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After
Burner
アフターバーナー
1987 |
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After Burner has certainly made its mark:
its eye-popping speed,
iconic soundtrack and deluxe hydraulic cabinet
mark a defining moment in video game history. It
was, and will forever remain, the ultimate
arcade experience.
By 1987, Yu Suzuki was no stranger to
success: Hang-On (1985), Space
Harrier (1985) and Out
Run (1986) were all worldwide smash hits, providing
tremendous entertainment while showcasing Sega's unique flair for extravagant arcade cabinets.
Shamelessly 'inspired' by the Hollywood movie Top Gun (1986), After Burner was an immediate smash with 1987 audiences, in most part due to its outrageous hydraulic cabinet.
The giant 'Deluxe Cradle' makes the player feel every bump and bang the game had
to offer, and blare out the carnage for all to hear.
This is the zeitgeist of 80s gaming: eccentric,
expensive and loud.
The gameplay itself stands out as the natural successor to Space Harrier: fly head-on into
enemy airspace and gun down as many targets
as possible while avoiding enemy fire. But now two different weapons are available (guns & lock-on missiles) and the speed has been doubled: it's a
relentlessly
difficult challenge.
And there lies this game's genius: while experts have a technical monster
to get their heads around, casual and younger players got themselves one hell of a
thrill ride.
In terms of home versions, After Burner was doomed: since the game can only be played accurately with analog controls, the gameplay is seriously handicapped. Picking off entire oncoming formations on digital is as difficult as it is frustrating.
As a result of this After Burner saw the development of one of the very first analog controllers for the consumer market: the XE-1AP by Micomsoft was released to tie-in with the X68000 (1989) and Mega Drive (1990) versions, but never released outside of Japan.
It took almost 10 years for a playable version to appear: the Sega Saturn (1996) and Dreamcast (2001) versions were first to do the game any justice, complete with analog controls.
A masterful arcade game in every respect, recently given a brilliant revival in After Burner Climax (2006).
Rating:  |
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Soundtrack
(10 Oct 1987) |
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Sega Mark III
(12 Dec 1987) |
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Famicom
(30 Mar 1989) |
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XE-1AP
(1989) |
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X68000
(1989) |
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Mark III / Master System (1987)
Famicom (1989) |
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After Burner / After Burner II
The original 'After Burner' software was very quickly updated
with 'After Burner II', a near-identical game that benefits immensely
from the most obvious of additions: the afterburner.
This is the version that most will know: the player can speed up or slow down at will. Also the missile firing
speed was increased and three stages
were added (bringing the total up to 21).
The first game is a prototype: without the speed feature the canyons of Stage 6 and 12 are
impossible to navigate.
The
1987 Sega Mark III version remains the only home port of this original game - but it too was subject to a number of changes,
including the addition of boss battles.
Every
subsequent release features the spinning 'II' behind the title,
and the essential 'Speed' bar during gameplay.
Home versions
A lot of After Burner's
mystique stems from its cutting edge visuals, and how it remained impossible to replicate accurately
at home.
The Sega Mark III (1987) and Famicom (1989) versions were fun
but way off the mark. By 1990 the X68000, FM Towns
and Mega Drive had come very close, thanks in great part
to the analog XE-1AP controller.
As per usual Western developers missed the point altogether.
It's hard to comprehend why people bothered with
the god-awful C64, Spectrum, Atari ST or Amiga versions.
Coming to think of it, it's hard to comprehend why people
bothered with those machines at all.
It wasn't until 1995 that an accurate conversion would
finally appear - first on the Mega Drive 32X (1995) and Sega Saturn (1996), then
as a hidden 'extra' in the Dreamcast Shenmue
II (2001), perfectly playable with the DC analog pad.
A remixed version
appeared in 2004 the PS2 Sega Ages 2500 Series. |
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'After Burner'
Mk .I prototype version |
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'After Burner II'
with 'Speed' gauge (bottom left) and 'Hit' counter (top) |
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Sega
Game Music Vol.3 After Burner
セガ・ゲーム・ミュージック
VOL.3 アフターバーナー
SOUNDTRACK |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio
CD |
| Released |
10
Oct 1987 |
| Publisher |
GMO
Records |
| Product
ID |
28XA-109 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Vintage
soundtrack CD featuring the
BGM collections of:
1 - After
Burner (1987) [17:39]
2 - Alien
Syndrome (1987) [4:12]
3 - Super
Hang-On (1987) [12:59]
4 - SDI
(1987) [10:46]
5 - Dunk
Shot (1986) [13:11]
This original 1987 release
is now next to impossible
to find - fortunately the
disc was re-issued by Scitron
in 2000 (see below).
