Plus Alpha

Plus Alpha

Overview & History

Developed and released by Jaleco in 1989 for arcade systems, Plus Alpha is a charming, vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up that stands out in a genre typically dominated by gritty sci-fi settings. The game drops players into a vibrant, mythical fantasy realm heavily inspired by East Asian folklore. The storyline follows a courageous young heroine named Fia, who mounts a magical dragon to journey through celestial and mystical domains. Her quest is to rescue her captured friends and restore peace to a whimsical world overrun by bizarre, otherworldly monsters and mechanical abominations. Unlike many of its contemporaries that relied on grim military aesthetics, Plus Alpha embraces a colorful, anime-styled fairy-tale presentation, complete with whimsical boss designs ranging from flying turtles to clockwork deities.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

At its core, Plus Alpha utilizes traditional vertical shmup mechanics infused with distinct magical elements. Players pilot Fia atop her dragon while collecting elemental power-up crystals dropped by defeated enemies. These crystals cycle through various magical attributes—such as explosive fireballs, piercing lightning arcs, and tracking ice shards—each altering the dragon's primary projectile attack. Additionally, players can unleash powerful screen-clearing spell bombs that summon massive mythological entities to wipe out incoming swarms of adversaries. The pacing is relentless, featuring intricate bullet-hell patterns coupled with tight checkpoint spacing. The game also introduces floating companion sprites that mimic Fia's firing patterns, adding strategic depth to positioning and target prioritization across its richly detailed stages.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause