Shatterhand

特救指令ソルブレイン (Tokkyū Shirei Soruburein)NES1991

  1. JP1991
  2. NA1991
  3. EU1992
  4. RU—

Shatterhand is the Western version of the Japanese Famicom game Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain (特救指令ソルブレイン), a tie-in to the Super Rescue Solbrain TV series. Jaleco removed the license and released it under the new name in North America and Europe; no modern re-release is documented.

Shatterhand was developed by Natsume and started out in Japan as Tokkyū Shirei Solbrain, a Famicom game based on the live-action superhero series Super Rescue Solbrain. Angel, a Bandai subsidiary, released it on 26 October 1991. Jaleco then published a reworked version as Shatterhand in North America in December 1991 and in Europe in 1992.

The Western story is set in 2030: Bronx police officer Steve Hermann receives cybernetic arms after losing his own in a fight with Metal Command, and becomes the agent Shatterhand. He fights with his fists, and combining the Greek letters α and β summons one of eight robotic satellite helpers.

Area A serves as an introduction, Areas B to F can be played in any order, and Area G opens once the others are cleared.1

Names and releases

RegionTitle on the boxPlatformDatePublisherSrc
NA Shatterhand NES December 1991 Jaleco 1
JP 特救指令ソルブレインTokkyū Shirei SorubureinFamicom NES Oct 26, 1991 Angel 2
EU ShatterhandEnglish Wikipedia gives 19 November 1992 and Spanish Wikipedia 1992; Japanese Wikipedia gives November 1991 NES November 1992 Jaleco 1

Also known as: 特救指令ソルブレイン JP2Tokkyū Shirei Soruburein JP1Tokkyu Shirei Solbrain JP1

Box art by region

  • Shatterhand box art, North America release
    NA Shatterhand
  • Shatterhand box art, Europe release
    EU Shatterhand

Box art © its publishers, shown to identify each release. Scans: libretro-thumbnails.

Version differences

  • ContentFamicom (JP)

    The Japanese version is a licensed Super Rescue Solbrain game: it follows the show's story, has a different opening and draws most characters and items differently. Shatterhand dropped the license in favor of an original hero.1

  • ContentNES (NA/EU)

    Area C, a carnival in Solbrain, became an entirely different submarine level in Shatterhand.1

  • GameplayFamicom (JP)NES (NA/EU)

    According to Japanese Wikipedia, the two versions also differ in their power-up transformation effects and in some stage layouts and bosses.2

Translations

  • English Official

    Jaleco1991NES · Japanese Famicom version, de-licensedReleased · complete

    Jaleco's English-language NES release, Shatterhand, removed the Solbrain license.1

Reception

Reviews were generally favorable, including 32/40 from Electronic Gaming Monthly, 86/100 from HobbyConsolas and 85/100 from Superjuegos; Famitsu gave the Famicom version 21 out of 40.1

Sources

  1. 1en.wikipedia.org
  2. 2ja.wikipedia.org
  3. 3es.wikipedia.org

Checked: 2026-10-13Text reviewed: 2026-10-13

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