Arrow Flash

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ArrowFlash Title.png

Arrow Flash
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Sega, Renovation (US)
Developer:
Sound driver: SMPS Z80
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code

Arrow Flash (アローフラッシュ) is a shoot-'em-up game developed by Sega as a Sega Mega Drive exclusive title in 1990, with Renovation publishing it in the US. The game is very common and has been re-released numerous times through various compilations. It was one of the first in it's genre for the Sega Mega Drive.

Gameplay

The player can transform to either a ship or as a mech by pressing A. B fires a regular shot in both forms. As a ship, C shoots a barrage of large laser bullets in all directions; as a mech, C thrusts the player forward, making the player invincible for several seconds. This is the so called Arrow Flash. Depending on the options settings, these C Button attacks must be collected or charged up.

In mech shape, movement is faster and options (as in Gradius style options) stay in fixed position above and below the ship. In ship shape, the options follow the ship the same way they do in Konami's Gradius series. Options are indestructable, can fire shots and absorb small enemy bullets. The ships firing rate is rather high and the game is fast paced. Dying once removes all collected equipment, but the player can resume gameplay where they died.

Weapons & Pickups

  • "A" adds one arrow flash. It doesn't appear when the Arrow Flash is set to charge mode.
  • "E" adds an energy barrier that can sustain 3 hits, very similar to the barrier seen in Thunder Force III
  • "S" speeds up movement
  • "F" adds an option, up to two can be held at the same time

Weapons are described by roman numbers:

  • "I" is a straight forward moving laser, an update of the standard shot
  • "II" is an arrow shaped shot that covers a wider area, it goes diagonally in robot shape. It's a bit slower than "I"
  • "III" is a shot very similar to the wavey shot as seen in R-Type. It's the slowest of all shots

Trivia

The game borrows a lot of elements from other games in the genre, e.g. the background of the second half of stage 2 shows a Darius like hyperspace pattern, while the floating islands look like they belong to Gradius. Stage 4's jungle looks like it was inspired by Thunder Force III. Stage 5 has a wire network in the background, as also seen in R-Type.

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

Other Credits

Cover Artist: Takashi Akaishizawa

Promotional Material

  • ArrowFlash MD US PrintAdvert.jpg

    US print advert

Physical Scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
60 №6
85
70 №11, p142
52 №5, p90
24 №9, p19
46 №1, p76[1]
90 №10, p39
73 №10, p50
60 №18, p34/35
60 №23, p52
39 №1, p23[2]
29 №18, p64
69 №23, p63
Sega Mega Drive
 58
Based on
13 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[3]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
58
[4]
Console XS (UK) PAL
59
[5]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
63
[6]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
50
[7]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
55
[8]
Games-X (UK) PAL
60
[9]
Hobby Consolas (ES)
85
[10]
Joystick (FR)
70
[11]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
52
[12]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
64
[13]
Mega (UK) PAL
24
[14]
MegaTech (UK)
46
[15]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
60
[16]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) PAL
46
[17]
Player One (FR)
90
[18]
Power Play (DE)
58
[19]
Raze (UK) PAL
73
[20]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
60
[21]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
50
[22]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
39
[23]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
29
[24]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
57
[25]
Top Secret (PL)
100
[26]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
65
[27]
User (GR) NTSC
93
[28]
VideoGames & Computer Entertainment (US) NTSC-U
80
[29]
Video Games (DE)
58
[30]
Zero (UK)
69
[31]
Sega Mega Drive
 60
Based on
29 reviews

Arrow Flash

Mega Drive, US
ArrowFlash MD US Box.jpg
Cover
Arrowflash md us cart.jpg
Cart
Arrowflash md us manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, EU
ArrowFlash MD EU Box.jpg
Cover
ArrowFlash MD EU Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, JP
ArrowFlash MD JP Box.jpg
Cover
ArrowFlash MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Arrowflash md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, BR
ArrowFlash MD BR Box.jpg
Cover
ArrowFlash MD BR Cart.jpg
Cart
Mega Drive, KR
ArrowFlash KR cover.jpg
Cover
ArrowFlash MD KR cart.jpg
Cart
  1. ↑ File:Megatech UK 01.pdf, page 76
  2. ↑ File:Segapro UK 01.pdf, page 23
  3. ↑ 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 21
  4. ↑ Beep! MegaDrive, "November 1990" (JP; 1990-10-XX), page 23
  5. ↑ Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 127
  6. ↑ Electronic Gaming Monthly, "February 1991" (US; 1991-xx-xx), page 24
  7. ↑ Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 291
  8. ↑ Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-10-26), page 1
  9. ↑ Games-X, "31st May-6th June 1991" (UK; 1991-05-31), page 19
  10. ↑ Hobby Consolas, "Octubre 1991" (ES; 1991-xx-xx), page 74
  11. ↑ Joystick, "Décembre 1990" (FR; 1990-1x-xx), page 142
  12. ↑ Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
  13. ↑ Mega Drive Fan, "January 1991" (JP; 1990-12-08), page 87
  14. ↑ Mega, "June 1993" (UK; 1993-05-20), page 19
  15. ↑ MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76
  16. ↑ Micromanía (segunda época), "Agosto 1991" (ES; 1991-0x-xx), page 37
  17. ↑ Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
  18. ↑ Player One, "Juin 1991" (FR; 1991-xx-xx), page 39
  19. ↑ Power Play, "2/91" (DE; 1991-01-18), page 148
  20. ↑ Raze, "August 1991" (UK; 1991-06-27), page 50
  21. ↑ Sega Power, "May 1991" (UK; 1991-04-04), page 34
  22. ↑ Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52
  23. ↑ Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 23
  24. ↑ Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  25. ↑ Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  26. ↑ Top Secret, "Luty 1995" (PL; 1995-xx-xx), page 57
  27. ↑ Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 15
  28. ↑ User, "Máios 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 66
  29. ↑ VideoGames & Computer Entertainment, "February 1991" (US; 1991-0x-xx), page 56
  30. ↑ Video Games, "2/91" (DE; 1991-06-07), page 88
  31. ↑ Zero, "September 1991" (UK; 1991-0x-xx), page 63
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