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Alpha Mission II

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Alpha Mission II
Developer(s)SNK
Publisher(s)SNK
Producer(s)Eikichi Kawasaki
Designer(s)Kazuto Kouno
Kazuhiro Shibata
Keisen Yamaguchi
Programmer(s)Sho Chan
Composer(s)Kazuhiro Nishida
Toshikazu Tanaka
Yoko Osaka
SeriesAlpha Mission
Platform(s)
Release
1991
  • Arcade
    • WW: 25 March 1991
    Neo Geo AES
    • JP: 1 July 1991
    • NA: 1 July 1991
    • EU: 1 July 1991
    Neo Geo CD
    • JP: 9 September 1994
    • NA: October 1996
Genre(s)Vertically scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player, multiplayer
Arcade systemNeo Geo MVS

Alpha Mission II[a] is a vertically scrolling full screen shoot 'em up released by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems.[1][2] It is the sequel to the 1985 arcade game Alpha Mission. It was later released for the Neo Geo CD in 1994 and for the PlayStation Portable in 2010.[3]

The player controls a fighter spacecraft (Armored Scrum Object) and can shoot enemies in the air, bomb enemies on the ground, collect power-ups, and defeat bosses to advance levels.

Gameplay

Gameplay screenshot showcasing the first boss.

The game controls uses 2 or 3 buttons used depending on the selected shuttle mode. The ship's armaments consist of air-to-air laser shots, air-to-ground missiles and any Power Weapons the player collects. The laser and missiles can be upgraded up to four times by collecting the powerups from drones that are shot. Power Weapons are available after the player collects three pieces of the same armour type or can be bought with credits acquired after each stage.[4][5]

The weapons have limited power indicated on an energy meter. Using the weapons or getting the ship damaged lowers the energy. The energy can be recharged by collecting E power ups. Once the energy expires, the ship returns to normal mode. Depending on which mode is selected varies whether Button C or B activates the Power Weapons. Various hidden items can do certain things like an R item can put the shuttle in Reverse for a certain distance. The shuttle is destroyed by one shot or by running into an enemy unit or hazard. Unless the player collects enough K power-ups beforehand, the missiles and laser shots will be lost to minimum power when the player loses a life.

There are seven stages in the game, with the last one consisting of a single boss battle. The player has to fight through them avoiding hazards in addition. Mid-bosses very occasionally appear in the game. When the player meets a mid-boss or end stage boss, the player must destroy weak points and various parts of the boss to destroy it.

Development and release

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Alpha Mission II on their May 1, 1991 issue as being the most-popular arcade game at the time.[21] Since its initial release in arcades, the game has been met with generally positive reception from critics.[22][23][24][25][26]

AllGame's Paul Biondich regarded it as a worthy successor to the original Alpha Mission and praised its complex weapon system, crisp graphics and simple controls although Kyle Knight gave the game more mixed outlook, stating that the enemy designs were dated and the aforementioned weapon system was a detriment.[6][7] Consoles Plus' Kaneda Kun and François Hermelin commended the presentation, sound design, playability and original weapon. Both Kun and Hermelin noted that the lack of unlimited continues prolongs the title's overall longevity.[8] Computer and Video Games' Paul Rand gave positive remarks the visuals for its quality, sound, difficulty and playability. Rand also noted that the lack of unlimited continues made it worthwhile.[9]

GameFan's four reviewers highlighted the visuals, soundtrack, bosses and weapon variety in a positive manner, deeming it to be better than Last Resort but not as good as Viewpoint.[10] Both Joypad's Seb and Joystick's Jean-Marc Demoly gave very high praise to the graphics, animations, controls and sound.[11][12] Likewise, Player One's Cyril Drevet commended the animated visuals, weapon system, sound difficulty and playability.[15] Sinclair User's John Cook stated that its weapon system required thought to build them at their maximum state and attack enemies.[16] Génération 4's Frank Ladoire and Consolemania's Piemarco Rosa highly praised the colorful and detailed graphics, anime-style soundtrack and playability.[27][28] Game Zone's David Wilson reviewed the arcade version, regarding it to be a fun game, noting its weapon system and ability to equip weapons between levels.[18] Zero's Doris Stokes also regarded the game to be fun but stated that the amount of action on-screen made it frenetic.[20]

Nintendo Life's Damien McFerran stated that the Armor weapon system was interesting, praising the bosses but criticized the levels for being repetitive.[13] In contrasts, Nintendo World Report's Casey Gibson stated that the power-up system was convoluted power-up system and criticized the level design for being bland.[14] Pure Nintendo Magazine's Kaelyn Daugherty also stated that the weapon system added variety but criticized certain design aspects.[19]

Notes

  1. ^ Also known as ASO II: Last Guardian (Japanese: ASO II：ラスト ガーディアン, Hepburn: ASO II: Rasuto Gādian) in Japan.

