View source for Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999


{{Infobox video game
|title = Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999
|image = Dark Arms - Beast Busters Coverart.png
|caption=
|developer = Noise Factory
|publisher = [[SNK]]
|designer =
|engine =
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|October 21, 1999|EU|November 12, 1999|NA|November 23, 1999}}
|genre = [[Action role-playing game|Action role-playing]]
|modes = [[Single player]]
|platforms = [[Neo Geo Pocket Color]]
}}

'''''Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999'''''{{efn|Known as {{nihongo|'''''Beast Buster: Biological Weapons of Darkness'''''|ビーストバスター 〜闇の生体兵器〜|''Bīsuto Basutā: Yami no Seitai Heiki''||lead=yes}} in Japan and '''''Dark Arms''''' in Europe.}} is an [[action role-playing game]] released by [[SNK Playmore|SNK]] for the [[Neo-Geo Pocket Color]] in 1999. It is a spin-off follow-up to the SNK [[arcade game|arcade]] [[shooter game|shooter]] ''[[Beast Busters]]''. The game was later re-released as part of ''[[Neo Geo Pocket Color Selection]] Vol. 1'' in 2021.

== Gameplay ==
''Dark Arms'' has the player become the Beast Buster, a human who can't remember their past but has made a pact with The Master to gain power. As they explore the Dark Realm, they learn more about the nature of the world and meet Joyce, a girl with a connection to the people who live in this world of monsters.

The player can collect the spirits of the various demons and [[zombie]]s they fight in the game with a gun known as "The Catcher".

The player-character can then use captured spirits to 'feed' their weapons and evolve them into more powerful forms. For example, the Handgun evolves into the Sub Shotgun, which can evolve further into the Shotgun.

== Reception ==
{{Video game reviews
|Allgame = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="AllgameDA:BB">{{cite web|last=Ottoson|first=Joe|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22498&tab=review|title=Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999 - Review|work=[[AllGame]]|publisher=[[All Media Network]]|date=1999|access-date=2021-07-03|archive-date=2014-11-15|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141115230825/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=22498&tab=review|url-status=live}}</ref>
|CP = 82%<ref name="CPda:bb">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Console_Plus_Numero_098#page/132/mode/1up|title=Speedy Gonzatest: Neogeo - Dark Arms|magazine={{ill|Consoles +|lt=Consoles +|fr|Consoles +}}|issue=98|publisher={{ill|M.E.R.7|lt=M.E.R.7|fr|M.E.R.7}}|date=March 2000|page=132|lang=fr}}</ref>
|CVG = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref name="CVGda:bb">{{cite magazine|last=Scott|first=Dean|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File%3ACVG_UK_219.pdf&page=106|title=Neo Geo Pocket Color Reviews: Dark Arms - Swords are for pussies|magazine=[[Computer and Video Games]]|issue=219|publisher=[[EMAP]]|date=February 2000|page=106}}</ref>
|GSpot = 7/10<ref name="GSpotDA:BB">{{cite web|last=Gertsmann|first=Jeff|authorlink=Jeff Gerstmann|url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dark-arms-review/1900-2543831/|title=Dark Arms Review - Dark Arms is a neat little RPG with gothic overtones|work=[[GameSpot]]|publisher=[[CBS Interactive]]|date=January 28, 2000|access-date=2021-07-03|archive-date=2021-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703183156/https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/dark-arms-review/1900-2543831/|url-status=live}}</ref>
|IGN = 5/10<ref name="IGNda:bb">{{cite web|last=Nix|first=Marc|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/10/dark-arms-beast-busters-1999|title=Dark Arms: Beast Busters 1999 - A kabillion interesting ideas go into an ultimately average game for the NeoGeo Pocket Color|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|date=February 9, 2000|access-date=2021-07-03|archive-date=2021-07-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703181515/https://www.ign.com/articles/2000/02/10/dark-arms-beast-busters-1999|url-status=live}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''Dreamzone''
|rev1Score = 8/10<ref name="DzoneDA:BB">{{cite magazine|url=http://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Dreamzone/dreamzone_numero10/Dreamzone%2010%20-%20Page%20119%20%28mars%202000%29.jpg|title=NGP - Neo Geo Pocket Couleur: Que De Gros Titres! — Dark Arms: Beast Buster|magazine=Dreamzone|issue=10|publisher={{ill|FJM Publications|lt=FJM Publications|fr|FJM}}|date=March 2000|page=119|lang=fr}}</ref>
|rev2 = ''Pocket Gamer''
|rev2Score = D−<ref name="PGamerBU">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/pocket-gamer-issue-01-2000#page/62/mode/1up|title=Hand-To-Hand Combat - The Match of the Millennium?: NeoGeo Reviews & Previews - Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999|magazine=Pocket Gamer|issue=1|publisher=[[Future US|Imagine Media]]|date=2000|page=62}}</ref>
}}
{{Expand section|date=July 2021}}
''Dark Arms: Beast Buster'' received mixed reception from critics since its release.

In 2014, ''[[HobbyConsolas]]''{{'}}s Álvaro Alonso identified ''Dark Arms: Beast Buster'' as one of the twenty best games for the Neo Geo Pocket Color.<ref name="HC">{{cite web|last=Alonso|first=Álvaro|url=https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/20-mejores-juegos-neo-geo-pocketngp-color-63872|title=Reportaje: Los 20 mejores juegos de Neo Geo Pocket/NGP Color|work=[[HobbyConsolas]]|publisher=[[Axel Springer SE]]|date=February 2, 2014|access-date=2021-11-11|language=es|archive-date=2021-09-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902174259/https://www.hobbyconsolas.com/reportajes/20-mejores-juegos-neo-geo-pocketngp-color-63872|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==


* [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ngpc/197041-dark-arms-beast-buster-1999 ''Dark Arms: Beast Buster''] at [[GameFAQs]]
* [https://www.mobygames.com/game/neo-geo-pocket-color/dark-arms-beast-buster-1999 ''Dark Arms: Beast Buster''] at [[MobyGames]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dark Arms: Beast Buster}}
[[Category:1999 video games]]
[[Category:Action role-playing video games]]
[[Category:Neo Geo Pocket Color games]]
[[Category:Neo Geo Pocket Color-only games]]
[[Category:Noise Factory games]]
[[Category:Run and gun games]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:SNK games]]
[[Category:Top-down video games]]
[[Category:Sequel video games]]
[[Category:Video game spinoffs]]
[[Category:Video games about demons]]
[[Category:Video games about zombies]]
[[Category:Video games developed in Japan]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]

{{Wikipedia attribution|original_title=Dark Arms: Beast Buster 1999|access_date=2026-03-02}}