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空中要塞 エアー・フォートレス
©1987 Hal Laboratory
Release: 1987-08-17 (¥5300)
Cartridge HAL-AI
Shooter/action
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Released in America as
AIR FORTRESS
( NES-AI-USA )
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Released in Europe as
AIR FORTRESS
( NES-AI-XXX )
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Air Fortress is a side scrolling shooter/action game by HAL Laboratory. In the very
distant Cromat Galaxy, the inhabitants of planet Farmel are faced with an impending
doom - eight mysterious and monstrous alien fortresses (named "Air Fortresses") now hurl
towards their home world at considerable speed, and their true motives are undoubtedly dubious. The
Federal Bureau of Galactic Government decides to send a lone attack commando on the most desperate
mission imaginable. The space marine Hal Bailman (codename ID 82593), on board his small but
heavily armed Lightbrasner (aka Light Blaster) ship, must first fly dangerously close to the surface of each
fortress. During this initial phase, the player must destroy waves or enemy ships, avoid obstacles
such as platforms or floating asteroids, and eventually locate the air lock that gives access
to the inner structure of the monstrous ship. Once inside, Hal leaves his Light Blaster
behind and ventures deep within the core body of the impenetrable stronghold with his jet pack. His
final objective is to find and ultimately destroy the central reactor, and to reach a second
escape Light Blaster before the fortress goes to oblivion. Hal comes equipped with a
Light Beam Blaster and a limited amount of energy. Capsules are scattered around the game and
replenish Hal's energy (E), or recharge his powerful Crash Beam (B). The later is a
particularly explosive weapon that he can use in desperate situations, and although Light Beams
can be fired indefinitely, the Crash Beam comes in limited quantities and must be periodically
recharged. Energy is a very important part of the gameplay - inside each fortress, Hal continuously
loses energy when he fires a weapon, uses his jet pack or receives damages, and energy cells help him
regain some of it back. But most importantly, they extend his maximum energy, and all the energy items
collected before entering the air lock determine the player's power level inside the fortress. However,
once inside, although Hal can rest in elevator shafts to regain some energy, power lost from enemy
damage is never restored. Air Fortress is single player only, and the progression is saved through
a simple four-character password system.
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Story copied from the game's introduction sequence:
On the planet 'Farmel',
they had the gloriest
days for two centuries,
since the stardate had
established. They sailed
all around the galaxy
with new type spaceship
called 'Lightship'.
But one day the peace
was disturbed by a
misterious big fortress.
It was living and
was destroying all other
civilizations.
The Federal Bureau of
Galactic Government organized
the Defence
Force immedeately. But
as the 'Air Fortress'
had very high potential,
the Defence Force was
wiped out in vain.
So the Federal Bureau
has decided to select
a specially trained
man, ID 82592, named
'Hal Bailman', and has
developped new type
'Lightbrasner' and 'Armored
Suit'.
Now he departs for
the 'Air Fortress' with
the destiny of 'Farmel'.
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Teaser text copied from the American version:
A mysterious and powerful AIR FORTRESS is threatening
the planet FARMEL. The destiny of FARMEL rests in the
ability of one specially trained person code number
82592-HAL BAILMAN. His mission: Save FARMEL from
the AIR FORTRESS.
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Game Staff (Copied from the end credits) :
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STAFF
Director
GSX Suga
Producer
Satoru Iwata
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Game Designers
GSX Suga
Live Planning
Graphic Designer
Live Planning
Sound Composer
Jumper Kanagushi
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Programmer
GSX Suga
Tool Programmer
Tadashi Mukai
Chief Map Designer
Akio Hanyu
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Map Designers
Tadashi Mukai
Masanobu Sakata
Technical Advisers
Satoru Iwata
Makoto Kanai
Presented by
HAL Laboratory
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Game Staff (Copied from the American version end credits) :
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STAFF
Director
GSX Suga
Producer
Satoru Iwata
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Game Designers
GSX Suga
Live Planning
Graphic Designer
Live Planning
Sound Composer
Escaper Kanagushi
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Programmer
GSX Suga
Tool Programmer
Tadashi Mukai
Chief Map Designer
Akio Hanyu
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Map Designers
Tadashi Mukai
Masanobu Sakata
Technical Advisers
Satoru Iwata
Makoto Kanai
Presented by
HAL America Inc.
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O
M
A
K
E
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Click on picture to enlarge |
S
E
C
R
E
T
S
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Level passwords
Level 2 - I8TA
Level 3 - KA91
Level 4 - 6KAI
Level 5 - 8NYU
Level 6 - 2APP
Level 7 - OS85
Level 8 - SUGA
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Second quest passwords
Completing the game unlocks a new set of fortresses.
However, although they are directly available in the American
version, you must first enter three special codes in the Japanese version.
(first GYUW, then AGOG and OOON). The game will then start
at the first stage. You must then die and go back to the title
screen (which will now be green) and enter one of the second
quest passwords.
Level 1 - ABE4
Level 2 - 11NA
Level 3 - 8AJI
Level 4 - TOBI
Level 5 - NDA4
Level 6 - MA1K
Level 7 - DOMO
Level 8 - 7NDA (American version)
Level 8 - 7NDE (Japanese version)
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
O
V
s
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Air Fortress is another of those underrated games that slipped through the
cracks of popularity. The thing that first struck me was the developer's
name - Hal Laboratory is better known for masterpieces such as
Kirby's Adventure or the unique Mother (aka Earthbound).
Although the company had been in business since 1980, Air Fortress was
definitively one of the first game they ever developed for the Famicom system
(if not the first). In that respect, I think the developer did an excellent job - although
the game shows its age, it still looks fairly decent compared to other titles released
the same year, and was given the utmost attention to detail (the gun's recoil and the game's
gravity being the best examples). But the gameplay is definitively where the game shines.
Air Fortress cleverly combines gameplay mechanics from two genres (shooting and
action/exploration), and the gameplay flows wonderfully between the two. I like the overall
ambiance of the game, especially when you destroy the reactor and must reach your escape
ship - the subdued ambiance at that moment (faint lighting, creepy music and ominous rumbling
as the fortress self destructs) is amazing. However, as aforementioned, Air Fortress
is an early game, and it suffers from a repetitive progression. Although fortresses get
fairly large (the last one is huge!), they all look fairly identical in appearance.
Hal however managed to sprinkle in new enemies and ambushes to keep the game interesting,
and there seems to be always something new around the corner. Finally, Air Fortress is
an overall difficult game, the first fortresses are easy to figure out, but they quickly become
extremely difficult and challenging (thank goodness there is a password system). All in all,
Air Fortress is another unique game totally worth checking out, and it is actually easy
and reasonably cheap to find!
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