SHMUPS!

UN Squadron - Capcom

One of the first SNES shooters, UN Squadron improved on the arcade original with extra levels and a selectable map system.

Reviewed by Roger Post

U.N. Squadron, or Area 88 as its known in Japan, is an impressive first generation SNES shooter from Capcom. The game is based on the anime (Japanese animation) titled Area 88, about a pilot who was tricked into signing up for airplane fighter mercenary work. Each episode Shin tries to earn enough money by shooting down planes and accomplishing missions to buy his way out of the merc circuit and return to a normal life. The anime is excellent, and many of the characters appear in the games, though you don't need to have seen the anime to understand the game (it's a shooter, you blow things up...)

You get to choose from three pilots, each with a different strengths. I like Greg Gates, who recovers from damage the quickest. The damage system is also unique, in that instead of one hit immediately killing you, or a shield system, every time you get hit the plane is damaged for a few seconds, and another hit during this damage period kills you. However you recover after a few seconds. You do have a set number of hits, shown on a life bar, but as long as you don't get hit two times in succession you're flying high. This may sound easy but the game gets hectic at times. U.N. Squadron also features a store where you can buy new planes (which can only hold certain weapons each plane), and a large variety of weapons. You also get to choose the order to attack the levels, with some enemy forces actually moving towards your base, and some stationary opponents. There are also enemy supply trucks that you can destroy for bonus cash.

There are about 10 levels to UN, which are each kinda short. The bosses are large, and the graphics are colorful with an anime look to them, which make you forget about the lack of regular levels. U.N. Squadron's sound isn't bad, and I like the effects more than the music...explosions and rat-tata-tata of airplane rounds sound great. But the major thing missing from this game is replayability. I just can't pick it up anytime, pop it into the machine, and have fun (like Thunderforce for example). The game is worth playing, but once you've beaten it, it becomes another permanent addition to the shelf.

The anime telltale huge eyes....

I didn't know airplane controls were so simple....if you know your alphabet, you can fly a plane.

Welcome to the UN squadron. Meet your wingmen Unfriendly, Undesirable, Unstable, Underachiever, and Uncle Fred.

The real reason I pick Greg is that he looks like Super Mario flying a plane.

On the map, Try to aim for the moving levels first, like the nuclear sub and plane levels, because if these get too close to your base, you have to protect it.

In the shop, you can buy some extra weapons. BUY!!?? You mean we're in the military and we have to PAY for them? The bombs in the bottom left hand corner are the most helpful and most plentiful weapon. Some like the Nuke, can only be used once, but are devastatingly powerful.

Too bad a mobile missile launcher can't fire downwards.....stay below firing range and blast away.

Every time you beat a level, you are treated (or have to sit through, depending on your frame of mind), a victory screen.

Destroy that airborne bundle of 10 billion dollars of taxpayer's money (don't tell them it was you though...)

What's a carrier doing on land? Send your response to Shmups, c/o 22 McSplatterem Lane, Bonnieblastie, Scotland, and the most original answer will win an authentic F-22 interceptor plane, delivered straight to your house!

Here is the bonus level, you have to destroy three trucks before time runs out. I just smash right into them, since nothing fires back at you and its the quickest way to get the job done.

Three annoying mini-stealths plague the second flying level.

The enemy even throws a nuclear sub at you, which jumps up out of the water.

This level is a huge palace like the one in Strider, with big guns and other dangerous things, like a person running with a pair of scissors, or changing a light-bulb in the bath. (be careful).

You sunk my battleship! UN is cool because the plane turns around at some larger bosses and does continual passes until you finish the job.

The Blackbird boss of what is, in my game, level 8. Stay away from the backside as his thrusters toast you.

Into the cavernous level of 9. I wonder if Lara Croft has been here before?

This is sheer stupidity. You need an upward firing weapon to beat this guy, and only the 5th and 6th planes have this ability, so in other words you need to have saved up and bought a higher priced plane by now. You are, of course, supposed to just somehow know this out of the blue....

That unselectable level again, the final showdown. Look for hidden shields and powerups in this section, by shooting around in thin air. They are very helpful.

A warm-up boss as you approach the last guy. This plane doesn't look like it should fly...why the huge gut?

The last boss....shoot away the guns and fins, then expose the core. You need downward attacking weapons here, such as bombs. Save your specials for the core.

Oh, no...not another weak ending... if I see one more CONGRATULATIONS!, I'll scream! I guess half the fun is getting there, anyway...

The followup Carrier Airwing is essentially more of the same, with some lovely new weapons, and the inclusion of Sean Connery as your CO. It's still mission based, but you don't get to choose the order of the levels. It never had a home console version afaik, but that lovely Callus emulator plays it beautifully.

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