Ghost Pilot

Game Details:

In this title, players pilot seaplanes capable of taking off and landing on water, rather than conventional fighter jets. The game's graphics were exceptional for its time, featuring expansive stages from vast oceans to sprawling military bases. Players must contend with an onslaught from land, sea, and air, facing a wide variety of enemy aircraft with aggressive attack patterns.

A key highlight of the game is its branching level design: after completing the first stage, players can choose between an "Air Raid Route" or a "Ground Assault Route," a design choice that significantly boosts the game's replay value. Additionally, the game supports two-player co-op, which was an extremely popular feature in arcades at the time. Although the game's pacing is somewhat slower compared to modern bullet-hell shooters, its large hitbox and difficult-to-dodge surprise attacks from the sides and rear make it highly challenging.

Strategy Guide:

• Initial Weapon Selection: Before starting, you can choose from several types of special weapons (bombs/missiles). New players are advised to select the "Spread Bomb," as its wide area of effect is excellent for creating breathing room and clearing bullets when surrounded by enemy squadrons or during a boss's large-scale bullet patterns.
• Power-up Strategy: Destroying specific red enemy formations will drop power-up items (P icons). Remember, upgrading your firepower and movement speed is crucial for completing *Ghost Pilots*. If you die and lose your fully upgraded firepower in the later stages, making a comeback is extremely difficult due to the base ship's slow speed and weak attacks amidst dense bullet patterns. Therefore, prioritizing the preservation of your current power level is more important than scoring points.
• Watch for Flank Attacks: The deadliest enemies in this game are often not the bosses head-on, but the fast-moving aircraft that suddenly sweep in from the sides or rear of the screen. When playing through the mid-game stages, try to avoid flying near the edges of the screen. Staying in the bottom-third central area will give you more time to react.
• Exploiting Boss Weaknesses: Large bosses in the game, such as giant battleships or super-heavy tanks, are typically composed of multiple turrets. The strategy should be to first destroy the smaller gun emplacements on the flanks to reduce the angles of attack, then focus your firepower on the core. When a boss is changing forms or unleashing a screen-clearing special attack, don't hesitate to use a bomb to save yourself.