After Burner

From Sega Retro

For the Western home computer versions, see After Burner (home computers).

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After Burner Title.png

After Burner
System(s): Sega X Board, Sega Master System
Publisher: Sega
Developer:
Genre: Shoot-'em-Up

















Release Date RRP Code
Sega Master System
JP
¥5,8005,800 G-1340
Sega Master System
US
9001
Sega Master System
EU
MK-9001-50
Sega Master System
FR
300F300[3]
Sega Master System
UK
£24.9524.95[2]
Sega Master System
AU
MK-9001-50
Sega Master System
BR
Sega Master System
KR
GB-4340

After Burner (アフターバーナー) is a third-person rail shooter arcade game designed by Yu Suzuki and developed by Sega AM2, released for the Sega X Board system in 1987. The game was released in three variations: a standard upright cabinet, and two cockpit versions, one that tilts left and right, and one a rotating cockpit version. An updated version was released months later, After Burner II.

After Burner stands as one of Sega's most successful arcade games, building on the momentum started earlier in the decade with Hang-On, Space Harrier and OutRun. It was the first game to utilise Sega X Board technology, allowing for the easy scaling and rotation of in-game sprites, producing three-dimensional graphics. It is also remembered for its then-revolutionary sit-down cabinet design, complete with a horizontally rotating seat and a vertically rotating cockpit, controlled (like the game) by the integrated analog flight stick, with the cabinet's motion corresponding to the joystick's movement.

Its analog flight-stick controls moved in all directions and measured the degree of push, a precursor to the analog thumbsticks of the N64 and later consoles. After Burner's gameplay also featured a lock-on system, which was adopted by later rail shooters such as Sega's Panzer Dragoon and Rez[5].

Gameplay

In After Burner, the player pilots an F-14 Tomcat-inspired jet through 18 levels, destroying enemies with machine gun fire and a limited supply of missiles. Similar to Space Harrier, it is an "on-the-rails" shooter - the plane will travel continuously into the screen, with players only able to adjust its X and Y coordinates.

The objective in After Burner is to survive through each of the 18 stages, usually by avoiding enemy missile fire, however "bonus" stages, which occur every six levels, require the player to dodge scenery and not crash. Shooting down enemies is technically optional, although alleviates the risk of being destroyed. The player has a limited supply of missiles which are refueled at various intervals throughout the game.

History

Development

After Burner began development in December 1986.[6] It was inspired by Yu Suzuki's real-life experience of personally piloting a real jet aircraft and participating in air combat when he visited Florida, United States:[7]


At first, after reading all the appropriate guides, they lectured us for a couple of hours, explaining everything. Afterwards, I got into a jet aircraft, and flew around with an instructor. The aircraft was equipped with a laser gun and smoke bombs. And there were two of us. If you hit the opponent, a smoke bomb activates, and that means he was shot. And we were flying around for about two hours shooting each other. [...] After that, I realized that all games about aircraft aren't interesting enough. ... Because in those it was much more difficult to control the aircraft than in real life. Seriously! And I realized something: all those flight simulators were created by people who hadn't even flown a real aircraft!

Yu Suzuki


The game was also influenced by popular culture. Suzuki was originally inspired by Hayao Miyazaki's 1986 anime film Laputa: Castle in the Sky, and the game was going to have a similar steampunk sci-fi/fantasy theme. After watching the 1986 Hollywood film Top Gun, the team realized that the game needs to attract worldwide audiences, so they changed it to a more realistic theme with an F-14 fighter jet. The game was intended to start off in the Mediterranean and head towards Russia, but the team didn't have the time to scout out locations like they did for Out Run, so much of the scenery in After Burner ended up being imaginary. A major challenge when creating the game was sprite/texture rotation, researching how to rotate the surfaces of the sprites, which was a major milestone. Another major milestone was making the smoke trails from missiles look more realistic.[6]

After Burner was originally designed to have melodies play over the "After Burner/Red Out" and "Final Take Off" music tracks, but these were taken out of the final game, potentially through fears that they'd be drowned out in a busy arcade environment. Though these versions were never heard in the arcades, they adapted for the album Sega Game Music Vol. 3 After Burner in 1987 (appearing in other albums since), and have been brought back as options in later games (for example, 3D After Burner II). The melodies were also used for the FM Towns version released in 1989, in a remixed CD format.

Legacy

The original After Burner was released exclusively in Japan, however the western world would receive an updated version of the game, After Burner II in the months which followed. After Burner II is extremely similar in design, bar a few minor tweaks (such as a throttle control, extra levels and slight changes to the missile system), so much so that people often consider it to be a more "complete" version of After Burner than a direct sequel. Due to the similarities and shared cabinet designs and artwork, After Burner II is frequently confused for the original After Burner. A similar relationship would develop with Galaxy Force and Galaxy Force II, also produced by Sega AM2.

