Alpha Mission II / ASO II - Last Guardian (NGM-007)(NGH-007)
Alpha Mission II / ASO II - Last Guardian (NGM-007)(NGH-007) Overview
Alpha Mission II, also known as ASO II - Last Guardian, is a vertical-scrolling shooter originally released for the Neo Geo arcade hardware in 1991. SNK developed and published this sequel to the original Alpha Mission, bringing it to arcades worldwide. The game runs on the MVS (Multi Video System) and was also sold as a home cartridge for the Neo Geo AES. It's an official commercial release, not a hack or homebrew.
The player controls a starfighter through eight increasingly difficult stages, each ending with a boss encounter. The core gameplay involves shooting down waves of enemy ships and ground targets while collecting items that fall from destroyed enemies. A unique mechanic is the "armor system" - icons labeled with letters (like S for speed, P for power, A for armor) can be collected to upgrade your ship's capabilities. Attaching armor modules boosts firepower and provides defensive shields, while collecting the same letter multiple times increases that stat further. The player also acquires satellite drones that orbit the ship and fire independently, adding extra offense.
Alpha Mission II stands as a solid but straightforward example of early 90s arcade shooters. It doesn't reinvent the genre but executes its mechanics cleanly, with colorful graphics and a chiptune soundtrack typical of Neo Geo games. For fans of vertical shooters, it's worth trying to see how SNK handled the power-up system compared to contemporaries like R-Type or Gradius. It's a niche title within the Neo Geo library, but one that aged reasonably well for those who enjoy methodical, upgrade-focused shooting action.
How to Play Alpha Mission II / ASO II - Last Guardian (NGM-007)(NGH-007) Online
Getting Started
Press Start (Enter) to begin. The game's menu is in English for the US release, but if you're playing a Japanese ROM, the menus will be in Japanese. The title screen offers a brief demo; pressing Start will take you to a configuration screen where you can adjust difficulty and credits. Select your settings and press Start again to begin the game.
The core loop is straightforward: your ship moves vertically, and enemies approach from above. Hold down the attack button (S) to fire continuously. The key to success is collecting the lettered icons that appear after destroying certain enemies. Focus on building up your armor (A) and power (P) - these provide defensive and offensive upgrades. The satellites (from collecting icons) orbit around your ship and provide extra firepower; they can also absorb enemy shots.
Alpha Mission II is challenging, especially in later stages. You have a limited number of lives, but the game continues from the beginning of the stage when you lose all lives (unless you set a limited number of credits). The power-up system makes death punishing because you lose all collected upgrades. Practice memorizing enemy patterns and prioritize collecting armor icons early to survive longer.
Alpha Mission II / ASO II - Last Guardian (NGM-007)(NGH-007) 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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