Keio Flying Squadron

From Sega Retro

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  • NTSC-U/PAL
  • NTSC-J

KeioFlyingSquadron title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SS Title.png

Keio Flying Squadron
System(s): Sega Mega-CD
Publisher: JVC Musical Industries (US/EU), Victor Entertainment (JP)
Developer:
Genre: Shooting[1][2]

















Number of players: 1
Release Date RRP Code
Sega Mega-CD
JP
¥7,400 (7,622)7,400e[3] T-60114
Sega Mega-CD
US
T-60185
ESRB: Kids to Adults
Sega Mega-CD
EU
T-60185-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK
Sega Mega-CD
UK
£49.9949.99[6] T-60185-50
ELSPA: 3+ OK

Keio Flying Squadron, called Keiou Yuugekitai (慶応遊撃隊) in Japan, is a 1993 comical shoot-'em-up for the Sega Mega-CD by Victor Entertainment. It was followed by Keio Flying Squadron 2 for the Sega Saturn.

The protagonist Rami, a girl wearing a bunny suit, and her dragon pet Spot, set out to recover a stolen treasure. This game features animated cutscenes provided by Studio Pierrot.

Story

Keio Flying Squadron, Cutscene.png

Rami riding Spot

The game is set in the Keiō era during the Edo period of Japanese history. Rami Nana-Hikari, a seemingly typical teenager, has been the keeper of the Key to the Secret Treasure, and is really a descendant of aliens who came to Earth in ancient times. She does not know the importance of the Treasure, and her overbearing grandmother does not remember what secret the Key unlocks. The Key has been stolen (while Rami was at the local mini-mart, a common hangout for teens then), and now she must get the Key back.

Wearing her bunny girl costume, Rami rides into battle on her trusty dragon, Spot, as she encounters various enemies such as a sea monster, the U.S. Navy, the Russian Army, and the Seven Gods of the Good Fortune, until she arrives at the ship of Dr. Pon Eho, a raccoon billed as the most intelligent creature on Earth with an IQ of 1,400.

Gameplay

The game is a side-scrolling shoot-'em-up played as Rami riding on top of Spot. The player can move the pair in any direction with the D-Pad. The dragon has two movement speeds, slow and fast, which can be switched with A. Each speed is configurable in the options before the game starts. Spot can shoot fireballs at enemies with B. Spot also has a subweapon that fires simultaneously. There are two different main weapons and three different subweapons, which can be switched by collecting items. Collecting an item of the same type as the currently equipped weapon or subweapon upgrades the current weapon or subweapon.

When Spot is not firing, two smaller dragons (companion fighters) appear one after another to assist Rami and Spot. They behave similarly to options in Konami's Gradius series. The lesser dragons shoot smaller fireballs and can be sacrificed with C to do larger damage, only to reappear when Spot ceases to shoot.

Rami and Spot lose a life when they take any damage from enemies but respawn momentarily as long as the player has lives remaining. They lose a weapon and subweapon level each time they lose a life (though power-ups for them appear near where Rami and Spot respawn). The game ends when the player runs out of lives, though it can be continued from the start of the current stage.

Characters

Keio Flying Squadron, Characters, Rami.png

Rami Nana-Hikari (七光・蘭未)
Grandchild of an ancient family with the mission of guarding the Key that opens the Ark, Rami wears a traditional kimono at the beginning of the game, and later changes into the "Super Ultra Cute Battle Suit," complete with bunny ears and tail. In the English version of the game she is 20 years old, while in the Japanese version she is 14 years old.

Keio Flying Squadron, Characters, Spot.png

Spot Nana-Hikari (ぽち)
Rami's pet dragon, always loyal but as lazy as his owner. Spot has no problems with flying and shooting fireballs. Spot is called Pochi in the Japanese release of the game.

