{{Short description|1990 video game}} {{For2|the book series|Elemental Masters|the Ninjago characters|Elemental Masters (Ninjago)}} {{Infobox video game |title = Elemental Master |image = Elemental Master 1990 Cover.jpg |caption = |developer = Technosoft |publisher = {{vgrelease|JP|Technosoft|NA|Renovation Products}} |composer = Toshiharu Yamanishi |platforms = Genesis |released = {{vgrelease|JP|14 December 1990<ref name="3rd party titles - Sega JP">{{cite web |title=Software List (Software Licensee Release) |url=https://www.sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html |website=Sega Hardware Encyclopedia |publisher=Sega Corporation |access-date=May 15, 2023 |language=ja}}</ref>|NA|March 1993<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/game-pro-issue-44-march-1993/page/183/mode/1up|title=Short ProShots|magazine=GamePro|issue=44|publisher=IDG|date=March 1993|page=183}}</ref>}} |genre = Scrolling shooter |modes = Single-player }}
'''''Elemental Master''''' ('''エレメンタルマスター''') is a top down scrolling shooter developed by Technosoft for the Sega Genesis and released in 1990 in Japan and in 1993 in North America by Renovation Products.
==Gameplay== The game is autoscrolling upwards. The player can choose to either shoot up or down. There are different weapons (types of magic) available, based on (naturally) the elements. Of the seven levels the game has, the player can choose the order of the first four.
==Plot== Long ago in the fantasy kingdom of Lorelei, the followers of an evil being called Gyra were sealed underneath the city's castle. However, a seemingly heroic sorcerer known as Aryaag betrayed the king's trust and unleashed the power of Gyra on the kingdom with the intention of letting the evil influence spread. Laden, the strongest sorcerer in the kingdom, was ready to attack Aryaag, but was stopped in shock when Aryaag revealed himself to be Laden's brother Roki. Backed by Gyra's most dedicated followers, Roki banished Laden from the conquered kingdom, but Laden vows to stop Gyra's influence from spreading and to stop Gyra's ambitions.
==Development== The soundtrack was composed by Toshiharu Yamanishi, who also worked on ''Thunder Force III'', ''Thunder Force IV'', and ''Dragon's Fury'' (one song from ''Elemental Master'' was remixed into a new version in ''Dragon's Fury'').<ref>[http://project2612.org/details.php?id=23 Project 2612 - The Sega Genesis/Sega Mega Drive Music Archive<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> The style of the soundtrack is synthrock with classical vibes.
== Reception == {{Video game reviews | Allgame = 2/5<ref name="AllgameEM">{{cite web|last=Weiss|first=Brett Alan|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15941&tab=review|title= Elemental Master - Review|work=AllGame|publisher=All Media Network|year=1998|access-date=2025-05-30|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141116162453/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=15941&tab=review|archive-date=2014-11-16|url-status=dead}}</ref> | BMD = 7.5/10<ref name="BMDem">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/beep-megadrive-1991-01/page/n33/mode/1up|title=BEメガ･ドッグレース: エレメンタルマスター|magazine=Beep! Mega Drive|volume=7|issue=1|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=January 1991|page=32|language=ja}}</ref> | CVG = 82%<ref name="CVGem">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Complete_Guide_to_Sega_The_1990_EMAP_Images_GB/page/n83/mode/2up|title=Megadrive Review: Elemental Master|magazine=Computer and Video Games|type=special|edition=Complete Guide To Sega|publisher=EMAP|date=May 1991|pages=84–85}}</ref> | Fam = 6/10, 7/10, 8/10, 5/10<ref name="FamEM">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/famitsu-0117/page/n26/mode/1up|title=新作ゲームクロスレビュー: エレメンタルマスター|magazine=Famitsu|issue=117|publisher=ASCII Corporation|date=December 21, 1990|page=27|language=ja}}</ref> | MMS = 78%<ref name="MMSem">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-sega-issue-01-october-1992/page/n137/mode/1up|title=Games Index: Megadrive|magazine=Mean Machines Sega|issue=1|publisher=EMAP|date=October 1992|pages=137–143}}</ref> | rev1 = ''Console XS'' | rev1Score = 81/100<ref name="CXSem">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/console-xs-01/page/129/mode/1up|title=Software A-Z: Mega Drive|magazine=Console XS|issue=1|publisher=Paragon Publishing|date=June–July 1992|pages=126–137}}</ref> | rev2 = ''Console Ma'zine'' | rev2Score = 90%<ref name="ConsoleMaEM">{{cite magazine|last=Foord|first=Marc|url=https://archive.org/details/1991-01-console-mazine-18/page/n16/mode/1up|title=Reviews: