Flower (US)

Take to the stars in Flower, a cooperative vertical shooter released in 1986. Players control spacecraft battling waves of attacking floral enemies and formidable bosses across an outer space setting. By destroying daisy-chains and comets, players can collect power-ups that grant temporary advantages such as increased speed, missile barrages, laser bursts, or specialized cutting tools. The game accommodates two players simultaneously, allowing for shared combat against the botanical onslaught. Using an eight-way joystick, players direct their ships while utilizing three buttons to shoot, launch missiles, and deploy a cutter weapon. Strategic use of these abilities is key to surviving increasingly challenging encounters and overcoming the diverse range of enemies presented throughout gameplay. Flower features custom sound chips that complement the fast-paced action as you work together to clear each stage. Players must skillfully manage their power-ups and coordinate attacks to progress through the game’s escalating difficulty and defeat the final bosses.