Burning Angels

Burning Angels

Overview & History

Released exclusively in Japan in 1990 for the PC Engine (localized internationally as the TurboGrafx-16 via the Super CD-ROM² system architecture), Burning Angels is a cult-classic, side-scrolling magical girl action game developed by Aicom. The storyline plunges players into a surreal, post-apocalyptic fantasy realm where a demonic pantheon has resurrected an ancient evil deity known as the Dark Overlord. To combat this infernal invasion, two high school heroines—Rin and Saya—are bestowed with celestial armaments and transformed into the titular Burning Angels. Unlike many contemporaneous shooters or standard brawlers, this title fuses frantic beat-'em-up melee skirmishes with vertical and horizontal scrolling platforming. The game's production value was remarkably high for its era, boasting a haunting, atmospheric chiptune soundtrack composed by Kenji Kawai's circle and fully voiced, anime-style visual novel cutscenes that bridged the gap between intense combat stages. Despite never receiving an official Western localization during its initial retail run, it remains a heavily sought-after collectible among retro enthusiasts due to its striking gothic-anime aesthetic and punishing, skill-based difficulty curve.

Gameplay Features & Mechanics

Burning Angels operates on a dual-phase gameplay loop, alternating between high-speed horizontal platforming and claustrophobic arena-style boss encounters. Players can choose between Rin, who wields a close-range elemental broadsword capable of devastating combo multipliers, and Saya, a ranged spellcaster who utilizes homing astral projectiles and elemental magic spheres. The control scheme demands precision: utilizing the TurboGrafx-16's two-button layout, players must master a dynamic movelist that includes double-jumps, directional air-dashes, and a screen-clearing "Sacred Burst" magic attack that drains the character's life force if overused. Throughout the five sprawling stages—ranging from decaying bio-mechanical citadels to floating ethereal cathedrals—players collect floating crystal shards to upgrade their primary weapons, restore lost health, and unlock temporary invulnerability shields. The pacing is relentless, forcing users to balance aggressive melee rushes with evasive aerial maneuvers to bypass environmental hazards like crumbling platforms, laser tripwires, and relentless waves of grotesque, mythological monstrosities.

Keyboard Controls

• Arrow Keys / D-Pad: Move character, navigate menus, and crouch
• Action Keys: Attack / Jump
• Enter: Start / Pause