Formation Z

Arcade Video game published 41 years ago:

Formation Z (c) 1984 Jaleco.

Taking place in the year 2701, the player controls a robot which can transform into an aero fighter on a mission to stop an alien super weapon from reaching the Earth. The robot may move forwards, backwards and jump, and the aero fighter may travel anywhere on screen but has limited fuel in which to do so. A combination of the two must be used to avoid obstacles, as well as to destroy any on-screen enemies for extra points.

- TECHNICAL -

Main CPU: Motorola M6809 (@ 1.25 Mhz)
Sound CPU: Motorola M6809 (@ 640 Khz)
Sound Chips: (2x) General Instrument AY8910 (@ 1.5 Mhz)

Players: up to 2 (alternate)
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 2
=> [A] Fire (hold to fire an anti-tank rocket), [B] Jump (hold B to transform between a jet and soldier)

- TRIVIA -

Formation Z was released in September 1984.

This game is known outside Japan as "Aeroboto" (Licensed to Williams).

- TIPS AND TRICKS -

* Don't waste energy: keep walking until you see a shore. Then transform into a jet. When you come back to land, change back into a soldier. When you fly all the way up to the shore (field area before the first sea), you'll encounter no fuel cans required to fuel an aircraft.

* You'll encounter gates during a desert trip. Destroy them with a rocket - you need to do so when encountering any tank. A rocket is also required to destroy a mobile alien base on the second sea before liftoff to the 'moon'.

* You have to dock the ship to convert into a rocket before lifting off. When you fail, you'll need to destroy the aliens' base again.

* Aliens' spaceship has 3 cannons. Destroy them all with a rocket.

- PORTS -

* CONSOLES:
[JP] Nintendo Famicom (Apr. 4, 1985) [Model JF-02]
[JP] Sony PlayStation (Oct. 23, 2003; "Jaleco Collection Vol.1 [Model SLPS-03562]") Famicom version
[JP] Nintendo Wii [Virtual Console] (Feb. 2, 2009) Famicom version

* COMPUTERS:
[JP] MSX (1985)

- CONTRIBUTE -

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