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It
is easy to become cynical towards shooting games.
During the 80s and 90s they were at the peak of their
popularity, and literally thousands of them were produced. In most instances they were as bland as they were
formulaic, but Kaneko's Air Buster is a wonderful exception
to the rule, turning out
to be a well-crafted diamond of the genre.
Speedy gameplay, slick 2-player teamwork and clever level design make Air Buster one of the most timeless
titles in its class. The layout has
been intricately designed around the use of the ship’s
special sub-weapon, the 'Buster Flash'. This smart bomb
attack clears the screen of all enemy fire, and is activated
by holding the fire button down for a moment.
But here's the trick: during the few seconds it takes
for this weapon to charge you cannot shoot - this results
in a lot of last-minute decisions and narrow escapes.
A bouncy and rhythmic soundtrack follows the action
perfectly, and all six 'Phases' are colourful and full
of good ideas: the second one hurtles you at high speed
through narrow corridors, and during Phase 4, 'Out of
Gravity', you cannot stop your ship from moving... In
fact there's enough surprises here to keep the most
critical of shooting game enthusiasts on the edge of
their seats. No artifice, no pomp - just simple shooting action, honed to near perfection.
Over time, the game become a cult classic of sorts: it was granted a very limited arcade release,
so it was the Mega Drive
and PC Engine
versions (renamed 'Aero Blasters') that got the biggest audiences.
The MD delivers a near perfect rendition
of the arcade original while the PC Engine makes up for its weaker graphics by including an original co-operative '2-Player Blaster'
trick, a powerful but hard-to-use team weapon that adds
even more depth to 2P game.
Ready? Scramble!
Rating:  |
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Arcade |
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PC Engine |
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Mega Drive |
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Aero
Blasters
エアロブラスターズ
PC ENGINE |
DETAILS
| Format |
PC
Engine |
| Released |
2
Nov 1990 |
| Publisher |
Hudson |
| Product
ID |
HC90038 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Superb version
of Kaneko's brilliant arcade game.
One of the fastest,
smoothest and most enjoyable
2P shooting games on
the PC Engine.
Standard
PCE case, 4Mbit HuCard, 12-page
monochrome booklet. |
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Aero
Blasters
エアロブラスターズ
MEGA DRIVE |
DETAILS
| Format |
Mega
Drive |
| Released |
31
Jan 1991 |
| Publisher |
Kaneko |
| Product
ID |
T-33013 |
| Size
(cm) |
17.8
x 12.8 x 2.5 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.18 |
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Kaneko
deliver a stunning MD version,
a near-perfect replica of
the arcade original.
Essential in every way.
Standard MD case, 4Mbit cartridge,
colour booklet. |
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'Air
Buster', 'Aero Blasters' and 'Kaneko' are registered trademarks
of Inter State Kaneko Co., Ltd.
'PC Engine' and 'NEC' are registered trademarks of NEC Corporation
'Mega Drive' and 'Sega' are registered trademarks of Sega Corporation
Air Buster / Aero Blasters TM & © 1990 Kaneko All Rights
Reserved
Page content, design & layout © 2012 Arcade Gear |
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