| ASO II: Last Guardian | |
|---|---|
| Developer(s) | SNK |
| Publisher(s) | SNK |
| Designer(s) | Eikichi Kawasaki and team |
| Platform(s) | Neo Geo AES, Neo Geo MVS, Neo Geo CD[1] |
| Release date(s) | 1991 (Neo Geo AES and MVS) 1994 (SNK Neo Geo CD) |
| Genre(s) | Shooter game |
| Mode(s) | Single player, 2 player co-op |
| Arcade system | SNK Neo-Geo MVS hardware |
| CPU | 68000 |
| Sound | Sound CPU : Z80, Sound Chips : YM2610 |
| Display | Horizontal, Raster, 320 x 224 pixels, 4096 colors |
ASO II: Last Guardian (also known as Alpha Mission II) is a vertically scrolling full screen shoot 'em up released by SNK in 1991 for the Neo Geo arcade and home systems. It was later released for the Neo Geo CD in 1994 and for the PlayStation 3 in 2010.
The player controls a fighter spacecraft (Armored Scrum Object) and can shoot enemies in the air, bomb enemies on the ground, collect power-ups, and defeat bosses to advance levels.
Contents |
The game has only 2 or 3 buttons used depending on the selected shuttle mode. Pull the joystick to maneuver the shuttle. The first shuttle mode enables firing missiles and laser shots simultaneously with Button A, but in the alternate mode press Button A for laser shot and Button B for missile shot. Laser shots are used for air-to-air attacks and Missiles are used for air-to-ground attacks. When a drone is shot, power ups can be collected: S for Speed, L for Laser shots, M for Missile shots and G for credits. Credits are useful for purchasing weapons in between stages. The power ups are changed by shooting them. When Laser shots and Missiles are maxed, they are more widespread and combined in power. There are Hidden items can do certain things like an R item can put the shuttle in Reverse for a certain distance. The shuttle is destroyed by the one shot or by running into an enemy unit or hazard. Unless the player collects enough K power-ups beforehand, the missiles and laser shots will be lost to minimum power when the player loses a life. Depending on which mode is selected varies whether Button C or B activates the power weapons.
The weapons have a limited power indicated on an energy meter. Using the weapons or getting the ship damaged lowers the energy. The energy can be recharged by E power ups.
There are seven stages in the game, with the last one consisting of a single boss battle. The player has to fight through them avoiding hazards in addition. Mid-bosses very occasionally appear in the game. When the player meets a mid-boss or end stage boss, the player must destroy weak points and various parts of the boss to destroy it.