Aurail (set 1, Japan, FD1089A 317-0167)
Aurail (set 1, Japan, FD1089A 317-0167) Overview
Aurail is a 1990 arcade shoot 'em up from Westone, the team behind the Wonder Boy series, and published by Sega. This Japanese set (labeled FD1089A 317-0167) runs on Sega's System 16B hardware. It's a scrolling shooter with a twist - you pilot a tank-like mecha through side-scrolling stages and occasional first-person tunnel sections.
You control a walking tank equipped with a main cannon and a remote attack drone that can be launched independently. Power-ups boost your shield strength and let you deploy the drone for extra firepower. The game is structured around clearing waves of enemies and defeating end-level bosses. The tunnel stages shift the perspective to a faux-3D corridor view, which was a nice technical flourish for 1990.
It's a decent example of late-80s arcade shooters, but it never reached the fame of Sega's other shooters like Super Hang-On or Space Harrier. The mecha theme and drone mechanic give it a distinct feel, and first-person tunnel stages add variety. If you enjoy obscure arcade shooters from the golden age, Aurail is worth a few credits, though it's not a must-play classic.
How to Play Aurail (set 1, Japan, FD1089A 317-0167) Online
Getting Started
Insert a coin (press the 'Coin' key or run the emulator's insert coin button) then press Start to begin. This is a Japanese game, so the title screen and menus are in Japanese text, but there is little to navigate - pressing Start or whichever button is mapped to 'A' will begin a new game quickly. The game is a vertical-scrolling shooter despite being displayed in horizontal orientation, so your mecha moves left and right across the screen while the action scrolls upward.
Your main attack is the B button; hold it for rapid fire. The drone (activated by pressing A or X button?) can be sent out to attack independently. Collect the floating power-ups - some increase your shield meter, others upgrade your weapon or grant temporary invincibility. Watch for the tunnel stages where the view shifts to first-person; you'll need to dodge obstacles and shoot oncoming targets. The core loop is straightforward: clear each wave of enemies, survive the bosses, and work through the stage until the credits roll.
Because this version is the Japanese set, the text on the attract screen and stage names will be in Japanese, but the gameplay is purely action-based, so language is not a barrier. The remote drone is a key feature - learn to deploy it to cover angles your cannon cannot reach. Don't ignore the shield pickups; your health is limited and losing all shields costs a life.
Aurail (set 1, Japan, FD1089A 317-0167) 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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