In 1987, thanks to Yu Suzuki, another hit came from Sega, or rather from the AM2 division. Instead of flat shooters and dull virtual tirams, an energetic and hasty 3D flight simulator emerged, setting a high bar for all subsequent games in this genre. To meet all the requirements of arcade action, a special joystick was designed in the shape of a fighter jet’s control stick. Additionally, some arcade machines were produced in the form of vertically rotating cockpits with pilot seats.
Let me remind you that the revolutionary “Super Scaler” had been used in hit arcade games such as Hang-On, Space Harrier, OutRun, Thunder Blade, and even Night Striker since 1985. This special hardware allows for the seamless scaling of moving graphics, making them “closer” or “next.” This provides a 3D effect that is absolutely not available for 8 and 16-bit game consoles in the basic configuration.
The pilot will have an American F-14 Tomcat: a jet interceptor and bomber used by the U.S. Air Force from 1974 to 2006 (to replace the new F-18F). The main mission of the fighter is to dominate the surface area, so the primary takeoff and landing spots are aircraft carriers clearly shown in the game. However, with a smooth transition from one to another, there are a total of 18 large, varied stages with sufficient surface missions.
The fighter jet is equipped with a six-barrel Vulcan cannon with unlimited ammunition and air-to-air missiles among its weapons—though their numbers are limited, fuel tankers periodically replenish them. Not all enemies in the game are dangerous, and they appropriately resist. Some fly in, waiting to take their share. Others release missiles that require rapid escape since even a single hit can be deadly. The flights themselves are impressive, creating a sense of presence, and when you input a series of “barrels,” your head starts to spin a bit.
The game’s music was composed by Hiroshi Kawaguchi and the SST Band. Melodies from the game have been included in various music albums over the years. The main theme remix is available in the game Bayonetta (2009).
In version comparison, After Burner was ported to various gaming systems such as Amiga (as a separate game in the Amiga Champions collection), PC (DOS), Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Sharp X68000, FM Towns, Commodore 64, NES, Sega Master System, Sega Saturn, PC, MSX, ZX Spectrum, and Gameboy Advance, and in Sega Arcade Gallery. The 32X version was created by Rutubo Games and is known as After Burner Complete.
The same game can also be found in the 100% Dynamite collections for Commodore 64 and ZX Spectrum.
In detail:
– Sega 32X: The coolest arcade action. A perfect implementation showcasing the full glory of the Sega Genesis/Mega Drive add-on. The more pixelated moving graphics at the edges and the game running at 30 frames per second instead of the original 60 frames really don’t matter. Unfortunately, the device was not very widespread. 23 levels.
– Main System: An astonishingly well-portable game. The power of the Z80 isn’t sufficient to support the fast-paced gameplay, but otherwise, the game is at a very good level, even the sounds are there!
– NES: Good for an 8-bit title, but of course, not much remains of the arcade game! 22 levels.
After After Burner became a big hit, for some reason, Sega did not rush to release sequels under this brand. Among the family of games, there were titles unrelated to it, such as G-LOC: Air Battle and the sequel to Strike Fighter, which was later re-released as After Burner III for Sega CD. Then there were Sky Target and Sega Strike Fighter, but that’s a story for another time.
In 2006, Sega released a new sequel for Sega Lindbergh: After Burner Climax. The game was made in the best traditions and was later released for Xbox Live Arcade and PSN. In parallel, the following branch was released for PSP in 2007: After Burner: Black Falcon.
Interesting facts:
At the beginning of the game, the F-14 takes off from the aircraft carrier Sega Enterprise. This name seems to mimic the aircraft carrier from the 1986 film “Top Gun.”
