Jotego has just revealed a brand-new FPGA core, and this one came completely out of nowhere: Konami’s Surprise Attack is now available.
While the team had been focusing on Golfing Greats and Run’n Gun cores, a review of the original PCB for Surprise Attack revealed it was essentially a cost-saving version of Parodius Da!, minus the Z80 and PCM sound chips. With the system architecture so similar, adapting the existing JTPARODA core turned out to be quick and straightforward, leading to a surprise release for MiSTer users.
The team has also been fine-tuning the schematic work, with plans to migrate the comparison to KiCAD and publish the schematics by mid-September. Interestingly, they discovered that shadow effects only apply to the red video channel, a quirk that simulates transparency but also makes some scenes look slightly different compared to emulation in MAME.
History
Surprise Attack follows John Ryan, dispatched to rescue a lunar base and space station seized by terrorists. To clear each area, you need to locate and recover bombs planted along the way, adding tension to the fast-paced action. The game mixes classic arcade platforming with sci-fi twists like zero-gravity jumps and ceiling-walking sequences, alongside enemies that bend the laws of physics.
The gameplay feels reminiscent of Shinobi and Shadow Dancer, with similar movement mechanics and puzzle-like stage layouts. Between levels, you’ll even encounter a bonus quiz about space trivia, rewarding perfect scores with extra points. Its soundtrack, featuring contributions from the composer of Gradius, delivers a memorable and energetic vibe that elevates the experience.
Surprisingly, despite its quality, Surprise Attack didn’t receive a home console port until much later, with a release in Japan only arriving decades after its original arcade debut.
Other Updates
In addition to this unexpected release, Jotego confirmed that the JTAJAX core, compatible with Ajax, has reached maturity and is now promoted to a public core.
