An N64 continuation of Hudson's Star Soldier series. Vertical-scrolling Japanese shoot'em up, weapons to power up and spectacular bosses. The genre was losing steam on 3D consoles and the visuals don't dazzle, but gameplay rigour and shooting purity will delight fans of the form.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
Vertical space shooter from Hudson's Star Soldier series featuring waves of alien enemies to eliminate. Published by Hudson Soft, released in 1998 in Europe and North America. Classic vertical scrolling, upgradeable armament, massive enemy waves and imposing bosses, and 2-player cooperative mode.
Star Soldier - Vanishing Earth review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Star Soldier Vanishing Earth (Hudson) unfurls a colorful sci-fi vertical shooter: a ship hurled over space and mechanical backdrops, hordes of enemies and rains of luminous projectiles, in a nervy, readable aesthetic. The art direction favors the clarity of chaos and the raw energy of the old-school shmup. A functional, intense art direction, true to the Star Soldier heritage.
Gameplay
"Excellent"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾0,01 GB📅30/09/1998
Published by Hudson Soft
Star Soldier - Vanishing Earth (N64) price, value & rarity
The USA release of Star Soldier Vanishing Earth is the Western printing of Hudson's vertical shooter, easier to obtain than the Japanese original and fully in English. It is less scarce than other N64 shmups, and complete copies stay moderately priced. Sealed stock alone drives the high end, since steady demand never matched the genre's classics, yet it remains the logical North American entry point.
Is Star Soldier - Vanishing Earth still worth playing in 2026?
A vertical shooter from Hudson Soft, Star Soldier - Vanishing Earth extends the cult series in 3D, having you pilot a ship against waves of alien enemies and massive bosses, in a strong scoring spirit. The snappy shooting, the charged shot system and the timed caravan mode, a series trademark, make it a demanding shmup for high score fans. The polished production holds up. For a fan of retro scoring shooters or of Hudson, the title keeps a notable intensity and replayability.
