![Area 88 [B-Board 88622B-3] Area 88 [B-Board 88622B-3]](images/marquees/101.jpg)
![Area 88 [B-Board 88622B-3] Area 88 [B-Board 88622B-3] screenshot](images/game/101_1.png)
Area 88 © 1989 Capcom.
Area 88 is a horizontally-scrolling shoot-em-up and is based on the Manga series of the same name. The game features characters from the original Manga and their mission is to battle their way through enemy-packed levels to stop a terrorist group known as 'Project 4'.
Players chose to fly one of three jet fighters: an A-10 Thunderbolt, a F-14 tomcat and an F-20 tiger Shark. The player's jet fighter has an energy bar that decreases every time it takes damage. The fighter is destroyed once the energy bar is depleted.
Before entering a stage, players enter a shop and are given the opportunity to purchase special weapons or improved defences. Money for use in the shop is earned by destroying enemy planes and vehicles during play and when the stage is completed, any unused weapons are converted back into money.
The game consists of ten stages plus a bonus stage.
![Goodies for Area 88 [B-Board 88622B-3]](images/covermini160/101_1.jpg)
Runs on the "CP System" hardware.
B-Board ID: 88622B-3
Players: 2
Control: 8-Way Joystick
Buttons: 2
=> [1] Fire, [2] Special

Area 88 was originally released in August 1989 in Japan. It was known there as the 6th video game made for the CP System.
Area 88 is based on a Japanese Manga series published from 1979 to 1986. It was created by Kaoru Shintani and tells the story of Shin Kazawa, a mercenary fighter pilot training for the Area 88 air force base. The manga was very popular in Japan and was even adapted into at least three OVAs in 1985 and a twelve episode animation series in 2005.
Known Export releases:
U.N. Squadron [B-Board 89624B-2]
It was re-released in 1991 as Area 88 [B-Board 91634B-2].
Pony Canyon / Scitron released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Area 88 - PCCB-00018) on January 21, 1989.
