Area 88

Game Details:

This title innovates on the traditional side-scrolling shooter genre by introducing a unique "Mercenary Shop" system. Players earn money by destroying enemy aircraft and can purchase a variety of realistic fighter jets, including the F-14, F-20, and A-10, before a stage begins. Each aircraft has its own unique performance focus; for example, the A-10 possesses immense ground-attack capabilities, while the F-20 excels in maneuverability. Additionally, the game offers a diverse sub-weapon system featuring air-to-air missiles, napalm bombs, and powerful superbombs with a wide area of effect, greatly enhancing both the strategic depth and visual impact of each stage.

Game Guide:

Economy Management & Aircraft Selection:

As a mercenary, money is key to completing the game. In the early stages, avoid wasting money on expensive, consumable sub-weapons. You should prioritize saving up to buy better aircraft. The F-20 Tigershark is an excellent, cost-effective choice; its balanced firepower and maneuverability will see you through most of the mid to late-game stages.

Strategic Sub-Weapon Loadouts:

Each stage has different objectives. When facing forest or ground base stages, be sure to equip Napalm, as it deals continuous carpet-bombing damage. When up against large flying fortresses (like giant bombers), Homing Missiles (Phoenix) are the most effective weapon for destroying their core engines.

Survival Tips & The Energy Gauge:

Unlike traditional "one-hit-kill" shooters, this game features a health bar system (the Energy Gauge). After taking damage, the gauge will turn red and flash slowly, indicating you are in a critical state. If you are hit again during this time, your plane will crash. It's recommended to play defensively while the gauge is red and wait for it to recover.

Boss Battle Essentials:

Most bosses (like the desert warship or the giant tank) have obvious blind spots. Observe their firing patterns and use the burst damage from your sub-weapons to quickly take out their anti-air defenses. Maneuvering around the left edge of the screen will give you more reaction time to dodge dense barrages of radar-locking missiles.