A Hudson alternate vertical and horizontal NES shoot'em up. Orientation changes by level. Original and technically well-executed concept. Overlooked but solid for genre fans.
Your verdict
Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
Vertical shoot-'em-up featuring a Hector spacecraft battling galactic enemy armies. Published by Hudson Soft, released in the USA in 1990. Hector spacecraft in top-down view with varied power-ups and imposing bosses. NES port of the Starship Hector shooter.
Starship Hector review
3/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Polished"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Punishing"
From Hudson, this shoot-'em-up alternates aerial and ground targets, forcing you to juggle two types of fire under constant pressure. Choosing the right weapon for each enemy, managing your power-ups and reading tight waves govern progress. Polished and tough, it offers a straightforward, snappy challenge that appeals to fans of fast shooters after a demanding classic.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Is Starship Hector still worth playing in 2026?
A vertical shooter from Hudson Soft, Starship Hector sends the ship Hector to face galactic armies by alternating fire phases against aerial and ground targets, handled by two distinct firing types. The dual aiming system, the snappy pace and the readability give a real identity to a careful shmup, heir to Hudson's experience in the genre. The difficulty stays high. For a retro shooter fan, someone curious about Hudson productions or a collector, the title keeps a clever effectiveness and a substantial shooting pleasure.
