Difference between revisions of "Arrow Flash"

Revision as of 04:39, 9 October 2022

n/a

NTSC-J/PAL
NTSC-U

Arrow Flash

System(s): Sega Mega Drive

Publisher: Sega (JP/EU), Renovation Products (US)

Developer: I.T.L

Sound driver: SMPS Z80

Genre: Shooting^[1]^[2]

Number of players: 1

Release	Date	RRP	Code
JP	1990-10-20^[2]	¥6,0006,000	G-4039
US	1991-02^[3]	$49.9549.95^[4]	49046
EU	1991-05
PT	199x		MDJ1081
UK	1991-05	£34.9934.99^[5]^[6]
AU	199x
BR	199x
KR	199x		GM4019JG
UK	199x	£?	?

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.

Story

Introduction

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
	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
	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

	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

Source:

In-game credits^[7]

Japanese Cover Artist: Takashi Akaishizawa

Source:

Japanese cover art^[1]

RMS-106 is the model number of Hi-Zack from Z-Gundam anime series.

Magazine articles

Main article: Arrow Flash/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

SE advert

Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-11: "November 1990" (1990-10-XX)

Print advert in GamePro (US) #18: "January 1991" (199x-xx-xx)
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

Publication

Version

Score

1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)

40

^[9]

Beep! MegaDrive (JP)

NTSC-J

58

^[10]

Console XS (UK)

PAL

59

^[11]

Electronic Gaming Monthly (US)

NTSC-U

63

^[12]

Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)

50

^[13]

Famitsu (JP)

NTSC-J

55

^[14]

Games-X (UK)

PAL

60

^[15]

Hobby Consolas (ES)

85

^[16]

Joystick (FR)

70

^[17]

Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK)

NTSC

52

^[18]

Mega Drive Fan (JP)

NTSC-J

64

^[19]

Mega (UK)

PAL

24

^[20]

MegaTech (UK)

46

^[21]

Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)

60

^[22]

Mean Machines Sega (UK)

PAL

46

^[23]

Player One (FR)

90

^[24]

Power Play (DE)

58

^[25]

Raze (UK)

PAL

73

^[5]

Sega Power (UK)

PAL

60

^[26]

Sega Power (UK)

NTSC

50

^[27]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

39

^[28]

Sega Pro (UK)

PAL

29

^[29]

Sega Saturn Magazine (JP)

NTSC-J

57

^[30]

Top Secret (PL)

100

^[31]

Tricks 16 bit (RU)

65

^[32]

User (GR)

NTSC

93

^[33]

VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US)

NTSC-U

80

^[4]

Video Games (DE)

58

^[34]

Zero (UK)

69

^[35]

	60
Based on 29 reviews

Arrow Flash

Mega Drive, JP
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Mega Drive, EU
Cover
Cart Manual PCB

Mega Drive, PT
Cover

Mega Drive, AU

Mega Drive, BR
Cover
Cart

Mega Drive, KR
Cover
Cart

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,

Technical information

ROM dump status

System

Hash

Size

Build Date

Source

Comments

✔

CRC32	4d89e66b
MD5	7f8f0a581158a00b6799204c9afe646b
SHA-1	916524d2b403a633108cf457eec13b4df7384d95

1MB

1990-07

Cartridge (US/EU)

✔

CRC32	d49f8444
MD5	cc6c03def1e6ca137ee4814d4920fa7d
SHA-1	5d2ca55704b7fe8d83fa7564fb1efc62834d3148

1MB

1990-07

Cartridge (JP)

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
	Main page \| Comparisons \| Hidden content \| Magazine articles \| Reception \| Region coding \| Technical information \| Bootlegs No results

[:File:ArrowFlash_MD_JP_Box.jpg_p-1] 1.0 ^1.1 File:ArrowFlash MD JP Box.jpg

[https:.2F.2Fweb.archive.org.2Fweb.2F20200720095133.2Fhttps:.2F.2Fsega.jp.2Fhistory.2Fhard.2Fmegadrive.2Fsoftware.html-2] 2.0 ^2.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-20 09:51)

[https:.2F.2Fgroups.google.com.2Fg.2Frec.games.video.2Fc.2Frlm4yIWUvN0.2Fm.2F72MblPjly14J-3] ttps://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/rlm4yIWUvN0/m/72MblPjly14J

[:File:VG.26amp.3BCE_US_25.pdf_p56-4] 4.0 ^4.1 VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "February 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 56