CD
case, 5-track music CD (58:47),
booklet, spine card. |
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After
Burner
アフターバーナー
SEGA MARK III |
DETAILS
| Format |
Sega
Mark III |
| Released |
12
Dec 1987 |
| Publisher |
Sega |
| Product
ID |
G-1340 |
| Size
(cm) |
14
x 10 x 2.5 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.12 |
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Coming
in at 4Mbits (a massive amount
for the time) the Mark III
/ Master System port was the
very first home conversion of After
Burner, and the
only release of the original
'no speed-up / speed down'
game.
Standard 'Gold Cartridge'
packaging, 4Mbit
cartridge, 12-page monochrome
booklet. |
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After
Burner
アフターバーナー
FAMICOM |
DETAILS
| Format |
Famicom |
| Released |
30
Mar 1989 |
| Publisher |
Sunsoft |
| Product
ID |
SS13-6200 |
| Size
(cm) |
14
x 9.5 x 2 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.12 |
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Sunsoft's
Famicom port falls well short
of the Sega Mark III version,
but is still a decent effort.
Note that although the packaging
is named 'After Burner', the
game itself is 'After Burner
II'.
Standard FC cardboard packaging,
3Mbit cartridge, colour booklet. |
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After
Burner
アフターバーナー
X68000 |
DETAILS
| Format |
X68000 |
| Released |
26 Apr 1989 |
| Publisher |
Micomsoft |
| Product
ID |
DP-3205010 |
| Size
(cm) |
16.2
x 15.5 x 2.5 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.17 |
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Extraordinary
port of After Burner II for the X68000 by Dempa.
Features a clever adaptation
of the game's analog controls:
it only works with the mouse or XE-1AP
controller.
The package even includes
its own mouse mat!
Soft-case
plastic packaging, 2 x 5"
floppy disks, manual, mouse mat. |
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After
Burner
アフターバーナー
FM TOWNS |
DETAILS
| Format |
FM
Towns |
| Released |
1989 |
| Publisher |
CRI |
| Product
ID |
? |
| Size
(cm) |
? |
| Weight
(kg) |
? |
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CRI's
FM Towns version is now very hard to find - a shame since it's
a very fast and effective
port, with a nice remixed
CD soundtrack.
Currently out of stock.
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After
Burner II
アフターバーナーII
MEGA DRIVE |
DETAILS
| Format |
Mega
Drive |
| Released |
20
Mar 1990 |
| Publisher |
Micomsoft |
| Product
ID |
T-17013 |
| Size
(cm) |
17.8
x 12.8 x 2.5 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.18 |
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Top-class
MD port from the same makers
of the X68000 edition.
A great version, that plays
exceptionally well with the
XE-1AP analog controller.
Standard MD case, 4Mbit cartridge,
colour booklet. |
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After
Burner
アフターバーナー
－G.S.M.
1500 SERIES－
/ SEGA S.S.T. BAND |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio
CD |
| Released |
21
June 1990 |
| Publisher |
Pony
Canyon |
| Product
ID |
PCCB-00032 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Second
soundtrack release for After
Burner, this time for
the Pony Canyon 'G.S.M. 1500
Series' label.
Features all seven 'Original'
tracks from the arcade, and
two bonus 'Arrange' tracks.
View [back]
for track listing.
CD
case, 9-track audio CD (total
29min), booklet, spine card. |
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After
Burner II
アフターバーナーII
PC ENGINE |
DETAILS
| Format |
PC
Engine |
| Released |
28
Sep 1990 |
| Publisher |
NEC
Avenue |
| Product
ID |
NAPH-1011 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Following
their superb port of Space
Harrier for PC Engine,
NEC Avenue are at it again
with a blazing conversion
of After Burner II,
pushing the Engine to its
absolute limits.
Great stuff!
Standard
PCE case, 4Mbit HuCard, monochrome
booklet. |
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After Burner Complete
アフターバーナー・コンプリート
SUPER 32X |
DETAILS
| Format |
Super 32X |
| Released |
13
Jan 1995 |
| Publisher |
Sega |
| Product
ID |
GM-4006 |
| Size
(cm) |
17.8
x 12.8 x 2.5 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.16 |
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1995, and the 32X is the first
platform to offer enough power
for an near-perfect rendition
of the arcade original.
Brilliant and spectacular in every way; one of the best releases for
the 32X.
Cardboard 32X packaging, 16Mbit
cartridge, colour booklet. |
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After
Burner II
アフターバーナーII
SEGA SATURN |
DETAILS
| Format |
Sega
Saturn |
| Released |
27
Sep 1996 |
| Publisher |
Sega |
| Product
ID |
GS-9109 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Immaculate
Sega Ages conversion of
the arcade milestone for Sega
Saturn, adapted from the excellent
32X port.
