Released for the NES in 1991, Power Blade is a fast-paced action platformer that stands as one of the system’s hidden gems. Developed by Natsume, the game puts you in the shoes of Nova, a security chief tasked with taking down a rogue Master Computer in the year 2191. Armed with a versatile, upgradeable boomerang, you can tackle the game’s six primary sectors in any order, blending tight run-and-gun gameplay with non-linear progression.
How to Play
In each of the six sectors, you must locate an informant to grant you access to the boss room, then defeat the boss to retrieve a tape unit. The default NES controls in the browser use the Arrow Keys to move, Z to jump, and X to throw your boomerang. Press Enter to pause the game or use energy tanks. You can attack in eight directions, which is critical for dealing with enemies placed at awkward angles.
Tips
- The Power Suit: Look out for a special helmet icon hidden in certain stages. Collecting it equips Nova with a metallic Power Suit that absorbs damage and replaces your boomerang with powerful, multi-directional energy blasts.
- Grind for Upgrades: Before facing difficult bosses, take time to collect star power-ups dropped by enemies to maximize your boomerang’s range, strength, and the number you can throw on screen at once.
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