Keio Flying Squadron, Characters, Dr. Pon.png

Dr. Pon Eho (恵方・ポン)
A super intelligent raccoon who stole the Key to the Secret Treasure. His IQ is 1,400.

Keio Flying Squadron, Characters, Grandma and Grandpa Nana-Hikari.png

Grandma and Grandpa Nana-Hikari
Rami's grandparents who have raised her from a young age and have brought her up to be the next keeper of the Secret Treasure. They were former keepers themselves, continuing a long line of ancestors in their clan that have kept the Treasure safe for many generations. They are now retired, and have passed the job to Rami.

Items

Fly over items to collect them. Weapon items cycle through the available weapons.

Weapons

Collecting an item of the same type as the equipped weapon upgrades the weapon, up to five times (or gives the player 2,000 bonus points if already at max level). Collecting an item for a different weapon equips that weapon at the same level as the currently equipped weapon.

Keio Flying Squadron, Items.png
Forward Shot
A concentrated shot straight forward.
Keio Flying Squadron, Items.png
Multi-Directional Shot
Three shots in a conical shape. Less powerful than the Forward Shot but covers more area.

Subweapons

Collecting an item of the same type as the equipped subweapon upgrades the subweapon, up to four times (or gives the player 2,000 bonus points if already at max level). Collecting an item for a different subweapon equips that subweapon at the same level as the currently equipped subweapon.

Keio Flying Squadron, Items.png
Ground Bombs
Launches volleys of bombs at the ground.
Keio Flying Squadron, Items.png
Explosive Throwing Stars
Throws stars in the opposite direction as the last pressed direction (including diagonals).
Keio Flying Squadron, Items.png
Homing Spot Jrs.
Shoots baby dragons like homing missiles at enemies.

Other

Keio Flying Squadron, Items.png
1-Up
Gives the player an extra life.

Stages

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1Boss.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1Demo.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage1Demo.png

Dr. Pon's Ship Attacks! (宿敵、宝船の追撃)

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2Boss.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2Demo.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage2Demo.png

Follow the River (墨田川を下れ!)

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3Boss.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3Demo.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage3Demo.png

Inside the Silent Castle City (江戸城下、沈黙す)

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4Boss.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4Demo.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage4Demo.png

Another Ambush (新たなる伏兵)

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5Boss.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5Demo.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage5Demo.png

The Battle at Mt. Ararat (激烈、アララト山攻防戦を抜けろ)

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6Boss.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6Demo.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage6Demo.png

The Caspian Sea Confrontation (カスピ海を血に染めて)

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage7Title.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage7.png

KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage7Boss.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage7Title.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage7.png

  • KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSStage7Boss.png

Legacy of the Gods (神々の遺産)

Versions

Rami's age was increased for the Western release. The dragon Spot is also described as female in the Western release (despite having visible testicles in the cutscene leading to the second stage). The difficulty has also been lowered in some areas; for instance, the flying ships in the first level kill Rami and Spot when they touch them in the Japanese release but are harmless in the Western release.

Localised names

Also known as
Language Localised Name English Translation
English Keio Flying Squadron Keio Flying Squadron
English (US) Keio Flying Squadron Keio Flying Squadron
Japanese 慶応遊撃隊 Keiou Yuugekitai

Production credits

Japanese version

  • 演出: 本田 暁
  • 錬金術師: 山木 光人
  • 楽師: 多和田 吏
  • 絵師: 小川 浩樹, 各務 仁志
  • 技術監督: 岩沢 慶明
  • 動画技術: 松木 義勝, 横田 寿美
  • 動画制作: スタジオぴえろ
  • 語り手
    • 蘭未: 菅野 美穂
    • ぽち: 平松 晶子
    • Dr.ポン: 八奈見 乗児
    • 婆さん: 山本 圭子
    • 弁士: 屋良 有作
    • 協力: マジック・カプセル
  • 登場人物原案: 太田 大雅
  • 登場人物作画: 本田 雄
  • ご意見番: 冨永 和也
  • 雑兵: 石関 宏司, 菊池 健治
  • 監督: 遠藤 泰
  • 制作: 仙田 勇
  • 企画・制作: ビクターエンタテインメント株式会社
Source:
In-game credits
KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSCredits.pdf
[7]