Very highly recommended with
the Sega Saturn 'Arcade Flight
Stick'.
CD case, Sega Saturn CD-ROM
disc, colour booklet, spine
card. |
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After
Burner II
アフターバーナーII
SOUNDTRACK |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio
CD |
| Released |
17
Dec 1997 |
| Publisher |
Marvelous |
| Product
ID |
MJCAX-00007 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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1997
'Yu Suzuki Produce' soundtrack
re-release that features the
complete 6-track OST, two
bonus 'With Melody' tracks,
and a comprehensive 'Voice
& S.E. Collection'.
CD
case, 13-track audio CD, 4-page
colour booklet, spine card. |
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Sega
Game Music Vol.3 After Burner
セガ・ゲーム・ミュージック
VOL.3 アフターバーナー
SOUNDTRACK [RE-ISSUE] |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio
CD |
| Released |
20
Dec 2000 |
| Publisher |
Scitron |
| Product
ID |
SCDC-00056 |
| Size
(cm) |
14.2
x 12.4 x 1 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.10 |
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Full
re-release of the 1987 'Sega
Game Music Vol.3' compilation.
Includes the BGM collections
of:
- After
Burner (1987) [1-6]
- Alien
Syndrome (1987) [7-12]
- Super
Hang-On (1987) [13-19]
- SDI
(1987) [20-27]
- Dunk
Shot (1986) [28-36]
The sound quality is vastly
improved, and the track listing
has been split from 5 to 36
- separating each individual
track for each game.
CD case, 36-track audio CD
(58:32), booklet, spine card. |
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Yu
Suzuki Game Works Vol.1
鈴木裕
ゲームワークス VOL.1
DREAMCAST |
DETAILS
| Format |
Dreamcast |
| Released |
20
Dec 2001 |
| Publisher |
Sega |
| Product
ID |
ASP001 |
| Size
(cm) |
26
x 19 x 2 |
| Weight
(kg) |
? |
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Superb
luxury tribute book dedicated
to Yu Suzuki's early AM2 releases.
Photos, articles, info, and
a bonus Dreamcast disc that
includes:
- Hang-On
(1985)
- Space
Harrier (1985)
- Out
Run (1986)
- After
Burner II (1987)
- Power
Drift (1988)
Compiles both the Saturn Sega
Ages collection and the
bonus games of Shenmue
(1999) & Shenmue
II (2001).
A must-have for Sega aficionados!
128-page hardback book (full
colour, Japanese), Dreamcast
GD-ROM. |
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After
Burner II
アフターバーナーII
SEGA AGES 2500 SERIES Vol.10 |
DETAILS
| Format |
PlayStation
2 |
| Released |
18
Mar 2004 |
| Publisher |
Sega |
| Product
ID |
SLPM-62446 |
| Size
(cm) |
19
x 13.5 x 1.4 |
| Weight
(kg) |
0.18 |
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Interesting
3D remix of After
Burner II for the PS2, quite good in its own way. It certainly keeps the pace
and feel of the original.
Vol.10 in the Sega
Ages 2500 series.
PS2 case, PlayStation 2 DVD-ROM, 'Sega Ages' note card,
manual. |
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After
Burner 20th Anniversary Box
アフターバーナー20th Anniversary Box
ORIGINAL SOUND TRACKS SPECIAL BOX SET |
DETAILS
| Format |
Audio CD |
| Released |
29 Nov 2007 |
| Publisher |
Wave Master |
| Product
ID |
WM-0581~6 |
| Size
(cm) |
? |
| Weight
(kg) |
? |
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Comprehensive 6-CD box set featuring the complete After Burner soundtrack collection.
Includes every single version:
CD1 - After Burner Arcade
CD2 - After Burner Climax Arcade
CD3 - Mark III, Famicom, PC Engine
CD4 - Mega Drive, 32X, Dreamcast
CD5 - FMT,
X68000, GBA, Mobile
CD6 - Extra Tracks
6 CDs in cases in cardboard sleeve. |
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'After
Burner', 'Mark III', 'Mega Drive', 'Sega Saturn', 'Dreamcast' and 'Sega'
are registered trademarks of Sega Corporation
'Famicom' and 'Nintendo' are registered trademarks of Nintendo Co.,
Ltd.
'X68000' and 'Sharp' are registered trademarks of Sharp Corporation
'PC Engine' and 'NEC' are registered trademarks of NEC Corporation
'PlayStation' and 'Sony' are registered trademarks of Sony Corporation
After Burner TM & © 1987 Sega All Rights Reserved
Page content, design & layout © 2012 Arcade Gear |
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