Here's a genuine Megadrive rarity - perhaps not the most rare game on the MD, but not far off - Musha Aleste. I managed to get it from eBay for a surprisingly reasonable price (particularly when compared to the extortionate 100-170GBP some sellers are asking for), and it was worth every penny. Not only does it feature some spanking manga box art (superior, as always, to the woeful Western effort), but the game itself is an absolute corker.
It's a slightly surreal mix of giant mecha and feudal japan; your robot flies over a landscape of farms and temples, blasting away at some brilliantly realised enemies, including the wacky Noh theatre mask depicted on the back of the box. Perhaps Musha's biggest draw is its absurd level of fire-power; at full power you can fire a primary weapon, a dual laser and a pair of drones that spray lead everywhere too.
Aleste received some relatively lukewarm reviews back in 1990 - I seem to recall Mean Machines only gave it 70%, or thereabouts - which is a pity, and probably a sign that reviewers were becoming jaded with the number of shooters that flooded the market. Admittedly, Musha Aleste won't present a huge challenge for more skilled players, but the feeling of empowerment and glee the weaponry provides is unique - for once, the aliens are the ones who are outgunned.
Musha Aleste is a true classic, and well worth adding to any shoot-em-up fanatic's collection.
