Sand Scorpion

Sand Scorpion is a two-player vertical scrolling shooter released by Face in 1992. Players pilot craft through increasingly challenging environments, battling waves of enemies and navigating perilous obstacles. The game’s title references the Japanese word for scorpion, hinting at the insectoid adversaries encountered throughout the experience. Utilizing a Motorola 68000 processor and Zilog Z80 controller, Sand Scorpion presents a vibrant visual style with a palette of over two thousand colors displayed on a vertical screen. Two players can simultaneously control their ships using eight-way joystick controls to maneuver and fire upon approaching threats. The game’s soundtrack is delivered via an OKI6295 sound chip and Yamaha YM2203, providing audio accompaniment to the fast-paced action. A version of Sand Scorpion exists with a Chinese titlescreen, indicating revisions made to its hardware configuration; the game was designed by Ghost, among others.