Hyper Duel [T-1809G]

I picked up a copy of Hyper Duel from London’s swinging West End shortly after it launched in 1996. I sold it three years later along with the Saturn. Fade to black and fast forward a few years; passion for retro gaming really became a thing, although nobody had yet fully explored the economics behind why Panzer Dragoon Saga would be worth a small fortune in years to come.

The entire basement of Computer Exchange (CEX) in London’s Rathbone Place (W1) was a retro museum/shop in those days. It appeased those who wanted a trip down memory lane, peering into glass cabinets full of exotic curios.

This is also when children and teenagers who fantasised about owning exotic pieces of hardware entered adulthood, got proper jobs, and lived the dream. Hyper Duel was still relatively unknown during this period. It got a nod in Edge Presents Retro in 2004 and was regarded as an uncommon game from Techno Soft – who folded in 2001.

Some twenty years later and a genuine copy of Hyper Duel is out of reach for most Saturn aficionados. The print run was relatively low in comparison to current demand. This demand has been fuelled by its cult status and the fact people now judge it on its own merits. The same can be said of Blast Wind.

Famitsu gave it a pretty average review on launch as well. You got the sense the reviewers pitted it against the Thunder Force series, particularly Thunder Force V which would release the following Summer.

Included is a faithful port of the 1993 arcade game and an upgraded version in the shape of “Saturn Mode”. The game employs one of the finest formulas to date. Whilst it may seem like a Thunder Force clone, the ability to morph between an aircraft and mech (Buster Gears) is truly unique. It really shakes up the dynamic for horizontal shooters.

Hyper Duel has really improved with age. The art style, which seemed dated back in the late 90s, is a tour de force of pixel perfection. And this carries across to the Redbook Audio which contains one of the best scores in a game – the arranged version in Saturn Mode. The entire score in both versions of the game is really amazing and sets the pace throughout the campaign.

You could argue there are far better shooters in existence, but what sets Hyper Duel apart from others is the lore which surrounds it. The limited print run and posthumous appreciation for Techno Soft’s work are just some of the reasons why this tops the list for Saturn collectors.