is a 1988 shoot 'em up video game developed by

Compile In computing, a compiler is a computer program that translates computer code written in one programming language (the ''source'' language) into another language (the ''target'' language). The name "compiler" is primarily used for programs that ...

, originally published by

Sega is a Japanese multinational corporation, multinational video game and entertainment company headquartered in Shinagawa, Tokyo. Its international branches, Sega of America and Sega Europe, are headquartered in Irvine, California and London, r ...

for the

Master System The is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console manufactured by Sega. It was originally a remodeled export version of the Sega Mark III, the third iteration of the SG-1000 series of consoles, which was released in Japan in 1985 and ...

and then by CP Communications for the MSX2. The Master System version was released outside Japan as ''Power Strike''. The game spawned the ''Aleste'' and ''

Power Strike ''Power Strike'' is a series of vertically scrolling shooter video games, developed by Compile for the Sega Master System and Game Gear. It consists of three titles, only one of which was designed from the ground up as a ''Power Strike'' title. The ...

'' franchises.

Plot

The story of ''Aleste'' concerns the manmade supercomputer DIA 51, which has been infected by a hybrid virus that is spreading like wildfire, eventually leading DIA 51 to eliminate the human race. When Yuri, Ray's girlfriend, gets injured in DIA's assault, Raymond Waizen has all the reason in the world to get rid of DIA 51 once and for all in his Aleste fighter.

Releases

The game was originally released for the

in February 1988. This version was released outside Japan, as ''Power Strike''. The US release was initially a mail-only limited edition, however it did later see some retail distribution at Toys R' Us and other chains in North America. The European release was a regular retail package. An MSX2 version was released in July of that year, featuring two new stages, lowered difficulty, and a series of cutscenes. A version of the game has been released on phones by

Square Enix is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational holding company, production enterprise and entertainment conglomerate, best known for its ''Final Fantasy'', ''Dragon Quest'', ''Star Ocean'' and ''Kingdom Hearts'' role-playing video game ...

, presumably based on the MSX2 version. The MSX2 version has been re-released on

Nintendo is a Japanese Multinational corporation, multinational video game company headquartered in Kyoto, Japan. It develops video games and video game consoles. Nintendo was founded in 1889 as by craftsman Fusajiro Yamauchi and originally produce ...

Wii The Wii ( ) is a home video game console developed and marketed by Nintendo. It was released on November 19, 2006, in North America and in December 2006 for most other Regional lockout, regions of the world. It is Nintendo's fifth major ho ...

Virtual Console A virtual console (VC) – also known as a virtual terminal (VT) – is a conceptual combination of the keyboard and display for a computer user interface. It is a feature of some Unix-like operating systems such as Linux, BSD, illumos, Unix ...

service in Japan. It along with ''

Aleste 2 ''Aleste 2'' (アレスタ２) is a scrolling shooter video game developed and released by Compile for the MSX2 in 1989 exclusively in Japan. It is a sequel to ''Aleste'' and is the first game in the ''Aleste'' series to feature the recurring seri ...

'' had also been rereleased through the now-defunct WOOMB service.

Reception

The Sega Master System version called ''Power Strike'' received positive reviews. ''

Computer and Video Games ''Computer and Video Games'' (also known as ''CVG'', ''Computer & Video Games'', ''C&VG'', ''Computer + Video Games'', or ''C+VG'') was a UK-based video game magazine, published in its original form between 1981 and 2004. Its offshoot website ...

'' scored it 86% in 1989. '' Console XS'' scored it 90% in 1992.

''Aleste'' series

''Aleste'' was followed by several sequels: * ''

Aleste Gaiden is a 1989 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Compile for the MSX2 home computer. A follow-up to ''Aleste'' (1988), it was included as part of the autumn special edition of ''Disc Station'', a monthly disk publicat ...

'' (MSX2, 1989) * ''

Musha Aleste ''MUSHA'' is a Scrolling shooter, vertically scrolling shooter developed by Compile (company), Compile and released for the Sega Genesis in 1990. An entry in Compile's shooter series, ''Aleste'', ''MUSHA'' places the player in the role of a fl ...

