Thread:ClarentBloodArthur/@comment-26381576-20170904211358/@comment-5688420-20170908071115

Having a shmup with a name that ends with "us", was like a trend in the mid-to-late 80s. Konami had Gradius, Taito had Darius, and ACS had... Odysseus.

Compared to the Starblazer series, which was presented in a fixed vertical angle, Odysseus, originally released in 1986, was a horizontal scrolling shooter more akin to the aforementioned titles. It featured obtainable powerups, like triple fire, homing rays and lasers, "smart bombs" which clear everything on-screen, best used for tight situations, and its main defining trait: the "Thrust" button, which, when held down, allows players to move faster for a short amount of time, until the player's Thrust meter runs out (it refills easily). Learning how to use Thrust wisely is an advanced mechanic reserved for the game masters.

Nothing too groundbreaking today, but during its heyday in the mid-to-late '80s, Odysseus was one of ACS' most popular games. It recieved various sequels, concluding in 2000's Odysseus: Millenia, which featured 2D sprites alongside 3D backgrounds pwered by the NOVA arcade system.