Air Diver

From Sega Retro

n/a

AirDiver MDTitleScreen.png

Air Diver
System(s): Sega Mega Drive
Publisher: Asmik (Japan), Seismic Software (US)
Developer:
Genre: Shooting[1]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega Drive
JP
¥6,800 (7,004)6,800e[2] T-20023
Sega Mega Drive
US
$49.9549.95[5] T-35026

Air Diver (エアダイバー) is a 1990 aircraft combat game by Asmik for the Sega Mega Drive.

Story

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F-199D Stealth Fighter

An unknown terrorist organization, backed by extraterrestrial beings, has created a military force so strong that world powers have been unable to defeat it with their own militaries. The player must pilot the fictional F-119D Stealth Fighter and stop them.

Gameplay

Air Diver, Map.png

Map

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Super Transporter

This game is a combat flight simulator with a 3D perspective, played in first-person view (from inside the cockpit), similar to G-LOC. The player can select which stage to play from a map of the world. Each stage is rated on its difficulty by the "Mission Achievement" metric (with lower numbers being more difficult). The fighter is transported to each stage in the "Super Transporter." Traveling to a location costs transporter fuel depending on how far the next stage is, and the game ends if the transporter runs out of fuel. The objective of each stage is to destroy a certain number of enemies to clear the area. A radar in the cockpit shows the locations of nearby enemies. After destroying enough enemy fighters, the player battles a single elite enemy fighter followed by an enemy "Super Carrier." There are four different Super Carriers, each appearing twice.

The stealth fighter ascends with Up and descends with Down (though the vertical controls can be reversed in the options). It banks with Left and Right. It can engage its afterburners by holding C, which increases its airspeed. The fighter has limited fuel, which is shown as a number in the cockpit and acts as a timer for each stage. Using the afterburners consumes more fuel. The fighter can perform a vertical loop by double-tapping C while holding Up or perform a horizontal scissor maneuver by double-tapping C while holding Left or Right. These maneuvers can be used to avoid enemy missiles.

The fighter is equipped with twin Vulcan cannons, fired with A. The cannons have unlimited ammunition and always fire toward the reticle in the HUD. It is also equipped with heat-seeking Sidewinder missiles, fired with B. These missiles have limited supply. Missiles can only be fired if a target has been "locked-on" in the HUD. Locked-on targets appear encircled.

After destroying a Super Carrier, the plane docks inside the Super Transport, where it is repaired and refueled and restocks its missiles. The player receives one of three spare items: Auto Repair, Missiles, or Fuel. The player can hold as many as two spare items at a time. The spare items are used automatically during a stage when needed: the Auto Repair repairs the fighter when it takes three hits, the Missiles item restocks the fighter with 78 missiles when it runs out of missiles, and the Fuel item refuels the aircraft if it runs out of fuel.

The stealth fighter can be damaged by enemy bullets. A diagram shows which part of the aircraft is damaged. It cannot use its afterburners if the engines are damaged and consumes more fuel if the wings are damaged. The fighter is destroyed if it takes too many hits or runs out of fuel, which costs a life. It is destroyed instantly if it is hit by an enemy missile. The radar warns "LOCKED ON" if it has been locked-on by an enemy fighter, indicating that the player must take evasive action quickly. The game ends if the player runs out of lives, but it can be continued if the player has continues remaining.

The player can select the difficulty level (Easy, Normal, or Hard) and starting lives (3, 4, or 5) from the options prior to starting the game.

Stages

Air Diver, Stages, Australia.png

Air Diver, Stages, Australia Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Australia Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Australia.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Australia Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Australia Boss 2.png

Australia
Mission Achievement Percentage:
60%

Air Diver, Stages, North Pacific Ocean.png

Air Diver, Stages, North Pacific Ocean Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, North Pacific Ocean Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North Pacific Ocean.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North Pacific Ocean Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North Pacific Ocean Boss 2.png

North Pacific Ocean
Mission Achievement Percentage:
60%

Air Diver, Stages, South America 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, South America 2.png

Air Diver, Stages, South America Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, South America Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, South America 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, South America 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, South America Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, South America Boss 2.png

South America
Mission Achievement Percentage:
50%

Air Diver, Stages, Africa 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Africa 2.png

Air Diver, Stages, Africa Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Africa Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Africa 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Africa 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Africa Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Africa Boss 2.png

Africa
Mission Achievement Percentage:
30%

Air Diver, Stages, Europe 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Europe 2.png

Air Diver, Stages, Europe Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Europe Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Europe 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Europe 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Europe Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Europe Boss 2.png

Europe
Mission Achievement Percentage:
20%

Air Diver, Stages, Asia.png

Air Diver, Stages, Asia Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Asia Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Asia.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Asia Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Asia Boss 2.png

Asia
Mission Achievement Percentage:
15%

Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia 2.png

Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, Eurasia Boss 2.png

Eurasia
Mission Achievement Percentage:
5%

Air Diver, Stages, North America 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, North America 2.png

Air Diver, Stages, North America Boss 1.png

Air Diver, Stages, North America Boss 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North America 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North America 2.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North America Boss 1.png

  • Air Diver, Stages, North America Boss 2.png

North America
Mission Achievement Percentage:
5%

Air Diver, Final Boss.png

Final Boss
After completing the last stage, the Super Transport is destroyed by an enemy stealth fighter, which the player must defeat. The enemy fighter appears only intermittently on the player's radar.

