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After Burner

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A flight simulator where groups of planes fly at you in each level. Players must destroy the oncoming planes to advance. The game allows the player to control an F-14 Tomcat jet, which must destroy a series of enemy jets throughout 18 stages. At the start of the game, the player takes off from...

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Developer
Sega AM2

Released on
1987

Size
1 Player

Version
Arcade

Requirements
Arcade

Downloads
Shooter

Publisher
Sega Enterprises

ESRB Rating
Not Rated

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Description

A flight simulator where groups of planes fly at you in each level. Players must destroy the oncoming planes to advance.

The game allows the player to control an F-14 Tomcat jet, which must destroy a series of enemy jets throughout 18 stages. At the start of the game, the player takes off from an aircraft carrier called the Sega Enterprise, which shares a similar name to the one used in the 1986 film Top Gun.

After Burner

Overview & History

Released by Sega in 1987 and masterminded by arcade legend Yu Suzuki, *After Burner* represents the pinnacle of late-80s "Super Scaler" technology. Set against the backdrop of the fictional Zabad Architectural Republic, the game casts you as a nameless ace pilot commanding the fictional F-14XX Tomcat II. Tasked with single-handedly annihilating an entire renegade air armada across eighteen adrenaline-fueled stages, you rocket through hostile canyons, desert skies, and futuristic floating fortresses. Sega capitalized on the arcade boom by housing the game in two distinct cabinets: a standard upright and an iconic, motorized "deluxe" hydraulic cockpit that physically pitched and rolled in sync with your on-screen maneuvers. Its breathtaking pseudo-3D sprite scaling, thunderous stereo soundscape, and unforgettable synth-rock soundtrack by Hiroshi Kawaguchi cemented its legacy as a milestone in arcade history, inspiring countless aerial combat successors.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Unlike traditional side-scrolling shoot 'em ups, *After Burner* adopts an intense third-person, rear-chase perspective that places you directly behind the thrusters of your fighter jet. The gameplay loop demands constant twitch-reflex management of both your Gatling gun and your payload of lock-on missiles. As enemy squadrons swarm your tail from every conceivable vector, you must utilize the signature barrel-roll mechanic to evade incoming fire and disorient pursuers. A crucial element of survival is managing your limited missile reserves—capped at twenty per sortie—which forces you to judiciously time your multi-target radar locks rather than spamming attacks blindly. Mid-stage resupply sequences require careful positioning to dock with a friendly support aircraft for ammo replenishment. With no traditional health bars, a single enemy hit or collision with the terrain results in immediate destruction, making memorization of enemy wave patterns and precise throttle control absolute prerequisites for reaching the explosive, flying fortress finale.