Scramble Formation

Scramble Formation (スクランブル・フォーメーション, Sukuranburu Fōmēshon) is a vertical scrolling shooter game released by Taito in Japanese arcades in 1986.[1] It was released by Romstar in North American arcades under the name Tokio.

Scramble Formation
Arcade flyer
Developer(s)Taito
Publisher(s)
Platform(s)Arcade, MSX2
ReleaseArcade
  • JP: April 1986
  • NA: 1986
MSX2
  • JP: August 28, 1987
Genre(s)Shoot 'em up
CabinetVertical
CPUZ80
SoundYM-2203
DisplayRaster

Gameplay

In the game, the player controls a red propeller-driven airplane, flying over the city of Tokyo.[2] He's able to shoot and capture other red, smaller planes, which then will follow the player in formation. The player can choose between 3 formations: the first is able to shoot both air-to-air and air-to-ground projectiles, the second only air-to-air (but on a larger area), the third only air-to-ground (but on a larger area as well). During gameplay, the player should react accordingly to the threats and quickly decide which one of the 3 formation types is more adequate at one given moment.

The game is divided in areas, depicting key places in Tokyo, such as Shinjuku, Akasaka, and Ginza. There are no clearly defined "levels", but at some points the player is faced by a giant mothership, which can be shot down by hitting its engines.

Ports and re-releases

A port was released for the MSX 2 home computer in 1987.[3]

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Tokio on their May 15, 1986 issue as being the most-successful table arcade unit of the year.[4]

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gollark: Like the hive mind in that universe composed entirely of immortal bees, oxygen and nitrogen.
gollark: Yes, it is good for people who are hive minds or otherwise identify as plurals.
gollark: An ordered/indexmap is probably unnecessary.
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References
  1. http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10136
  2. http://www.coinop.org/Game/100733/Tokio___Scramble_Formation
  3. http://www.gamesdbase.com/gamedetail-msx_2.scramble_formation.1987.taito_corporation.shooter.taito_corporation.aspx
  4. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 284. Amusement Press, Inc. 15 May 1986. p. 21.
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