Air Buster (USA)
About Air Buster (USA)
Air Buster originally hit arcades in 1990 as a horizontally scrolling shooter developed by Kaneko. That version was published by Namco in Japan and Sharp Image Electronics in North America. This Genesis port brings the same fast-paced action to home consoles, staying close to the arcade original without adding extras or altering the core experience. It's a straightforward conversion that captures the arcade feel.
Players take control of the Blaster Fighter ship, choosing from seven distinct weapons at the start of the game. These include options like diagonal shots, homing missiles, and support drones that hover alongside your ship. The objective is to blast through enemy waves and destroy a massive mechanical fortress orbiting Earth. The game scrolls horizontally, requiring constant movement and quick reflexes to dodge incoming fire and defeat screen-filling bosses.
Today, Air Buster is a solid pick for fans of early '90s shooters. It doesn't break new ground but delivers competent, no-frills shooting action with decent variety thanks to the weapon choices. The Genesis port is not as famous as some other shooters on the system, but it holds up well as a challenging arcade-style experience worth a few credits.
How to Play Air Buster (USA) Online
Getting Started: When you fire up Air Buster on the Genesis, you'll see a title screen with an option to press Start. Doing so takes you to a weapon selection screen where you can pick one of seven armaments for your Blaster Fighter. Choose wisely - each weapon has unique behavior and strengths. After selection, the game begins immediately with your ship on the left side of the screen, enemies approaching from the right.
The core loop is straightforward: fly right, shoot everything that moves, and avoid bullets. You'll encounter power-ups that can swap your weapon or grant temporary boosts like speed increases. Keep an eye on your lives - losing a ship costs you a life and sets you back to a checkpoint. The game ends when all lives are gone, so focus on dodging and learning enemy patterns.
Aiming for a two-player co-op session? Another player can join by pressing Start on the second controller during the weapon selection screen. Both players share the same weapon choice and screen space, so coordination helps. The game's difficulty ramps up quickly, so don't be discouraged if you lose a few times - persistence pays off.
Air Buster (USA) Keyboard Controls
Controls
- Arrow Keys: D-Pad / Movement
- X: A button
- S: B button
- Z: C button
- A: X button (6-button pad)
- Q: Y button (6-button pad)
- E: Z button (6-button pad)
- Enter: Start / Mode
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