Sky Shark, also known as Flying Shark, is a classic NES game that was released in Japan as "Hi Sho Zame" and in Europe as "Flying Shark." It is a military-themed vertically scrolling shoot 'em up game that puts players in control of a biplane. The objective is to navigate through five increasingly difficult levels and defeat an assortment of military enemy forces, including tanks, battleships, airplanes, and artillery.
The gameplay of Sky Shark is quite standard for this genre. Players control their plane as it constantly scrolls through a dynamic background. The scenery never stops moving until the player reaches a runway. Along the way, players have access to two weapons: a standard shot that travels the height of the screen and three bombs.
The bombs in Sky Shark are powerful weapons that are capable of obliterating any enemy caught within their blast radius. Throughout each stage, various items can be found by destroying certain enemies. Shooting down waves of colored enemy planes will spawn items such as "S" power-up icons, point bonuses, and extra lives. Additionally, certain enemies on the ground will spawn "B" icons that increase the player's bomb stock when destroyed.
In Sky Shark, players start with three lives, and bonus lives are awarded every 50,000 points. The game also incorporates a checkpoint system. If a player is defeated, they will restart at the beginning of the checkpoint they managed to reach before dying. However, getting hit by enemy fire will result in losing a life and a penalty of decreasing the plane's firepower. Once all lives are lost, the game is over, unless players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. Completing the last stage restarts the game with an increased difficulty level.
Exciting news for fans of Sky Shark was announced in April 2020. M2, a renowned game publisher, revealed that they would be releasing a new version of Flying Shark as part of their M2 ShotTriggers publishing label. This new version will be available on the Nintendo Switch, offering players a chance to relive the nostalgic experience of playing Sky Shark on a modern gaming platform.
In conclusion, Sky Shark, also known as Flying Shark, is a beloved NES game that offers thrilling gameplay in a military-themed shoot 'em up setting. Players take control of a biplane and must navigate through challenging levels while battling against tanks, battleships, airplanes, and artillery. With its simple yet engaging mechanics and the upcoming release on the Nintendo Switch, Sky Shark continues to captivate gamers of all ages.
