Format: 32X
Genre: Shooter
Developer: Sega
Publisher: Sega

Where Space Harrier introduced 80s arcade-goers to the sheer madness of the behind-the-back, Super Scalar shooter evolution, After Burner takes things to the absolute brink: the former's simple checkerboard patterns make way to sprite-filled floors, and between all of the enemies and missile smoke trails, it becomes difficult to name a 2d title with so much going on! Colorful, fast, and ever-so-rich, this nearly arcade-identical-- halved framerate aside-- 32X port is close to perfect.

Yu Suzuki's right-hand man, Hiroshi Kawaguchi, is back again, and he departs from his usual fantasy work to create something equally special: a hybridization of foreboding, using American military trope-based catchy melodies. It's a pitch-perfect compliment to the action! Unfortunately, the game's sound effects take a slight backwards step from Space Harrier in terms of functional relevancy-- and yet, the wide array of clear voice samples are quite the ear candy.

As the team focused on its engine and technology, Space Harrier's mechanics took a back seat. After Burner-- and in particular its enhanced edition, II-- layers on all sorts of very-welcome complexity: barrel rolls, the ability to change speeds to avoid threats from behind, and the dual capability of traditional bullet fire mixed with lock-on missile attacks give the game a lot more texture and variety over its fantasy-oriented predecessor.

This 32X port of the ultimate version of After Burner is so close to the arcade original that it's an exercise in nit-picking to even spot the differences! One of the best aspects of this game in the arcades was that it tells a story, with the interspersal of friendly airbases-- at which the player lands!-- and enemy headquarters, which the player strafes for bonus points. That aspect of the game translates so perfectly in this edition of the game, that any fan of the original will be enraptured by this port.