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Here is a concise list of all known Nectaris software and guide
books -- this is the easiest, most convenient way to get a quick
overview of the entire Nectaris series. If you seek more detailed
information on a particular item below, simply follow the links
provided. Full-fledged FAQs are available for nearly all versions of Nectaris, but for
some items you will be linked instead to an entry in the Nectaris
Legacy.
The Nectaris Legacy is simply a more detailed version of this page
(i.e. each item is documented with numerous images / scans , the
descriptions are more involved and magazine coverage / press
releases are added to provide a deeper historical account).
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Nectaris
(1989, PC- Engine, Japan)
Nectaris (HuCard) originally released in Japan for NEC’s PC-Engine (PCE)
video game console. Developed & published by Hudson Soft
(HC63O16). Note: The 32 stages on this release will eventually
be included on each and every title in the series. For
additional information, visit the Nectaris
PC-Engine FAQ. |
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Military
Madness (1989, TurboGrafx-16, North America)
PCE Nectaris re-titled Military Madness (HuCard)
& released in North America for TurboGrafx-16 (the TG-16 was the
North American version of the PC-Engine).
Developed by Hudson Soft & published by NEC (TGX030015). Note: Same 32 stages as original.
For additional information, visit the Military
Madness TurboGrafx-16 FAQ. |
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Nectaris
(1992, PC-9800, Japan)
PC-Engine Nectaris ported to NEC's PC-9800,
a popular series of personal computers in Japan.
Developed by Hudson Soft & published by
SystemSoft (DOS, floppy diskette). Note:
Same 32 stages as original. For more information, visit the PC-9800
Nectaris FAQ. |
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Nectaris
(1992, X68000, Japan)
PCE Nectaris ported to
Sharp's X68000, a popular series of personal computers in Japan. Developed by Hudson Soft & published by
SystemSoft (DOS, 5.25" floppy diskette). Note: Same
32 stages as original. The PC-98
& X68000 ports are quite similar, even sharing an instruction
manual. For more information, visit the X68000
Nectaris FAQ. |
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Neo Nectaris
(1994, PC Engine DUO, Japan)
Neo Nectaris
(Super CD-Rom)
released in Japan for NEC's DUO / PC-Engine + CD consoles. Developed & published by Hudson Soft (HCD4062).
Note: This is the first sequel to the original 1989 PC-Engine
game: 48 new stages + 32 original. For more information, visit the
Neo
Nectaris DUO FAQ. |
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Neo Nectaris Guide
Book
(1994, Japan) UNCONFIRMED
Currently, no
information is available on this item, though I
suspect it exists. |
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Nectaris
(1995, PC DOS, Germany)
Nectaris released in Germany (PC-DOS, 3.5" floppy diskette).
Licensed & published by Sunflowers GmbH (Germany). Note:
This is the second sequel to the original 1989 PCE game: 64
new stages + 32 original. This is the only Nectaris title
developed outside of Japan. For more information, visit the German
PC-DOS Nectaris FAQ. |
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Nectaris
(1997, PC Windows 95 / 98, Japan)
1989's PC-Engine Nectaris
ported to Windows 95 platform for personal computers.
Developed and published by Hudson Soft ( PC Win 95 ). Note: This
was a FREEWARE release available via internet download. Same 32 stages
as original, but it supports a mouse and includes a map editor (a first
for the series). For more information, see this
entry in the Nectaris Legacy. |
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Nectaris
GB (1998, Gameboy, Japan)
Nectaris GB
(cartridge) for
Gameboy (Japan). Developed & published by Hudson Soft (DMG-AN5J-JPN).
Note: 32 new stages + 44 bonus stages + 32 original stages (108 total).