History

Legacy

The game received two successors on the Super NES, Super Air Diver (called Lock On in North America) in 1993 and Super Air Diver 2 in 1995.

Production credits

  • Programming: Takion / Nari Ozzy
  • Graphics: Jorge
  • Music: Y.W, Ondai Yuri
  • Original Concept: Gurechan
  • Concept Support: Pukupuku
  • Test Play: Meddle Eiji / Hokken Katuyuki
  • Special Thanks: Nago
  • Music Programming: Ishikawa
  • System Creator: Takion
  • Special Advisors: Hiroshi Okamoto, Kazuyuki Takasaki, Push Pop Masa
  • Tools: Shizuka Inochi, Marpi / Takion, DMA Hirano / TRR Team
  • Data Organization: Nari Ozzy / Isarius
  • Story: Yoshihisa Tanaka
  • Visual Sketch: Wa‑nabe, Kenta Abesawa
  • Infomation Provision: Onion, Andorre Kazama / Nabesan
  • Ending Theme Composition: Tatsuya Hamaki
  • Music Direction: Takion / Narichan
  • Graphics Direction: Kenta Abesawa / Isarius
  • Program Direction: Takion / Nari Ozzy
  • Coordinator: Nari Chan
  • Producer: Kazuyuki Takasaki
  • Support: Nanchan, Mariko Koizumi, Michiyo Sugawara, Shizuka Inochi, Gim Keiko
  • Jammer: Meko Saitou, Kaeru Sakurai, Yuco Matui, Sunny Masamori, Baja Baja Kudou / Hokken Katsuyuki, Metali Kawachi / Tiger Mori, Boy Kusakai / Na‑Ka‑Ji‑
  • Word Processor: Isacyan, Narichan
  • Ochakumi: Johnny.B.Good.Eiji
  • Executive Director: Toshiyuki Futamura
Source:
In-game credits
Air Diver MD credits.pdf
[6]

Magazine articles

Main article: Air Diver/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

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Print advert in GamePro (US) #10: "May 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Sega Visions (US) #1: "June/July 1990" (1990-xx-xx)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-03: "March 1990" (1990-02-08)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-04: "April 1990" (1990-03-08)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1990-05: "May 1990" (1990-04-07)
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Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
{{{{{icon}}}|L}} Division by zero.
Based on
0 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
50
[7]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
60
[8]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
69
[9]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK)
69
[10]
Console XS (UK) NTSC-J
77
[11]
Cool Gamer (RU)
50
[12]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
56
[13]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
68
[14]
Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1 (RU)
30
[15]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
60
[16]
Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming (UK) NTSC
58
[17]
Mega Drive Fan (JP) NTSC-J
69
[18]
Mega (UK) NTSC
39
[19]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC
69
[20]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
69
[21]
Power Play (DE)
37
[22]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC
50
[23]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
83
[24]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC
77
[25]
Sega Mega Drive Review (RU)
74
[26]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
64
[27]
Tilt (FR)
40
[28]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
69
[29]
User (GR)
77
[30]
Sega Mega Drive
61
Based on
24 reviews

Air Diver

Mega Drive, JP
AirDiver MD JP Cover.jpg
Cover
AirDiver MD JP CartTop.jpg
AirDiver MD JP Cart.jpg
Cart
Airdiver md jp manual.pdf
Manual
Mega Drive, US
AirDiver MD US Box.jpg
Cover
AirDiver MD US Cart.jpg
Cart
Air Diver MD US Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Air Diver/Technical information.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 https://sega.jp/history/hard/megadrive/software_l.html (Wayback Machine: 2020-07-02 23:21)
  2. Beep! MegaDrive, "May 1990" (JP; 1990-04-07), page 5
  3. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video/c/O5FJZicM9QQ/m/7jqu28krxdQJ
  4. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "June 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 66
  5. GamePro, "July 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 59
  6. File:Air Diver MD credits.pdf
  7. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 14
  8. Beep! MegaDrive, "April 1990" (JP; 1990-03-08), page 109
  9. Complete Guide to Consoles, "Volume IV" (UK; 1990-11-xx), page 26
  10. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 44
  11. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 126
  12. Cool Gamer, "9" (RU; 2002-10-13), page 10
  13. Computer & Video Games, "June 1990" (UK; 1990-05-16), page 104
  14. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "May 1990" (US; 1990-xx-xx), page 20
  15. Entsiklopediya luchshikh igr Sega. Vypusk 1, "" (RU; 1999-xx-xx), page 287
  16. Famitsu, "" (JP; 1990-0x-xx), page 1
  17. Sega Mega Drive Advanced Gaming, "January 1993" (UK; 199x-xx-xx), page 90
  18. Mega Drive Fan, "August 1990" (JP; 1990-07-07), page 73
  19. Mega, "February 1994" (UK; 1994-01-20), page 65
  20. MegaTech, "Xmas 1991" (UK; 1991-12-06), page 76
  21. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 137
  22. Power Play, "7/90" (DE; 1990-06-15), page 119
  23. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 52
  24. Sega Pro, "November 1991" (UK; 1991-xx-xx), page 18
  25. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 64
  26. Sega Mega Drive Review, "1" (RU; 1995-04-03), page 9
  27. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 87
  28. Tilt, "Septembre 1990" (FR; 1990-0x-xx), page 100
  29. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 6
  30. User, "Ioúlios-Ávgoustos 1991" (GR; 1991-0x-xx), page 89


Air Diver

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