Elemental Master|magazine=Console Ma'zine|issue=18|publisher=Onn Lee|date=January 1991|page=15}}</ref> | rev3 = ''Electronic Games'' | rev3Score = 85%<ref name="EGem">{{cite magazine|last=Yates|first=Laurie|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic-Games-1993-05/page/n55/mode/1up|title=Video Game Gallery: Elemental Master|magazine=Electronic Games|volume=1|issue=8|publisher=Decker Publications|date=May 1993|page=56}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Hippon Super!'' | rev4Score = 6/10<ref name="HSem">{{cite magazine|last=Narusawa|first=Daisuke|url=https://archive.org/details/hippon-super-january-1991-01-600dpi-ozidual/Hippon%20Super%201991%2001%20%28J%20OCR%29/page/n39/mode/1up|title=TV Game Broad-Way MD: エレメンタルマスター|magazine={{ill|Hippon Super!|lt=Hippon Super!|ja|ファミコン必勝本#HiPPON SUPER!、必本スーパー!（1991〜1995）}}|volume=6|issue=1|publisher=JICC Publishing Bureau|date=January 4, 1991|page=38|language=ja}}</ref> | rev5 = ''Mega Drive Advanced Gaming'' | rev5Score = 70%<ref name="MDAGts">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/segamegadriveadvancedgaming05/page/n90/mode/1up|title=The Incredibly Complete Mega File|magazine=Mega Drive Advanced Gaming|issue=5|publisher=Maverick Magazines|date=January 1993|pages=90–95}}</ref> | rev6 = ''MegaTech'' | rev6Score = 78%<ref name="MegaTechEM">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/mega-tech-uk-01/page/n76/mode/1up|title=Game Index|magazine=MegaTech|issue=1|publisher=EMAP|date=Christmas 1991|pages=76–81}}</ref> | rev7 = ''Sega Power'' | rev7Score = 3/5<ref name="SegaPowerEM">{{cite magazine|last=Jarratt|first=Steve|author-link=Steve Jarratt|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASegaPower_UK_23.pdf&page=53|title=The Hard Line: Mega Drive|magazine=Sega Power|issue=23|publisher=Future Publishing|date=October 1991|pages=52–55}}</ref> | rev8 = ''Sega Pro'' | rev8Score = 77/100<ref name="SegaProEM">{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ASegaPro_UK_02.pdf&page=55|title=Sega Software Showndown Part 2: The A-Z of Sega Games|magazine=Sega Pro|issue=2|publisher=Paragon Publishing|date=December 1991|pages=18–19, 45, 53, 55}}</ref> | rev9 =''Super Gaming'' | rev9Score = 9/10, 9/10, 9/10<ref name="SuperGamingEM">{{cite magazine|author1=Mike|author2=Ken|author3=Samrye|url=https://archive.org/details/super-gaming-issue-2-fall-1991/page/11/mode/1up|title=Super Reviews: Elemental Master|magazine=Super Gaming|issue=2|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=Fall 1991|page=11}}</ref> }} {{Expand section|date=May 2025}} ''Elemental Master'' received a 7.4723/10 score in a 1995 readers' poll conducted by the Japanese ''Sega Saturn Magazine'', ranking among Sega Mega Drive titles at number 210.<ref name="SSMjpv11i9">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/sega-saturn-magazine-ja-1995-09-01/page/83/mode/1up|title=メガドラ読者レース|magazine=Sega Saturn Magazine|volume=11|issue=9|publisher=SoftBank Creative|date=September 1995|pages=82–85|language=ja}}</ref> The game received generally favorable reviews from critics.<ref name="GameProEM">{{cite magazine|author=The Unknown Gamer|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_046_May_1993/page/n61/mode/1up|title=Genesis ProReview: Elemental Master|magazine=GamePro|issue=46|publisher=IDG|date=May 1993|page=62}}</ref>
''MegaTech'' praised the game's audiovisual presentation and gameplay, but criticized its easy difficulty.<ref name="MegaTechEM"/> ''Console XS'' called its gameplay "addictive", but criticized the game for having too few levels and its easy difficulty.<ref name="CXSem"/> ''MAN!AC'' highlighted the game's synth soundtrack and exceptional level design.<ref name="MG174">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/MANiAC.N174.2008.04/page/n94/mode/1up|title=Extended: 30 Jahre Shoot'em-Ups - Ein Vermächtnis Der Spielhalle (Teil 2)|magazine={{ill|M! Games|lt=MAN!AC|de|M! Games}}|issue=174|publisher=Cybermedia|date=April 2008|pages=90–95|language=de}}</ref>
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==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.mobygames.com/game/elemental-master ''Elemental Master''] at MobyGames * [http://www.gamefaqs.com/genesis/586160-elemental-master ''Elemental Master''] at GameFAQs
Category:1990 video games Category:Fantasy video games Category:Sega Genesis games Category:Sega Genesis-only games Category:Shoot 'em ups Category:Technosoft games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Single-player video games