Ajax (Japan)
Ajax (Japan): arcade Shooter
Ajax (Japan) is a vertically scrolling shooter released by Konami for arcades in 1987. It originally hit Japanese arcades only, though home computer ports later came to Europe under the name Typhoon. This is the original Japanese version, so expect all menus and text to be in Japanese. You pilot a military aircraft through enemy territory, dodging bullets and blasting everything that moves. The core loop is straightforward: scroll upward, shoot down waves of enemy planes and tanks, and try to survive long enough to take on the end-of-stage bosses. A second weapon lets you drop bombs on ground targets, which adds a little tactical depth to the constant action. Ajax isn't as famous as Konami's other shooters like Gradius or TwinBee, but it's a solid and challenging vertical shooter from the late eighties. The difficulty ramps up quickly and continues the old-school tradition of quarter-munching, but that's part of the charm for fans of the genre. If you enjoy tight controls, crisp pixel art, and a good dose of nostalgia, this one is worth a few credits.
How to Play Ajax (Japan) Online
Getting Started
When you start the game, you'll see the title screen and then a brief demo. Press Enter to insert a coin (the arcade version expects credits, but emulation may allow you to start directly with Enter). After that, you control your helicopter as it scrolls upward automatically. Use Arrow Keys to move, X to fire your main weapon, and S to drop bombs. Bombs are useful for ground enemies and can also clear the screen of some threats, but they're limited - watch your stock.
The core objective is to survive each stage and defeat the boss at the end. Enemies come in waves from the top and sides; you can shoot them or dodge, but staying mobile is key. You can collect power‑up items that drop from certain enemies - these improve your weapon or speed. Try to grab them, but don't take unnecessary risks. If you die, you'll restart at a checkpoint, but you'll lose your power‑ups. Since this is the Japanese version, all on‑screen text is in Japanese, but the gameplay is intuitive. Just keep moving and shooting.
Ajax (Japan) Keyboard 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
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