Aerial Assault (Master System)

From Sega Retro

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AerialAssault title.png

Aerial Assault
System(s): Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Distributor: Tec Toy (BR)
Genre: Shooting[2][3]

















Number of players: 1-2
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
US
7041
Sega Master System
EU
7041
Sega Master System
FR
299F299[9] 7041
Sega Master System
UK
£29.9929.99[7][8] 7041
Sega Master System
SE
(Rental)
Sega Master System
GR
Sega Master System
AU
Sega Master System
BR
For the Game Gear version, see Aerial Assault (Game Gear).

Aerial Assault is a shoot-'em-up game developed by Sanritsu and published by Sega for the Sega Master System in 1990.

Story

A militaristic organization named N.A.C. (whose acronym is never explained) has developed a huge laser emitter called "EL," which is capable of gradually destroying the ozone layer. In the year 1999, the N.A.C. begins an all-out offensive against every country in the world. It is hinted that N.A.C. is actually an alien civilization.

The armies of the world are overwhelmed. The player controls the mysterious "Freedom Fighter," an aircraft with no official connection to any government, which flies off to stop the N.A.C.

Gameplay

Aerial Assault is a horizontally scrolling shoot-'em-up game. Players must shoot down enemies as the screen scrolls to the right. Each level has different enemies and bosses, which require different weapons and tactics to effectively counter.

1 fires the primary weapon, which has unlimited ammunition and can be held down to fire continuously. 2 releases the secondary weapon, mostly types of bombs, which are limited but can be replenished through items. There are many types of both primary weapons and bombs that can be found through item pick-ups throughout the levels.

The Freedom Fighter is destroyed if it is hit by enemies or projectiles or touches any stationary object, such as the ground. There are no hit points but a Shield power-up appears in later levels that can absorb a few hits before it is gone.

Items

Primary Weapons

Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Normal Shot
The basic starting weapon. A single stream of quick shots.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
3-Way Shot
Fires three shots in a conical spread. Covers a large area but fires relatively slowly.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Increase Shot
Fires six shots in a conical spread. Covers a large area but fires relatively slowly.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Chaser Missile
Fires long missiles from below the Freedom Fighter. Fast-firing and stronger than the Normal Shot.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Explosion Shot
Fires a large round that fragments into smaller shots after traveling a certain distance without hitting an enemy.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Direction Shot
Fires shots in the direction that the player is moving. For example, it fires directly above the craft by holding Up or directly below it by holding Down.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
8-Way Shot
Fires eight shots in a full circle out from the Freedom Fighter. Fires slowly.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Laser
Shoots fast-moving lasers that can pierce through enemies and hit multiple targets.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Guns.png
Wide Laser
Shoots tall energy beams very quickly.

Bombs

Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Bombs.png
Bomb
A basic bomb. Each pick-up contains 30.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Bombs.png
Triple Bomb
Same as the regular bomb but drops three bombs with each volley. Each pick-up contains 15.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Bombs.png
Missile
A missile that drops down and then shoots forwards, for taking out ground targets. Each pick-up contains 25.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Bombs.png
Napalm
An incendiary that bursts into multiple explosions. Each pick-up contains 20.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Bombs.png
Hyper Ball
Shoots several large fireballs from the Freedom Fighter. Each pick-up contains 8.

Other

Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Other.png
Speed-Up
Increases the movement speed of the Freedom Fighter.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Other.png
Bonus
Awards the player with 5,000 bonus points.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Other.png
1-Up
Awards the player with an extra life.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Other.png
1-Down
Instantly kills the player.
Aerial Assault SMS, Items, Other.png
Guard
A shield that surrounds the Freedom Fighter and absorbs five hits before dissipating.

Levels

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 1.png

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 1 Boss.png

Mission 1
Attack the enemy's open seas fleet and sink the enemy battleship Vinsk.

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 2.png

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 2 Boss.png

Mission 2
Ascend into the stratosphere and intercept the enemy bomber fleet. The target is the massive bomber CB-53.

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 3.png

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 3 Boss.png

Mission 3
Location of N.A.C.'s headquarters detected. Destroy the cliff fortress to gain entrance.

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 4.png

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 4 Boss.png

Mission 4
Raid the N.A.C.'s headquarters and destroy "EL."

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 5.png

Aerial Assault SMS, Stage 5 Boss.png

Mission 5
The war is not over. Fly into Earth orbit and destroy N.A.C.'s space cruiser and end the threat once and for all.