Overseas version

Staff
  • Screen Play: Satoru Honda
  • Alchemist: Teruhito Yamaki
  • Composer: Tsukasa Tawada
  • Artist: Hitoshi Kakumu, Hiroshi Ogawa
  • Character Design: Hiromasa Ota
  • Character Drawing: Takeshi Honda
  • Animation: Studio Pierrot
  • Animation Technician: Yoshikatsu Matsuki, Toshimi Yokota
Voice
  • Rami/Spot: Samantha Paris
  • Dr. Pon/Narrator: Roger Jackson
  • Translation & Recording: Watanabe-Robins & Associates
  • Game Advisor: Kazuya Tominaga
  • Game Player (Tester): Koji Ishizeki (Japan), Kenji Kikuchi (Japan), Jeremy Klein (US), Julio C. Arreygue (US), Aki Akaike (US)
  • Technical Director: Yoshiaki Iwasawa
  • Director: Yasushi Endo
  • Producer: Toshiaki Nagai
  • Producer (USA): Yoji Takenaka
  • Producer (UK): Masavoshi Zaitsu
  • Executive Producer: Harunobu Komori
Developed and Produced by Victor Entertainment. Inc.
Source:
US manual
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[8]

Magazine articles

Main article: Keio Flying Squadron/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in EGM² (US) #5: "November 1994" (1994-1x-xx)
also published in:
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-06: "June 1993" (1993-05-08)
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-07: "July 1993" (1993-06-08)
Logo-pdf.svg
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Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-08: "August 1993" (1993-07-08)
Logo-pdf.svg
Logo-pdf.svg
Print advert in Beep! MegaDrive (JP) #1993-09: "September 1993" (1993-08-07)
Logo-pdf.svg

Physical scans

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
83 №11, p80
Sega Mega-CD
83
Based on
1 review
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
1700 igr dlya Sega (RU)
40
[10]
Beep! MegaDrive (JP) NTSC-J
70
[11]
Consoles + (FR)
87
[12]
Dengeki Mega Drive (JP) NTSC-J
72
[13]
Digitiser (UK) NTSC-J
79
[14]
Electronic Gaming Monthly (US) NTSC-U
78
[15]
Famitsu (JP) NTSC-J
55
[16]
Game Players (US) NTSC-U
28
[17]
GamePro (US) NTSC-U
80
[18]
Hippon Super (JP) NTSC-J
30
[19]
Joypad (FR)
79
[20]
MAN!AC (DE) PAL
71
[21]
Mega (UK) PAL
89
[22]
Mega (UK) NTSC-J
60
[23]
Mega Action (UK) NTSC-J
90
[24]
Mega Fun (DE) NTSC-J
80
[25]
MegaTech (UK) NTSC-J
90
[26]
Mean Machines Sega (UK) NTSC-J
90
[27]
Next Generation (US) NTSC-U
25
[28]
Player One (FR)
75
[29]
Sega Magazin (DE)
75
[30]
Sega Magazine (UK) PAL
82
[31]
Sega Power (UK) NTSC-J
81
[32]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
78
[33]
Sega Pro (UK) NTSC-J
49
[6]
Sega Force Mega (UK) NTSC-J
60
[34]
Sega Force (SE)
85
[35]
Sega Saturn Magazine (JP) NTSC-J
80
[36]
Tricks 16 bit (RU)
49
[37]
Video Games (DE) NTSC-J
87
[38]
VideoGames (US)
80
[39]
Sega Mega-CD
70
Based on
31 reviews