This is a port of the original PCE Nectaris, but with new maps, the
ability to save games in progress via battery-back up (a first), and a
map editor. Plus, this cart has an infrared communication port
(built into the cart itself) that allowed folks to share maps / save
states (Hudson dubbed this file sharing feature "GB KISS"). Nectaris
GB is also one of the few Gameboy titles to support GB KISS LINK
(see below). For more
information, visit the Nectaris
GB Gameboy FAQ. |
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GB KISS LINK (1998, Gameboy Peripheral, Japan)
GB KISS LINK
is an infrared modem that enables you to transfer
files between a personal computer ( Windows 95 ) and a GB KISS cartridge
(installed in a Gameboy, of course). While this allowed gamers to make
back-ups of their Gameboy files on their PC's harddrive, the real reason
to get GB KISS LINK is more exciting: it enabled gamers to download
exclusive game content from the internet onto a PC harddrive, then
transfer this content (via GB KISS LINK) to a GB KISS Gameboy cartridge.
For more
information, visit the GB
KISS & GB KISS LINK FAQ.
Note: At minimum, folks with GB KISS LINK could download extra
stages for Nectaris GB ... I have also speculated that a download
containing new battlefield graphics might have been available as well
(but the ability to upgrade in this manner seems too fantastic). |
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Nectaris
(1998, PlayStation, Japan)
Nectaris
for
PlayStation (Japan). Developed & published by Hudson Soft (SLPS-01245).
Note: 32 new stages exclusive to PlayStation. This title was released at the same time as the Gameboy title
(above) and they share many features in common: the map editors, the
44 bonus maps, and the 32 original maps. This is the only game in
the entire series with 3D polygonal battle scenes. For more
information, visit the Nectaris
PlayStation FAQ. |
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Nectaris
Official Guide Book (1998, Japan)
This 256 page guide book is a
companion to the updated PlayStation version of Nectaris.
It was published by Famitsu (ASCII / Aspect) in Japan and includes the
standard fare: strategy guide for all 108 maps included in the PSX game,
an illustrated synopsis of the Nectaris storyline and a detailed,
elaborate weapon guide (with technical drawings for all 23 weapons).
Softcover w/ jacket, blue & black ink on "manga" stock
paper, 1400 yen ($13 USD). For additional information (including
page scans and artwork), visit Nectaris
Official Guide Book. |
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Nectaris:
Military Madness
(1998, PlayStation, North America)
Nectaris
(1998, PlayStation, Japan) is re-titled Nectaris:
Military Madness when it is released by Jaleco in North
America. Developed by Hudson Soft and published by Jaleco
(SLUS-00764). Note:
Identical to Japanese PlayStation version (outside of a few
typographical name changes). For more
information, visit the Nectaris:
Military Madness PlayStation FAQ. |
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Nectaris
(2003-2004, Cellular Phone Games, Japan)
Developed & published by Hudson Soft.
Hudson ported the original 1989 PC-Engine Nectaris to several
cell phone gaming platforms: i-mode ( NTT / DoCoMo ), AU / KDDI, and
most recently, Vodafone. Note: Nectaris was one of many
titles in Hudson's back-catalogue that have been ported for cellular
gaming including a significant number of other hits (and misses) from
the PC-Engine library.
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Earth
Light (1992, Super Famicom, Japan)
Developed & published by Hudson Soft
(SHVC-H3),
Earth Light is not a direct sequel to Nectaris, but it was written by the
same programmer at Hudson Soft.
Essentially, Earth Light is a reworking of the Nectaris game
engine. Aesthetically, the military units, maps, and battle scenes in
Earth
Light are far more colorful, "cartoon-like" and
"cute" than the wonderfully drab & dreary atmosphere depicted in the Nectaris series. For more
information, visit the Earth
Light FAQ. |
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Earth Light:
Luna Strike (1996, Super Famicom, Japan)
Developed & published by Hudson Soft (SHVC-AE5J),
Luna Strike is an even further departure from the Nectaris formula of
gameplay than Earth Light (1992). Actually, Luna Strike has little, if any, continuity
with the Nectaris series and I have often felt like excluding it from Nectaris
Legacy. Although its'
predecessor (Earth Light) fit nicely into the Nectaris universe, the same cannot be said for Luna
Strike. For more information (well, a little bit more,
anyway), visit the Earth
Light: Luna Strike FAQ. |
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