Captain Silver is a game that I probably saw in some old magazine I’ve long since forgotten. While it was originally released in the arcade I never saw it there. The only home port in the US came for the Sega Master System at a point where I’m sure I’m not alone in assuming no one was still supporting the thing. The Sega version had its share of problems but you could see a decent game underneath. In Japan Captain Silver was also released for the Famicom. Sadly that version is also flawed and as much as I want to like it I can’t.
In the arcade Captain Silver was a straightforward action game. It was kind of like a pirate version of Ghosts N’ Goblins and just as brutal. The same applies here however there have been many subtle changes, some for the worse. Jim no slashes at enemies but instead sticks his sword out like a fork. It looks as dumb as it sounds and is only mildly effective. Since enemies aren’t pushed back when hit it constantly inflicts damage. But it also makes certain enemies a nightmare to deal with. When you jump you attack at an angle which sort of helps I guess but still. Your silly primary attack does work wonders on bosses however.
The biggest change from the other versions is a life bar. The single hit deaths made the other versions of Captain Silver a nightmare. Now you can play a decent amount before inevitably dying but more on that later. Most enemies take a few hits to kill but are stunned when stabbed. You can easily keep the button pressed and hit stun them to death. Its cheesy but hey, whatever works. The weapons purchased in shops are incredibly strong and help negate your wonky default sword. In addition, they also don’t run out until you switch or lose all your lives.
Some of the power-ups have also been changed. You can still find boots to jump higher and potions that act as armor. The effectiveness of the boots is debatable considering the awful collision detection. Since your score is also your currency it is encouraged to kill enemies. You can now keep an inventory of items for later use which helps tremendously. The only items missing are the fairies which granted the all-powerful wide beam.
Had they included that weapon Captain Silver would have been tolerable. There are a myriad number of issues that break the game. The hit detection is very bad; you will suffer many cheap hits regularly. It is almost as though someone recognized this as hearts drop often. The bad hit detection is especially egregious against bosses. It isn’t always apparent where to hit each one and it is hard to determine if you are simply aiming wrong or if the game isn’t working properly. Collision is also a factor. There have been many times where I clearly landed on a platform only to fall through. Platforming plays a large role in the late game, making this bad. There is a particular sequence in the last stage involving swinging ropes that is so bad I can’t believe it was released like that.
All these flaws make the additional content hard to appreciate. This Famicom version, like the Master System title, is longer than the arcade game. All of the levels are present, but a few have been expanded such as the caves beneath the pirate ship. Two more stages and a slew of exclusive bosses were added, making this a well-rounded package. But it doesn’t change the fact that were it not for its flaws you could finish the game in less than twenty minutes.
It doesn’t compare to the arcade game or its 8-bit cousin but the Famicom version of Captain Silver is still somewhat impressive. The overall art style is very dark compared to the bright arcade game. To some extent it works better; the arcade game would sometimes look like a terrible EGA PC game at times. The backgrounds are lush with detail and some even feature bits of animation. Speaking of animation, boy is it poor. Watching Jim merely stick his sword out like a log is sad. The large bosses are impressive at first. But then you see their three frames of animation and the illusion is shattered. As a whole the presentation is probably the game’s best point.
In Closing
But not enough to save it. Captain Silver could have been good. I could forgive the robotic animation if the gameplay were good. But its flaws like bad hit detection and level design are too many. Seek your pirate themed adventures elsewhere.
