Overview and Gameplay
Secret agent Albatross infiltrates Geldra’s underground headquarters to rescue the captured operative Leila and defeat the organization’s leader, Maboo. The mission spans ten side-scrolling areas filled with armed guards, traps, doors, and upper and lower routes. Clearing the normal operation unlocks a harder second mission with more aggressive enemy fire and its own passwords.
Controls And Mechanics
The directional pad moves Albatross, crouches beneath shots, enters doors, and changes levels when used with the jump button. A jumps, while B fires the handgun or machine gun. Doorways provide brief cover, BULLET rooms restore handgun ammunition, and ARMS rooms supply a rapid-fire weapon with limited rounds.
The display tracks ammunition, life, time, score, and remaining agents. Enemy contact reduces life, while bullets, bombs, pits, lava, beams, and an expired timer cost a life immediately. Jump direction cannot be changed in mid-air, and Albatross cannot shoot while airborne. Passwords resume play from later areas, and the game allows up to three continues.
Version Notes
The Japanese Famicom conversion adds passwords, limited continues, altered stages and enemy behavior, and a harder second run. Its Namco 163 expansion audio provides additional sound channels used by the music.
Release And Credits
- Release year: 1989
- Developer: Arc System Works
- Publisher: Namco
- Original platform: Arcade