References

  1. ^ "VG - ASO II：ラストガーディアン". Beep! Mega Drive (in Japanese). No. 17. SoftBank Creative. February 1991. p. 130.
  2. ^ "Oh! Neo Geo Vol. 7 - ASO II". Beep! Mega Drive (in Japanese). No. 42. SoftBank Creative. March 1993. p. 126.
  3. ^ "Neo•Geo CD: The Arcade In A Box - Alpha Mission II". GamePro. No. Premiere Supplement. IDG. Spring 1996. p. 104.
  4. ^ "VG - ASO II：ラストガーディアン". Beep! Mega Drive (in Japanese). No. 21. SoftBank Creative. June 1991. pp. 128–129.
  5. ^ Alpha Mission II user's manual (Neo Geo AES, US)
  6. ^ a b Biondich, Paul (1998). "Alpha Mission II (Arcade) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 14 November 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  7. ^ a b Knight, Kyle (1998). "Alpha Mission II (Neo Geo Advanced Entertainment System) - Review". AllGame. All Media Network. Archived from the original on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  8. ^ a b Kun, Kaneda; Hermelin, François (September 1991). "Neo Geo Review - Alpha Mission II". Consoles + (in French). No. 1. M.E.R.7. pp. 66–67.
  9. ^ a b Rand, Paul (October 1991). "Reviews - Neo Geo -- Alpha Mission II". Computer and Video Games. No. 119. Future Publishing. p. 61.
  10. ^ a b Halverson, Dave; Brody; Stratton, Tom; Cockburn, Andrew (January 1993). "Viewpoint - Neo Geo - Alpha Mission 2". GameFan. Vol. 1, no. 3. DieHard Gamers Club. p. 13.
  11. ^ a b Seb; Demoly, Jean-Marc (November 1991). "Test - Neo Geo - Alpha Mission II". Joypad (in French). No. 2. Yellow Media. pp. 126–127. Archived from the original on 2017-09-17. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  12. ^ a b Demoly, Jean-Marc (November 1991). "Tests - Neo Geo - Alpha Mission II". Joystick (in French). No. 21. Sipress. p. 133.
  13. ^ a b McFerran, Damien (April 7, 2017). "Alpha Mission II Review (Switch eShop / Neo Geo)". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  14. ^ a b Gibson, Casey (May 9, 2017). "Alpha Mission II (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. NINWR, LLC. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  15. ^ a b Drevet, Cyril (November 1991). "Dossier: La NÉO GÉO brille de tous ses feux - Alpha Mission II". Player One (in French). No. 14. Média Système Édition. p. 93.
  16. ^ a b Cook, John (August 1991). "Coin Ops: Neo-Geo News". Sinclair User. No. 113. EMAP. p. 43.
  17. ^ Musgrave, Shaun (2021-12-07). "'Alpha Mission II ACA NEOGEO' Review – Mission Improbable". TouchArcade. Retrieved 2021-12-08.
  18. ^ a b Wilson, David (November 1991). "Kill Zone - Alpha Mission II". Game Zone. Vol. 1, no. 1. Dennis Publishing. p. 82.
  19. ^ a b Daugherty, Kaelyn (June 19, 2017). "Review: ACA NEOGEO ALPHA MISSION II (Nintendo Switch)". Pure Nintendo Magazine. Pure Media, LLC. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  20. ^ a b Stokes, Doris (November 1991). "Dosh Eaters: Alpha Mission II". Zero. No. 25. Dennis Publishing. p. 85.
  21. ^ "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 402. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 May 1991. p. 29.
  22. ^ Knauf, Andreas (January 1992). "News - Neo Geo - ASO 2". Video Games (in German). No. 5. Future-Verlag. pp. 10–12. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  23. ^ Yanma; Itabashi (July 1992). "Super Soft 大特集 - 今、『NEO・GEO』がおもしろい！: ASO II~ラスト ガーディアン~". Micom BASIC Magazine (in Japanese). No. 121. The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation. p. 209.
  24. ^ Noak, Philipp; Hellert, Stefan (August 1993). "Special - Neo Geo - Alpha Mission 2". Mega Fun (in German). No. 11. Computec. pp. 28–30. Archived from the original on 2018-10-21. Retrieved 2019-07-21.
  25. ^ "Reportaje - Clásicos en CD -- Titulos disponibles para el nuevo formato de SNK: Alpha Mission II". Hobby Hi-Tech (in Spanish). No. 1. Hobby Press. March 1995. p. 28.
  26. ^ "NF編集部にまる - ネオジオゲームㇱインレビュー: ASO II~ラスト ガーディアン~". Neo Geo Freak (in Japanese). No. 25. Geibunsha. June 1997. pp. 124–128.
  27. ^ Ladoire, Frank (November 1991). "Console Test – Alpha Mission II – Neo-Geo". Génération 4 (in French). No. 38. Computec Media France. pp. 218–219. Archived from the original on 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2021-01-06.
  28. ^ Rosa, Piemarco (December 1992). "Alpha Mission II (Neo Geo)". Consolemania (in Italian). No. 14. Xenia Edizioni. pp. 54–55.
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