Air Fortress

a.k.a. 空中要塞 Air Fortress / Kūchū Yōsai Air Fortress / エアー・フォートレス

published by HAL Laboratory in 1987-08-17, developed by HAL Laboratory / Live Planning, running on Nintendo Entertainment System

type: maze, shooter
genre: Science Fiction, Scrolling shooter
perspective: side view
player options: single player

languages: eng jpn

Personal review

Each level of "Air Fortress" is split into two parts. The first one is a side-scrolling shmup. An important aspect of this part consists in collecting enough energy and bomb power ups for the longer second part of the game. In the second part you explore the inside of each air fortress to locate its reactor and blow it up. Then you have only a few minutes time to locate the exit before you will die in the wake of the air fotresses' destruction. The air fortress are maze-like structures, but in contrast to similar NES games of that time there is nothing "hidden" at insanely stupid places like in Milon's Secret Castle. The game is generally well playable. However that doesn't mean its an easy game. Far from it. The game starts nicely and easy, but soon becomes very very challenging. Even with save states the later levels are a challenge. And on top of that you will only see the real ending when you finish the game twice, the "second quest" being basically the same layout as the first playthrough, but with harder and more enemies.