After Burner

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After Burner
System(s): Sega X Board, Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer: Sega AM2
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up
Release Date RRP Code

After Burner (アフターバーナー) is an arcade game designed by Yu Suzuki and developed by Sega AM2 in 1987.

After Burner stands as one of Sega's most successful arcade games, building on the momentum started earlier in the decade with Hang-On, Space Harrier and OutRun. It was one of the earliest games (if not the earliest game) to utilise Sega X Board technology allowing for the easy scaling and rotation of in-game sprites. It is also remembered for its then-revolutionary sit-down cabinet design, complete with a horizontally rotating seat and a vertically rotating cockpit, controlled (like the game) by the integrated flight stick. Upright cabinets were also available.

Gameplay

In After Burner, the player pilots an F-14 Tomcat-inspired jet through 18 levels, destroying enemies with machine gun fire and a limited supply of missiles. Similar to Space Harrier, it is an "on-the-rails" shooter - the plane will travel continuously into the screen, with players only able to adjust its X and Y coordinates.

The objective in After Burner is to survive through each of the 18 stages, usually by avoiding enemy missile fire, however "bonus" stages, which occur every six levels, require the player to dodge scenery and not crash. Shooting down enemies is technically optional, although alleviates the risk of being destroyed. The player has a limited supply of missiles which are refueled at various intervals throughout the game.

History

Legacy

The original After Burner was released exclusively in Japan, however the western world would receive an updated version of the game, After Burner II in the months which followed. After Burner II is extremely similar in design, bar a few minor tweaks (such as a throttle control, extra levels and slight changes to the missile system), so much so that people often consider it to be a more "complete" version of After Burner than a direct sequel. Due to the similarities and shared cabinet designs and artwork, After Burner II is frequently confused for the original After Burner. A similar relationship would develop with Galaxy Force and Galaxy Force II, also produced by Sega AM2.

In its original form, After Burner was only ported to the Sega Master System, however many ports of After Burner II were released under the name of After Burner for home consoles and computers, including the Amiga (twice), Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns, MSX, PC Engine, Sharp X68000 and ZX Spectrum.

It was also ported to the Sega 32X by Rutubo Games and went under the name of After Burner Complete.

After Burner in its original form was also released as part of Sega Arcade Gallery for the Game Boy Advance.

Production Credits

X Board Version

The arcade version of After Burner II has no detailed credits screen, instead aliases of the developers are seen on the backs of clothing in the ending sequence:

Kio, Yu, Bo, Kim, Hiro, Asu, MK, Bin, Mr, Sada, Ken

Gallery

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  Sit-down cabinet

Physical Scans

Master System Version

Sega Retro Average
Publication Score Source ACE (UK) 70 №7, p51 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 76 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 51 №1, p47 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 51 №4, p89 Computer & Video Games (UK) 90 №77, p122/123 60 The Games Machine (UK) 60 №4, p54 80 Micromanía (ES) 70 №2/20 Sega Power (UK) 51 №23, p40 Sega Power (UK) 40 №23, p55 Sega Pro (UK) 93 №1, p18

	66
Based on 12 reviews

Sega Retro Average

Publication Version Score ACE (UK) 70 Aktueller Software Markt (DE) 63 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 51 Complete Guide to Consoles (UK) 51 The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL 51 Computer Action (DK) 50 Console XS (UK) PAL 85 Computer & Video Games (UK) 90 The Games Machine (UK) 60 Games Preview (DK) 45 Génération 4 (FR) 81 Micromanía (segunda época) (ES) 70 Mean Machines Sega (UK) 51 Power Play (DE) 50 Sega News (CZ) 68 Sega Power (UK) PAL 51 Sega Power (UK) PAL 25 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 93 Sega Pro (UK) PAL 85 Software Gids (NL) 72 Tilt (FR) 75

	64
Based on 21 reviews

After Burner

Master System, US
Cover
Cart Manual

Master System, EU
Cover
Cart

Master System, EU "no limits" variant
Cover

Master System, EU ® variant
Cover

Master System, JP
Cover
Cart

Master System, AU
Cover

Master System, BR
Cover

Master System, KR

Games in the After Burner Series
	After Burner (1987) | After Burner II (home computers) (1987) | G-LOC: Air Battle (home computers) (1990) | Strike Fighter (1991) | Sky Target (1995) | Sega Strike Fighter (2000) | After Burner Climax (2006)
	After Burner (1987) | G-LOC: Air Battle (1991)
	After Burner (1988)
	After Burner II (1990) | G-LOC: Air Battle (1993)
	G-LOC: Air Battle (1990)
	After Burner III (1992)
	After Burner Complete (1995)
	Sega Ages After Burner II (1996) | Sky Target (1997)
	Sky Target (1997)
	After Burner II (200x) | After Burner II DX (2007)
	Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 10: After Burner II (2004)
	After Burner: Black Falcon (2007)
	After Burner Climax (2010)
	3D After Burner II (2013)
	After Burner Climax (2013)
After Burner related media
	Sega Game Music Vol. 3 After Burner (1987) | After Burner (1990) | Strike Fighter (1991) | Yu Suzuki Produce After Burner II (1997) | Yu Suzuki Produce G-LOC/R360/Virtua Racing (1998) | After Burner Climax Sound Track (2006) | After Burner 20th Anniversary Box (2007) | After Burner II (2018) | G-LOC Air Battle: Series Music Collection (2020)
	After Burner (1987) | After Burner / Super Hang-On (1987)