History

During development, the game was known under the working title of Freedom Fighter.[10]

Production credits

  • Planner: All Members
  • Designer: Tommy, Yukino
  • Programmer: Nonchan, T.Hagiwara
  • Sound: Ippo
  • Test Player: Kou
  • Special Thanks: O.B
  • Presented by: Sega
Source:
In-game credits
Aerial Assault SMS credits.pdf
[11]


Magazine articles

Main article: Aerial Assault (Master System)/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #2: "October/November 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
also published in:
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Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Computer & Video Games (UK) #107: "October 1990" (1990-09-16)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Guida Video Giochi (IT) #15: "Ottobre 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Power (UK) #13: "December 1990" (1990-11-01)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #4: "April/May 1991" (1991-xx-xx)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ACE (UK)
63
[21]
Ação Games (BR)
92
[22]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
82
[23]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
76
[24]
Console XS (UK) PAL
69
[25]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
83
[26]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
74
[27]
Joystick (FR)
75
[28]
Mega Play (US) NTSC-U
45
[4]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
50
[29]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
82
[30]
Player One (FR)
85
[31]
S: The Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
82
[32]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
78
[33]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
75
[34]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
76
[35]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
69
[36]
Tilt (FR)
40
[37]
Tilt (FR)
80
[38]
Zero (UK)
79
[39]
Sega Master System
73
Based on
20 reviews

Aerial Assault (Master System)

Master System, US
AerialAssault SMS US Box.jpg
Cover
Aerialassault sms us manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
AerialAssault SMS EU Box.jpg
Cover
AerialAssault SMS EU cart.jpg
Cart
AerialAssaultSMSEUManual3L.pdf
Manual
Master System, GR (Zegetron)

AerialAssault SMS EU cart.jpg
Cart
AerialAssaultSMSEUManual3L.pdf
Manual
Master System, SE (Rental)
AerialAssault SMS SE rental cover.jpg
Cover
Master System, AU

AerialAssault SMS AU Cart.jpg
Cart
AerialAssaultSMSAuManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR
AerialAssault SMS BR cover.jpg
Cover

Technical information

ROM dump status

System Hash Size Build Date Source Comments
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 ecf491cf
MD5 0713f2e55a1eea0d9e2fb7044740261b
SHA-1 2a9090ed365e7425ca7a59f87b942c16b376f0a3
256kB Cartridge (EU)
Sega Master System
 ?
CRC32 15576613
MD5 8b603c931418a3680b8723861f55a7b5
SHA-1 e57b1d4476ca33d18d9071e022ddc9cc702d6497
256kB Cartridge (US)

References

  1. http://gdri.smspower.org/wiki/index.php/Sanritsu
  2. File:AerialAssault SMS EU Box.jpg
  3. https://sega.jp/history/hard/gamegear/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2018-12-07 04:57)
  4. 4.0 4.1 Mega Play, "November/December 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 31
  5. ACE, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-xx), page 165
  6. File:BristolEveningPost UK 1990-11-29 Page 67.jpg
  7. ACE, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-03), page 58
  8. Computer & Video Games, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-09-16), page 117
  9. Player One, "Octobre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 39
  10. [1https://web.archive.org/web/20210506102707/https://www.smspower.org/forums/9485-UnreleasedRumouredSMSGames https://www.smspower.org/forums/9485-UnreleasedRumouredSMSGames] (Wayback Machine: 2021-05-06 10:27)
  11. File:Aerial Assault SMS credits.pdf
  12. GamePro, "January 1991" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 44
  13. Computer & Video Games, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-16), page 58
  14. ACE, "November 1990" (UK; 1990-10-xx), page 92
  15. Computer & Video Games, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-16), page 168
  16. ACE, "December 1990" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 102
  17. Sega Power, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-06), page 2
  18. Computer & Video Games, "January 1991" (UK; 1990-12-15), page 98
  19. Sega Visions, "Summer 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 10
  20. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "October 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 142
  21. ACE, "September 1990" (UK; 1990-08-03), page 56
  22. Ação Games, "Setembro 1991" (BR; 1991-09-xx), page 28
  23. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 89
  24. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 90
  25. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137
  26. Computer & Video Games, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-16), page 86
  27. Hobby Consolas, "Enero 1992" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 92
  28. Joystick, "Novembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 124
  29. Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1991" (ES; 199x-xx-xx), page 34
  30. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 132
  31. Player One, "Octobre 1990" (FR; 1990-xx-xx), page 38
  32. S: The Sega Magazine, "August 1990" (UK; 1990-07-05), page 4
  33. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 41
  34. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  35. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 18
  36. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  37. Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 100
  38. Tilt, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 116
  39. Zero, "October 1990" (UK; 1990-xx-xx), page 89


Aerial Assault (Master System)

AerialAssault title.png

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