====== Metal Black ======
{{:game:mblack.jpg|}}

//"THE EARTH DIED, AND IT WAS ABOUT TO ENTER UPON SILENCE TIMES..."//

**//Metal Black//** is a [[genre:shooters#Horizontal Shooter|horizontal STG]]/"shmup" originally released in 1991 by [[companies:Taito]]. It started development as an entry in the [[game:Darius]] series, but became a sequel to 1990's //[[game:Gun Frontier]]//, although the games share little in common. (There are some aquatic enemies that reference its [[game:Darius]] origins.) It was an early attempt at marrying visual storytelling and serious thematic elements to the [[genre:STG]] genre, and is quite progressive even by modern standards. Gameplay was also streamlined from the [[game:Darius]] series: the only powerup is the ubiquitous Newalone, and your one secondary attack is a long-lasting beam that can be used in dramatic "beam duels" with bosses.

The plot, told in fast-scrolling Engrish during the attract mode, is remarkably well-told and developed for the era. It involves an alien invasion from the "sky area of Nemesis," coupled with an asteroid attack from the gravity of a new star they created. Earth's military develops the Blackfly fighter to combat this, which uses the same Newalone energy source as the aliens' beams. However, Earth foolishly makes a "compromise called peace" with the aliens, freezing the Blackfly project. The aliens obviously don't uphold the truce, since all civilization is destroyed, turning cities into deserts. A lone Blackfly pilot then defies the freeze, setting out against the enemy. 

The final boss is especially notable: a duel with an ephemeral dolphin-being, set against a slideshow of human history and its tragedies, culminating in the destruction of Earth. There are multiple endings depending on if you win or not, possibly a first for the genre (anyone know for sure?).

[[people:ZUNTATA]] provided a haunting, lyrical soundtrack, which received an arrange album, //Metal Black the First.// Some of the game's tracks have been performed at [[people:ZUNTATA]]'s live shows.

=====Ports=====

 - [[hardware:Saturn]] - 1996 (ported by [[companies:Ving]], not emulated like the PS2 versions)
 
 - [[hardware:Playstation 2]] - 2005 (part of //[[taito_compilations#Taito Memories Joukan]]// compilation)
 
 - [[hardware:Playstation 2]] - 2006 (part of //[[taito_compilations#Taito Legends 2]]// compilation)

=====Other games=====

//[[game:Space Invaders - Infinity Gene]]// ([[hardware:iOS]]/[[hardware:Xbox 360]]) includes several gameplay references to 
**//Metal Black//**, and features the Newalone through its entirety. 

=====Links=====
[[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WBTg1chqbvs|Youtube - 1997 live performance of Born to be Free]]