Alien Storm

Alien Storm is an arcade beat 'em up shooter released by Sega in 1990. This particular set, designated set 1, Japan Rev B, is a later revision of the original Japanese board, optimized for two-player simultaneous play and running on Sega's FD1094 security chip. It belongs to the golden era of Sega arcade cabinets, sitting alongside games like Golden Axe and Alien Syndrome. While the base game debuted globally, this revision offers a specific build that may include minor bug fixes or balance tweaks tailored for the Japanese market. The player controls one of several characters - each with their own weapon and special attack - as they fight through horizontally scrolling stages full of alien enemies. The core loop is simple: move right, shoot anything that moves, and collect power-ups that upgrade your firearm or restore health. You can also perform a close-range melee strike and a screen-clearing smart bomb if you have one. Levels feature branching paths and occasional boss fights that test your reflexes. The arcade version supports up to two players simultaneously, allowing for cooperative mayhem. Today, Alien Storm Japan Rev B is worth checking out for its tight controls and satisfying gunplay - it captures the arcade design philosophy of quick, repeatable action sessions. While it never reached the iconic status of Sega's other beat 'em ups, it stands as a solid representative of the subgenre where shooting and brawling blend together. The two-player mode especially holds up, making it a good pick for a quick co-op session. If you enjoy side-scrolling run-and-gun games from the early '90s, this revision delivers exactly what you'd expect without any unnecessary fluff.