[:File:Raze_UK_10.pdf_p50-5] 5.0 ^5.1 Raze, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-06-27), page 50

[:File:SegaPower_UK_18.pdf_p35-6] Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 35

[:File:Arrow_Flash_MD_credits.pdf_p-7] File:Arrow Flash MD credits.pdf

[:File:GamePlayers_US_0304.pdf_p5-8] Game Players, "Vol. 3 No. 4 April 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 5

[9] 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 21

[:File:BeepMD_JP_1990-11.pdf_p23-10] Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1990" (JP; 1990-10-XX), page 23

[:File:Console_XS_UK_01.pdf_p127-11] Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 127

[:File:EGM_US_019.pdf_p24-12] Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 24

[13] Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 291

[14] Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-10-26), page 1

[:File:GamesX_UK_06.pdf_p19-15] Games-X, "31st May-6th June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-31), page 19

[:File:HobbyConsolas_ES_001.pdf_p74-16] Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 74

[:File:Joystick_FR_011.pdf_p142-17] Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 142

[:File:MDAG_UK_05.pdf_p90-18] Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90

[:File:Megadrive_Fan_1991-01.pdf_p87-19] Mega Drive Fan, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 87

[:File:Mega_UK_09.pdf_p19-20] Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 19

[:File:MegaTech_UK_01.pdf_p76-21] MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76

[:File:Micromania2_ES_039.pdf_p37-22] Micromanía (segunda época), "Agosto 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 37

[:File:MeanMachinesSega01UK.pdf_p137-23] Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137

[:File:PlayerOne_FR_010.pdf_p39-24] Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 39

[:File:PowerPlay_DE_1991-02.pdf_p148-25] Power Play, "2/91" (DE; 1991-01-18), page 148

[:File:SegaPower_UK_18.pdf_p34-26] Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 34

[:File:SegaPower_UK_23.pdf_p52-27] Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52

[:File:SegaPro_UK_01.pdf_p23-28] Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 23

[:File:SegaPro_UK_18.pdf_p64-29] Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64

[:File:SSM_JP_19950901_1995-09.pdf_p87-30] Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87

[31] Top Secret, "Luty 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57

[32] Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 15

[:File:User_GR_14.pdf_p66-33] User, "Máios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 66

[:File:VideoGames_DE_1991-02.pdf_p88-34] Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 88

[:File:Zero_UK_23.pdf_p63-35] Zero, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 63

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[8]

[9]

[10]

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[19]

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@@ Line 34: / Line 34: @@
 '''''{{PAGENAME}}''''' (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 ''[[TransBot|Astro Flash]]'' (also known as ''Transbot'' or ''[[Transformer]]''), due to the similar names and themes of gameplay.
+This game may be part of a series that started with ''[[Orguss]]'' and ''[[TransBot|Astro Flash]]'' (also known as ''TransBot'' or ''[[Transformer]]''), due to the similar names and themes of gameplay.
 ==Story==
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 ==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 {{B}}. Rapid-fire can be enabled in the Options. The ship can transform between two forms, a jet fighter or a mecha, with {{A}}. The ship has a special attack called the "Arrow Flash," performed with {{C}}. 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 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 {{B}}. Rapid-fire can be enabled in the Options. The ship can transform between two forms, a jet fighter or a mecha, with {{A}}. The ship has a special attack called the "Arrow Flash," performed with {{C}}. 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.
@@ Line 184: / Line 184: @@
 }}
 }}
+==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 [[:Category:Consoles on a chip|console on a chip]] retro consoles, including several made by [[AtGames]].
 ==Production credits==
 {{creditstable|
-*'''Producer:''' RMS-106 (This is the model number of Hi-Zack from Z-Gundam anime series)
+*'''Producer:''' RMS-106
 *'''Opening:''' Ichiban
 *'''Program:''' CBR---RR, Daddy, Goshikisen
@@ Line 194: / Line 200: @@
 *'''Special Thanks:''' Toru.K, T.A.K
 | source=In-game credits
+| pdf=Arrow Flash MD credits.pdf
 | console=MD
 }}
@@ Line 201: / Line 208: @@
 | console=MD
 }}
+RMS-106 is the model number of Hi-Zack from ''Z-Gundam'' anime series.
 ==Magazine articles==

Difference between revisions of "Arrow Flash"

From Sega Retro

Revision as of 04:39, 9 October 2022

Contents

Story

Gameplay

Weapons

Items

Stages

History

Legacy

Production credits

Magazine articles

Promotional material

Physical scans

Mega Drive version

Mega-Tech version

Technical information

ROM dump status

References