Keio Flying Squadron

Mega-CD, JP
KFS MCD JP Box Back.jpgKFS MCD JP Box Front.jpg
Cover
KeioFlyingSquadron MCD JP Spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
KFS MCD JP Disc.jpg
Disc
Mega-CD, US
KFS MCD US Box Back.jpgKFS MCD US Box Front.jpg
Cover
KFS MCD US Disc.jpg
Disc
Kfs mcd us manual.pdf
Manual
KeioFlyingSquadron MCD US RegCard.pdf
Reg Card
Mega-CD, EU
KFS MCD EU Box Back.jpgKFS MCD EU Box Front.jpg
Cover
KeioFlyingSquadron MCD EU spinecard.jpg
Spinecard
KeioFlyingSquadron MCD EU disc.jpg
Disc
Keio Flying Squadron MCD EU Manual.pdf
Manual

Technical information

Main article: Keio Flying Squadron/Technical information.

References

  1. File:KFS MCD JP Box Front.jpg
  2. 2.0 2.1 https://sega.jp/fb/segahard/mcd/soft_licensee.html (Wayback Machine: 2019-06-10 17:56)
  3. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 10
  4. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/x4eGyuIePso/m/B8YnHmpG2m0J
  5. https://groups.google.com/g/rec.games.video.sega/c/J3aYPhGIAlY/m/GAs43YIEE4IJ
  6. 6.0 6.1 Sega Pro, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-14), page 75
  7. File:KeioYuugekitai MCD JP SSCredits.pdf
  8. File:Kfs mcd us manual.pdf, page 18
  9. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "December 1994" (US; 1994-xx-xx), page 367
  10. 1700 igr dlya Sega, "" (RU; 2001-xx-xx), page 155
  11. Beep! MegaDrive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 23
  12. Consoles +, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 150
  13. Dengeki Mega Drive, "August 1993" (JP; 1993-07-08), page 37
  14. Digitiser (UK) (1993-09-03)
  15. Electronic Gaming Monthly, "January 1995" (US; 199x-xx-xx), page 40
  16. Famitsu, "1993-08-13" (JP; 1993-07-30), page 39
  17. Game Players, "Vol. 8 No. 5 May 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 49
  18. GamePro, "April 1995" (US; 1995-xx-xx), page 58
  19. Hippon Super, "September 1993" (JP; 1993-08-03), page 48
  20. Joypad, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 55
  21. MAN!AC, "05/95" (DE; 1995-04-12), page 72
  22. Mega, "February 1995" (UK; 1995-01-xx), page 12
  23. Mega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-21), page 58
  24. Mega Action, "Christmas 1993" (UK; 1993-12-02), page 55
  25. Mega Fun, "04/94" (DE; 1994-03-23), page 114
  26. MegaTech, "October 1993" (UK; 1993-09-20), page 46
  27. Mean Machines Sega, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-09-28), page 60
  28. Next Generation, "May 1995" (US; 1995-04-18), page 97
  29. Player One, "Avril 1995" (FR; 1995-0x-xx), page 116
  30. Sega Magazin, "Februar 1996" (DE; 1996-01-10), page 17
  31. Sega Magazine, "December 1994" (UK; 1994-11-15), page 94
  32. Sega Power, "November 1993" (UK; 1993-10-07), page 76
  33. Sega Pro, "Easter 1995" (UK; 1995-03-23), page 46
  34. Sega Force Mega, "Autumn 1993" (UK; 1993-09-16), page 62
  35. Sega Force, "3/95" (SE; 1995-06-20), page 25
  36. Sega Saturn Magazine, "September 1995" (JP; 1995-08-08), page 85
  37. Tricks 16 bit, "Tricks Sega Gold 800 igr" (RU; 1998-03-20), page 139
  38. Video Games, "12/93" (DE; 1993-11-22), page 120
  39. VideoGames, "April 1995" (US; 1995-0x-xx), page 77


Keio Flying Squadron

KeioFlyingSquadron title.png

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