Einhänder

Einhänder
Developer: Square Publishers: Square (JP), SCEA (US) Platform: PlayStation Released in JP: November 20, 1997 Released in US: May 5, 1998 This game has regional differences. This game has a prerelease article

Einhänder is Square's first attempt at the shoot-'em-up genre, and is a surprisingly good game given that, at the time, Square had little experience with games in this genre.

Sub-Page

Prerelease Info

Regional Differences

Several changes were made for the North American version:

• Einhänder's arm switches faster in the North American version (except for the Astraea, where it is the same speed in both versions).
• You get different amounts of ammo from pickups in the North American version than you do in the Japanese version.
• The art gallery is easier to navigate through in the North American version and has exclusive pictures not found in the Japanese version.
• The "Free" mode present in the Japanese version was removed, which contained a stage select option and an option for unlimited continues. This mode unlocks when you complete the game with all 21 S.Bonuses.
• The text for the pause menu selections were changed between versions. "EXIT", "TITLE" and "REST x FIGHTERS" in the Japanese version became "CONTINUE", "QUIT" and "x FIGHTERS LEFT" in the North American version.
• The story text crawls that appear throughout the game, which already were in English with Japanese subtitles, were revised in the North American version. Notably, "World War III" and "Sodom" in the Japanese version respectively became the "Great War" and "Gesetz" in the North American version.

Area	Japan	North America
After Title Screen	Half a century has passed since World War III burnt the world to the ground. Mankind has enjoyed a period of twilight, but the war still demanded sacrifices. We, Selene, a combined nation of the moon megalopolis, insisted on the recapture of the 'sacred place' Sodom, survived league of nations on Earth. Then we declared war and started the invasion. The war was prolonged, during which I volunteered to the force, longing to go to earth. After undergoing the hard training and thought re-education, I was assigned to the forced reconnaissance of the enemy capital. Then I descended solo to earth, alone in a fighter plane.	Half a century has passed since the Great War turned the world to ashes. Mankind was already facing the twilight of their time, but the flames of war still demanded sacrifices. Our nation, Selene, an alliance of moon megalopoli, after demanding the return of the "Holy Land" of Gesetz from Earth's remaining nations, declared war and invaded. The war dragged on, and I enlisted, hoping to be sent to earth. After completing harsh training and ideological re-education, I was ordered on a reconnaissance mission of an enemy capital. In my fighter plane, I descended to Earth, alone.
Run Out of Time on Stage 6	One doubt came across in my fading consciousness. Was it really true the main ally unit didn't make it in time? Or...... In my last moment, I thought I saw the innumerable white angels coming down, circling from the endless heaven.	In my fading consciousness, a single doubt remained. Were the allied forces really late, or...? Then, right before the end, I thought I saw countless white angels circling down from an endless heaven.
In Between Stages 6 and 7	It was a question that made me survive under the intense gunfire that poured from the ally. Why must I be terminated by an ally? The earth I saw wasn't the Utopia that my superiors said it was. It was the same waste land as the moon. The purpose of this war was already lost. But what if, to my superiors, this ridiculous war was itself, the purpose?	The only thing that kept me alive under the intense gunfire from my allies was one burning question, "Why are they after me?" The earth I saw wasn't the Utopia my superiors spoke of, but rather a vast wasteland, like the moon. I knew then the war was already purposeless. But perhaps, for the leaders, war itself was the purpose...
After Final Boss	After the fight, both sides, having lost all means of attack, entered into a temporary cease-fire agreement. After a while, the citizens of each side became aware of the conditions of the other, and this lead naturally to the end of the war. Although there was no Utopia anywhere, a temporary balance fell over the world again. But, the name of the person who indirectly brought about the end of the war, was completely erased from the official records of both countries. Now, only those who actually fought and were wounded in the war know the name of 'EINHÄNDER'.	After the battle, both sides, no longer able to fight, agreed to a temporary cease-fire. Gradually, the people on each side became aware of the conditions of the other, naturally leading to the end of the war. Although no Utopia, a temporary balance fell over the world again. But the name of the one who indirectly brought about the end of the war was completely erased from the official records of both powers. Now, only those who actually fought and were wounded in the war know the name of... "EINHÄNDER".