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Gaming History GH

Scramble Formation

Scramble Formation screenshot
40 Years old Arcade Video game Taito Corp. [Japan]

Scramble Formation © 1986 Taito Corporation.

Fly over the city of Tokyo in your bi-plane; you must shoot down hordes of enemy planes, vessels and tanks whilst avoiding their attacks.

Collect and control multiple biplanes to increase your firepower and help you in victory.

TECHNICAL / MACHINE PICT.

Runs on Bubble Bobble hardware derivative
Game ID: G20 00500A
Prom Stickers: A71

Main CPU: (2x) Zilog Z80
Sound CPU: Zilog Z80
Sound Chips: YM2203
Screen resolution: 224x256

Players: up to 2 (alternate)
Control: 8-way joystick
Buttons: 2 => [A] Shoot, [B] Change formation

Machine Picture
Machine Picture
(members only)
TRIVIA

Scramble Formation was released in April 1986.

Despite this release period, the high score is anonymous.

Changing the language from Japanese to English in dip switches changes the title from Scramble Formation to Tokio.

The English title is misspelled - Tokio. This should have been written with 'y' (Tokyo).

The bullets fired out of aircraft are actually ASCII exclamation marks.

This game has no end.

Taito released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Taito Sound Team Demo Tape ver.1986).

UPDATES
Newer ROM doesn't have the amusement park depicted. Instead, a huge forest is a replacement. The removal of amusement park was an action to prevent from a possible lawsuit from Disney.
TIPS AND TRICKS
* Formations:
1) Line: safety mode. This mode allows both aerial and ground attacks, but you only get a narrow shot area. The multiple biplanes are susceptible to getting hit too, so watch your flight.
2) Delta: aerial attack mode. The firepower can only hit flying planes, no ground shoots.
3) Crux: ground attack mode. Only ground objects and vessels can be hit. This is also the only mode that can destroy the boss ship revealing itself from between the clouds.

* If you press A and B at the same time, kamikaze pilots will be released. This can be used as a sort of shield.
PORTS
NOTE: Please visit the Romstar release entry for a list of ports released in North America.

* Consoles:
flag FM Towns Marty
flag Microsoft XBOX (Oct.14, 2005) Taito Legends
flag Sony PS2 (Oct.14, 2005) Taito Legends [Model SLES-53438]
KO Sony PS2 (Jul.18, 2006) Taito Legends [Model SLKA-15056]
flag Sony PS2 (Jan.25, 2007) Taito Memories II Joukan [Model SLPM-66649]

COMPUTERS

flag MSX2 (1987)
flag PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (Oct.14, 2005) Taito Legends
SOURCES
🔗
Game's manual.
Game's picture.
ROM dump (MAME).
Game's screenshots.