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Horizon: Moon Patrol II

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A horizontally scrolling shooter, Horizon is the sequel to Moon Patrol. Both were developed by Irem; Moon Patrol was licensed to Williams. Players take control of hover vehicle armed with a turret and a cannon, rolling over the terrain and alternating their position and perspective on three di...

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Developer
Irem

Released on
1985

Size
1–2 Players

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

A horizontally scrolling shooter, Horizon is the sequel to Moon Patrol. Both were developed by Irem; Moon Patrol was licensed to Williams.

Players take control of hover vehicle armed with a turret and a cannon, rolling over the terrain and alternating their position and perspective on three different lanes to destroy enemies and dodge attacks while avoiding obstacles and picking up fuel and other items.

Horizon: Moon Patrol II

Overview & History

Released in 1985 by Irem as a direct sequel to their arcade classic, Horizon: Moon Patrol II thrusts players back onto the treacherous, crater-pocked surface of Earth's satellite. Building on the pseudo-3D parallax scrolling of its predecessor, this forgotten coin-op cabinet introduced advanced cathode-ray graphics, a thumping synthesized chip-tune soundtrack, and a grim sci-fi storyline where the lunar defense forces must outrun an encroaching Martian terraforming front. Unlike standard horizontal shooters, this title demands split-second timing between surface hazards and aerial bombardment, cementing its legacy as one of the era's most punishingly addictive test-of-skill titles.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Players pilot the heavily armored 'Red-Chariot' rover across four distinct sectors of the moon, dodging massive sinkholes, alien mines, and jagged boulders. The game breaks convention by splitting offensive duties: your dual-mounted top cannons blast hovering saucers and falling debris, while your forward-facing pulse laser destroys ground barriers. A critical new mechanic is the 'Overdrive Boost,' allowing brief bursts of high-speed flight over inescapable chasms at the cost of vulnerability to anti-air flak. Checkpoints are measured in Earth time zones, forcing speedrun efficiency to beat the planetary detonation countdown.