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After Burner II
After Burner II
After Burner II: arcade Shooter
GAME INFO
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Getting Started
Drop a coin or press Start to begin. Your F-14 Tomcat automatically scrolls forward, and your job is to aim a targeting reticle using the D-Pad to lock onto enemy fighters, bombers, and missiles. Press the fire button to unleash a steady stream of cannon rounds and lock-on missiles. The core loop is simple: survive each stage by shooting down everything that appears while dodging incoming enemy fire and obstacles.
Your plane can perform limited evasive rolls by tapping up or down quickly, which helps shake off missiles that have locked onto you. The stage progression is linear, with each area ending in a brief landing sequence or a boss encounter. Keep an eye on your health bar at the bottom of the screen - it depletes when you take hits, but you can pick up repair icons from destroyed enemies.
CONTROLS
Controls
- Arrow Keys: Joystick / Movement
- X: Button 1
- S: Button 2
- Z: Button 3
- A: Button 4
- Q: Button 5
- E: Button 6
- Enter: Start / 1P
- V: Coin / Insert
After Burner II FAQ
Is there anything iconic or memorable about After Burner II?
The motion-simulator cabinet that physically tilts as you bank is one of the most memorable arcade gimmicks of the 1980s. The game also features a thumping electronic soundtrack and fast-paced scaling sprites that create a convincing sense of speed.
What makes After Burner II stand out among Arcade titles of its era?
Its use of the Sega X Board hardware allowed for detailed sprite scaling and a large number of on-screen enemies, giving it a cinematic, immersive feel rare for 1987. The two-stage fire button - tap for machine gun, hold for missiles - added a layer of strategy to the shooting.
Is After Burner II exclusive to Arcade or did it appear on other systems?
The arcade version is the original, but Sega ported After Burner II to many home platforms, including the Sega Genesis, Master System, and various early computer systems. The motion cabinet remains exclusive to the arcade release.
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