Magazine articles

Main article: Line of Fire (Master System)/Magazine articles.

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source 80 Joystick (FR) 55 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 42 №45 Micro News (FR) 81 №53, p186 Mean Machines (UK) 46 Player One (FR) 50 Sega Power (UK) 62 Sega Pro (UK) 82 Sega Pro (UK) 70

	63
Based on 9 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 40 Console XS (UK) PAL 82 Mean Machines: The Essential Sega Guide (UK) PAL 46 FX (UK) 80 Gamers (DE) PAL 33 Hobby Consolas (ES) 60 Joystick (FR) PAL 55 Mega Force (FR) PAL 55 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 42 Micro News (FR) 65 Mean Machines (UK) PAL 46 Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL 46 Player One (FR) PAL 50 Play Time (DE) 27 Sega Power (UK) PAL 62 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 82 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 82 Video Games (DE) 53

	56
Based on 18 reviews

Line of Fire (Master System)

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, FR (Blister pack)
Cover

Master System, BX†
Cover

Master System, AU
Cover
Cart

Master System, BR
Cover
Cart

Master System, KR
Cover
Cart

Technical information

ROM dump status

System	Hash	Size	Build Date	Source	Comments
?	CRC32 cb09f355 MD5 1597ad705990a66e90262ef7b1141b64 SHA-1 985f78bcaf64bb088d64517f80b0acc7f5034b24	512kB		Cartridge (EU)