Vulgus
Is a 1984 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. Future rival SNK released the game outside Japan. The game was Capcom's first arcade video game.
Vulgus
- Date
- 1984
- Publisher
- Capcom
- Genre
- shoot 'em up
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Is a 1984 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by Capcom for arcades. Future rival SNK released the game outside Japan. The game was Capcom's first arcade video game.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Note VALÉORINE
No house-authored Note is published until its assertions and sources pass the VALÉORINE evidence contract. The documentary article remains available in full while that enrichment is being consolidated.
Documentary enrichment in progress · no unsupported statement published
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Vulgus. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Evidence Panel
not yet certified
- Identity
- resolved
- Independent source families
- 0
- Admitted assertions
- 0
- Open conflicts
- 0
Authority files
wikidata · Q2568823
In this article
The object
The object
The game is included in Capcom Classics Collection and was released as freeware in 2002. A Nintendo Entertainment System sequel was developed, but never released. A playable ROM has surfaced online.
Key facts
Key facts
• Title — Vulgus • Developer — Capcom • Publisher — Capcom • Designer — Tokuro Fujiwara • Composer — Ayako Mori • Released — July 1984 • Genre — Scrolling shooter • Modes — Single-player, multiplayer • Platforms — Arcade, IBM PC
Gameplay
Gameplay
The player controls a spaceship with a single objective: destroy incoming enemies. The vessel has two different weapons: a primary weapon with infinite ammunition and a limited supply of bombs. By picking up the "Pow" icons, which sporadically appear throughout the levels, the player can replenish supplies. Similar to Xevious, the game does not have distinct levels; the background alternates between the surface of a planet and a space field. The game repeats with increased difficulty until the player loses all of their lives.
History of the object
Dated record
History of the object
The full dated record · 2 entries
1984
Vulgus published.
1984
Vulgus is recorded as published in 1984.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Japan
Reception
Reception
According to Game Machine, Vulgus was among the most popular arcade games in Japan during June 1984. In Play Meter magazine, Roger C. Sharpe gave it a generally favorable review and rated it three hashes.
Legacy
Legacy
A follow-up game, Titan Warriors, originally known as Neo Vulgus, was in development for the Nintendo Entertainment System, but was not released. In 2001, Capcom released Vulgus as freeware for IBM PCs and PDAs. Vulgus is available in the compilation title Capcom Generation 3 for the PlayStation and Saturn. The game is included in the 2005 Capcom Classics Collection for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in Capcom Classics Collection Reloaded for the PlayStation Portable and as a bonus game at Capcom Arcade Cabinet. The Pow icon is re-used in many other Capcom games, like 1941: Counter Attack, Bionic Commando, and Savage Bees. Likewise, the Yashichi enemy has made later appearances in many Capcom games, usually in a more benign role as a power-up. Valgas, a boss character from the Power Stone series, has his name based on this game. In Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds, Deadpool reveals that he is petitioning for Capcom to make Vulgus 2.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
authority record
Unverified
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Collectables
20,755 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- VTech 3D GamateTerminology
- VTech CreatiVisionTerminology
- VTech SocratesTerminology
- VTech VarietyTerminology
- vuvuzelaTerminology
- VyatkaOrganisation
- VyrusOrganisation
- W WishWork
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a copy of Vulgus?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.