In its original form, After Burner was only ported to the Sega Master System, however many ports of After Burner II were released under the name of After Burner for home consoles and computers, including the Amiga (twice), Amstrad CPC, Atari ST, Commodore 64, DOS, FM Towns, MSX, PC Engine, Sharp X68000 and ZX Spectrum.

It was also ported to the Sega 32X by Rutubo Games and went under the name of After Burner Complete.

After Burner in its original form was also released as part of Sega Arcade Gallery for the Game Boy Advance.

After Burner has made appearances in popular culture. For example, it made an appearance in the 1991 film Terminator 2: Judgment Day.[6]

Production credits

X Board version

The credits given in interviews:[6]

The arcade version of After Burner II has no detailed credits screen, but instead aliases of the developers are seen on the backs of clothing in the ending sequence:

Kio, Yu, Bo, Kim, Hiro, Asu, MK, Bin, Mr, Sada, Ken

Magazine articles

Main article: After Burner/Magazine articles.

Promotional material

Logo-pdf.svg
Master System print advert in ACE (UK) #6: "March 1988" (1988-02-04)
also published in:
Logo-pdf.svg

Photo gallery

Physical scans

X Board version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
80 №2, p104[8]
82 №49, p98/99/100[9]
80 №73, p82/83[10]
Arcade
81
Based on
3 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
Arcade
N/A
Based on
0 reviews

After Burner

X Board, JP

Master System version

Sega Retro Average 
Publication Score Source
70 №7, p51[2]
76
80 №1988-03, p41[11]
51 №1, p47[12]
51 №4, p89[13]
90 №77, p122/123[14]
60 №4, p54[15]
45 №8, p67[16]
81 №4, p20/21[3]
70 №2/20
50 №3, p91[17]
51 №23, p40
40 №23, p55
93 №1, p18[18]
Sega Master System
65
Based on
14 reviews
Sega Retro Average 
Publication Version Score
ACE (UK)
70
[2]
Aktueller Software Markt (DE)
63
[11]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
51
[19]
Complete Guide to Consoles (UK)
51
[13]
The Complete Guide to Sega (UK) PAL
51
[20]
Computer Action (DK)
50
[21]
Console XS (UK) PAL
85
[22]
Computer & Video Games (UK)
90
[14]
The Games Machine (UK)
60
[15]
Games Preview (DK)
45
[16]
Génération 4 (FR)
81
[3]
Micromanía (segunda época) (ES)
70
[23]
Mean Machines Sega (UK)
51
[24]
Power Play (DE)
50
[17]
Sega News (CZ)
68
[25]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
51
[26]
Sega Power (UK) PAL
25
[27]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
93
[18]
Sega Pro (UK) PAL
85
[28]
Software Gids (NL)
72
[29]
Tilt (FR)
75
[30]
Sega Master System
64
Based on
21 reviews

After Burner

Master System, US
Afterburner ms us cover.jpg
Cover
Afterburner sms us cart.png
Cart
Afterburner sms us manual.pdf
Manual
SegaAdventure SMS US Poster Back.jpgSegaAdventure SMS US Poster Front.jpg
Poster
Master System, EU
Afterburner ms eu cover.jpg
Cover
Afterburner sms us cart.png
Cart
AfterBurnerSMSEUManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
"no limits" variant
AfterBurner SMS EU nolimits cover.jpg
Cover
AfterBurnerSMSEUManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, EU
® variant
AfterBurner SMS EU r nobarcode cover.jpg
Cover
AfterBurnerSMSEUManual.pdf
Manual
Master System, JP
AfterBurner SMS JP Box Back.jpgNospine.pngAfterburner ms jp cover.jpg
Cover
Afterburner ms jp cart.jpg
Cart
Master System, AU
AfterBurner SMS AU cover.jpg
Cover
After Burner SMS AU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, AU
No barcode variant
After Burner SMS AU Cover.jpg
Cover
After Burner SMS AU Cart Top.jpg
After Burner SMS AU Cart Back.jpgAfter Burner SMS AU Cart Front.jpg
Cart
After Burner SMS AU Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR
Afterburner ms sa cover.jpg
Cover
AfterBurner SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
AfterBurner SMS BR Manual Alt.pdf
Manual
Master System, BR (newer)
AfterBurner SMS BR Box Cardboard.jpg
Cover
AfterBurner SMS BR Cart.jpg
Cart
AfterBurner SMS BR Manual.pdf
Manual
Master System, KR