'' ( Mega Drive, 1990) * '' GG Aleste'' ( Game Gear, 1991) * ''

Super Aleste ''Space Megaforce'', known in Japan and Europe as , is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up video game developed by Compile. It was published by Toho in 1992 for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System as part of the ''Aleste'' series. In a tradit ...

'' (

SNES The Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), commonly shortened to Super NES or Super Nintendo, is a 16-bit home video game console developed by Nintendo that was released in 1990 in Japan and South Korea, 1991 in North America, 1992 in Euro ...

, 1992) * '' Dennin Aleste'' (

Mega-CD The Sega CD, released as the in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. It was released on December 12, 1991, in Japan, ...

, 1992) * '' GG Aleste II'' (Game Gear, 1993) * ''

GG Aleste 3 is a 2020 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by M2 (game developer), M2. It was included as part of the ''Aleste Collection'' for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, as well as in a Game Gear Micro variant bundled as p ...

'' ( Game Gear Micro, 2020) * ''Senjin Aleste'' (Arcade, 2021) * ''Aleste Branch'' (TBA)

Cancelled games

* '' Dennin Aleste 2'' (

, cancelled)

Related games

There is also a number of similar games, some of which various ''Aleste'' entries are based on; for example, ''Gunhed'' would inspire ''Super Aleste'' on the SNES. ''Zanac'' is the game that set down the template for the Aleste series and nearly all of Compile's future shooters. Finally, it is known that around 1993, various employees left Compile and joined

Raizing , stylized as 8ing, is a Japanese video game developer and publisher. It was formerly known as . It is known for its shoot 'em ups and its licensed fighting games. History Raizing and Eighting were formed in part by former staff of Compile, ...

, where they made some similar games. * ''

Zanac is a shoot 'em up video game developed by Compile and published in Japan by Pony Canyon and in North America by FCI. It was released for the MSX computer, the Family Computer Disk System, the Nintendo Entertainment System, and for the Vir ...

'' (MSX, FDS,

NES The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console produced by Nintendo. It was first released in Japan in 1983 as the commonly known as the The NES, a redesigned version, was released in American ...

, 1986) * '' The Guardian Legend'' (NES, 1988) * '' Gunhed'' ( PC Engine, 1989) * ''

Gun-Nac is a 1990 scrolling shooter video game developed by Compile and published by Tonkin House for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was released in Japan on October 5, 1990 and in North America in September 1991. Gameplay The player ass ...

'' (NES, 1990) * ''

Seirei Senshi Spriggan is a 1991 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed by Compile and published by Naxat Soft in Japan for the PC Engine CD-ROM². In the game, the player assume control of Jega and Rikart piloting the Spriggan in order to protect their c ...

'' ( PC Engine CD, 1991) * '' Spriggan Mark 2: Re-Terraform Project'' (PC Engine CD, 1992) * ''

Mahou Daisakusen ''Sorcer Striker'' is a 1993 vertically scrolling shooter arcade game originally developed by Raizing (now known as Eighting) and published by Able Corporation in Japan and Europe. In the game, players assume the role from one of the four bount ...

'' (Arcade, 1993) * ''

Power Strike II ''Power Strike'' is a series of vertically scrolling shooter video games, developed by Compile for the Sega Master System and Game Gear. It consists of three titles, only one of which was designed from the ground up as a ''Power Strike'' title. The ...

'' (Master System, 1993) * '' Sylphia'' (PC Engine CD, 1993) * ''Spriggan Powered'' (Super Famicom, 1996)

References

External links

* {{Aleste, state=expanded 1988 video games Compile (company) games MSX2 games Mobile games Vertically scrolling shooters Master System games Square Enix games Video game franchises introduced in 1988 Virtual Console games Single-player video games Sega video games Video games set in the 21st century Video games developed in Japan Macrospace games