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Scramble Formation

Arcade Video game published 38 years ago by Taito Corp.

Listed in MAME

Scramble Formation screenshot

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.
1

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

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

COMPUTERS:
japan MSX2 (1987)
europe PC [MS Windows, CD-ROM] (Oct.14, 2005) "Taito Legends"

SOURCES

Game's manual.
Game's picture.
Game's ROM.
Game's screenshots.