Master System, SE

AfterBurnerSMSSEManual.jpg
Manual

Mega-Tech version

Mega-Tech,

AfterBurner MegaTech Cart Back.jpgAfterBurner MegaTech Cart.jpg
Cart

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 File:CVG UK 077.pdf, page 10 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 077.pdf_p10" defined multiple times with different content
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 File:ACE UK 07.pdf, page 51 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ACE UK 07.pdf_p51" defined multiple times with different content
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 File:Generation4 FR 004.pdf, page 20 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:Generation4 FR 004.pdf_p20" defined multiple times with different content
  4. http://www.mamedb.com/game/aburner
  5. [Retro Gamer, №145, p28 Retro Gamer, №145, p28]
  6. 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 After Burner II: Developer Interviews (Yu Suzuki, Satoshi Mifune, Hiroshi “Hiro” Kawaguchi, Ryu)
  7. Yu Suzuki Interview, Strana Igr, November 2013
  8. File:PowerPlay DE 002.pdf, page 104
  9. File:CommodoreUser UK 49.pdf, page 98
  10. File:SinclairUser UK 073.pdf, page 82
  11. 11.0 11.1 File:ASM DE 1988-03.pdf, page 41 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:ASM DE 1988-03.pdf_p41" defined multiple times with different content
  12. File:CompleteGuideToConsoles_UK_01.pdf, page 47
  13. 13.0 13.1 File:CGtC UK 04.pdf, page 89 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CGtC UK 04.pdf_p89" defined multiple times with different content
  14. 14.0 14.1 File:CVG UK 077.pdf, page 122 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:CVG UK 077.pdf_p122" defined multiple times with different content
  15. 15.0 15.1 File:TGM UK 04.pdf, page 54 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:TGM UK 04.pdf_p54" defined multiple times with different content
  16. 16.0 16.1 File:GamesPreview DK 08.pdf, page 67 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:GamesPreview DK 08.pdf_p67" defined multiple times with different content
  17. 17.0 17.1 File:PowerPlay DE 003.pdf, page 91 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:PowerPlay DE 003.pdf_p91" defined multiple times with different content
  18. 18.0 18.1 File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf, page 18 Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name ":File:SegaPro UK 01.pdf_p18" defined multiple times with different content
  19. Complete Guide to Consoles, "" (UK; 1989-10-16), page 47
  20. The Complete Guide to Sega, "" (UK; 1991-05-xx), page 52
  21. Computer Action, "Juli/August 89" (DK; 1989-0x-xx), page 34
  22. Console XS, "June/July 1992" (UK; 1992-04-23), page 137
  23. Micromanía (segunda época), "Enero 1990" (ES; 19xx-xx-xx), page 27
  24. Mean Machines Sega, "October 1992" (UK; 1992-09-xx), page 132
  25. Sega News, "Říjen 1996" (CZ; 1996-xx-xx), page 27
  26. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 40
  27. Sega Power, "October 1991" (UK; 1991-09-05), page 55
  28. Sega Pro, "April 1993" (UK; 1993-03-11), page 70
  29. Software Gids, "Mei/Juni 1990" (NL; 1990-05-xx), page 31
  30. Tilt, "Mai 1988" (FR; 1988-0x-xx), page 100



Games in the After Burner Series
Arcade
After Burner (1987) | After Burner II (home computers) (1987) | G-LOC: Air Battle (home computers) (1990) | Strike Fighter (1991) | Sky Target (1995) | Sega Strike Fighter (2000) | After Burner Climax (2006)
Sega Master System
After Burner (1987) | G-LOC: Air Battle (1991)
LCD handheld game
After Burner (1988)
Sega Mega Drive
After Burner II (1990) | G-LOC: Air Battle (1993)
Sega Game Gear
G-LOC: Air Battle (1990)
Sega Mega-CD
After Burner III (1992)
Sega 32X
After Burner Complete (1995)
Sega Saturn
Sega Ages After Burner II (1996) | Sky Target (1997)
Windows PC
Sky Target (1997)
Mobile phone
After Burner II (200x) | After Burner II DX (2007)
Sony PlayStation 2
Sega Ages 2500 Series Vol. 10: After Burner II (2004)
Sony PlayStation Portable
After Burner: Black Falcon (2007)
Xbox 360
Sony PlayStation 3
After Burner Climax (2010)
Nintendo 3DS
3D After Burner II (2013)
Google Android OS
iOS
After Burner Climax (2013)
After Burner related media
Music
Sega Game Music Vol. 3 After Burner (1987) | After Burner (1990) | Strike Fighter (1991) | Yu Suzuki Produce After Burner II (1997) | Yu Suzuki Produce G-LOC/R360/Virtua Racing (1998) | After Burner Climax Sound Track (2006) | After Burner 20th Anniversary Box (2007) | After Burner II (2018) | G-LOC Air Battle: Series Music Collection (2020)
Film
After Burner (1987) | After Burner / Super Hang-On (1987)