Arrow Flash
From Sega Retro
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Arrow Flash | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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System(s): Sega Mega Drive | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: Sega (JP/EU), Renovation Products (US) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Developer: I.T.L | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Distributor: Ecofilmes (PT), Hent Gruppen (SE rental), Tec Toy (BR), Samsung (KR) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Sound driver: SMPS Z80 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Genre: Shooting[1][2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Number of players: 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Arrow Flash (アローフラッシュ) is a shoot-'em-up game created by Sega as a Sega Mega Drive exclusive title in 1990, with Renovation Products publishing it in the US. I.T.L was contracted to do the development of the game for Sega. The game has been re-released numerous times through various compilations. It was one of the first in its genre for the Sega Mega Drive.
This game may be part of a series that started with Orguss and Astro Flash (also known as TransBot or Transformer), due to the similar names and themes of gameplay.
Contents
Story
In the US version, players take control of Zana Keene, a pilot for United Government Space Force, and attempt to stop viking terrorists led by Great Hilagi using a transformable mecha-space fighter named the ERX-75 "Chameleon," developed by Zana's grand father Zerrek Keene.
In the European version, players take control of Anna Schwinn, a pilot for United Government Space Force, and attempt to stop powerful alien empire named Zorgon V using a transformable mecha-space fighter named Arrow Flash, developed by Anna's father Herbert Schwinn.
Gameplay
The game is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up. Stages automatically scroll horizontally and end with a boss encounter. The player's ship moves in any direction using the D-Pad and fires with . Rapid-fire can be enabled in the Options. The ship can transform between two forms, a jet fighter or a mecha, with . The ship has a special attack called the "Arrow Flash," performed with . In jet fighter mode, it shoots a barrage of large laser bullets in all directions; in mecha form, it thrusts the mecha forward, granting invincibility and the ability to pass through enemies and terrain for several seconds. In the Options, the player can choose between Stock mode, where Arrow Flashes must be collected by finding items and consume an item each time they are used, or Charge mode, where the ability to Arrow Flash charges up over time and thus cannot be used multiple times in quick succession.
The player can collect power-ups that upgrade the ship's movement speed and weapons and supply up to two Fire Claws, which are similar to options in the Gradius series. Fire Claws are indestructible and can fire shots and absorb small enemy bullets. In fighter jet form, the options follow the ship. In mecha form, movement is faster and Fire Claws stay in fixed position above and below the ship.
The ship takes damage from enemies and terrain. It is destroyed in one shot unless it is equipped with an Energy Shield power-up. When it is destroyed, it respawns without any power-ups, including movement speed and weapons upgrades. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued if the player has continues remaining. The amount of continues depends on the chosen difficulty level (Easy, Normal, or Hard). The player gains an extra life at 80,000 and 150,000 points and every 150,000 points after that.
Weapons
Laser I | |
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A burst of stacked lasers, covering a taller area than the standard shot. Fires faster than the other lasers. | |
Laser II | |
A volley of arrow-shaped shots that cover a larger area and can penetrate multiple targets. It also fires diagonally in mecha form. | |
Laser III | |
A slow-moving wave that can penetrate multiple targets. |
Items
Power-Up Carrier | |
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Shoot to release an item. | |
Arrow Flash | |
Gives the player 1 (red) or 3 (blue) uses of the Arrow Flash ability. Only appears when playing in Stock mode. | |
Energy Shield | |
Surrounds the ship with a shield that can absorb 3 hits from enemies. | |
Speed Up | |
Increases the movement speed of the ship, which can be upgraded up to six levels. | |
Missile | |
Gives the ship the ability to fire missiles in addition to its primary gun, which can be upgraded up to two levels. In jet fighter form, the missiles fire straight ahead. In mecha form, the missiles are homing. | |
Fire Claw | |
Gives the ship a Fire Claw drone that accompanies it and provides additional fire. | |
Laser I | |
Equips the Laser I weapon, which can be upgraded up to three levels. | |
Laser II | |
Equips the Laser II weapon, which can be upgraded up to three levels. | |
Laser III | |
Equips the Laser III weapon, which can be upgraded up to three levels. | |
1-Up | |
Awards the player with an extra life. |
Stages
Stage 1 | |
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Stage 2 | |
Stage 3 | |
Stage 4 | |
Stage 5, Part 1 | |
Stage 5, Part 2 | |
Stage 5, Part 3 | |
History
Legacy
Zana Keene makes a cameo appearance in Sega Ages Columns II, released for the Nintendo Switch in 2019.
The game has been re-released on numerous console on a chip retro consoles, including several made by AtGames.
Production credits
- Producer: RMS-106
- Opening: Ichiban
- Program: CBR---RR, Daddy, Goshikisen
- Graphic: Yanto, DT---R, Sod, Noise-Maker, Hana no Oedo
- Sound: Hanauri-Musume
- Special Thanks: Toru.K, T.A.K
- Japanese Cover Artist: Takashi Akaishizawa
RMS-106 is the model number of Hi-Zack from Z-Gundam anime series.
Magazine articles
- Main article: Arrow Flash/Magazine articles.
Promotional material
also published in:
- Game Players (US) #0304: "Vol. 3 No. 4 April 1991" (1991-0x-xx)[8]
Physical scans
Mega Drive version
Sega Retro Average | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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60 | |
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Based on 29 reviews |
Mega Drive, AU |
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Mega-Tech version
Mega-Tech, |
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Technical information
- Main article: Arrow Flash/Technical information.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 File:ArrowFlash MD JP Box.jpg
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)
- ↑ https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/rlm4yIWUvN0/m/72MblPjly14J
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "February 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 56
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Raze, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-06-27), page 50
- ↑ Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 35
- ↑ File:Arrow Flash MD credits.pdf
- ↑ Game Players, "Vol. 3 No. 4 April 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 5
- ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 21
- ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1990" (JP; 1990-10-XX), page 23
- ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 127
- ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 24
- ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 291
- ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-10-26), page 1
- ↑ Games-X, "31st May-6th June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-31), page 19
- ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 74
- ↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 142
- ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
- ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 87
- ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 19
- ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76
- ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Agosto 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 37
- ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
- ↑ Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 39
- ↑ Power Play, "2/91" (DE; 1991-01-18), page 148
- ↑ Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 34
- ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52
- ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 23
- ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
- ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
- ↑ Top Secret, "Luty 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57
- ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 15
- ↑ User, "Máios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 66
- ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 88
- ↑ Zero, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 63
Arrow Flash | |
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