Arrow Flash

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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		1081
PT	199x		MDJ1081
UK	1991-05	£34.9934.99^[5]^[6]	1081
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.