U.N. Squadron
Mercenary pilots, real jets, and cash to blow on missiles. Area 88 hits the arcade.
Coming soon to UsuArcade
Votes to bring it to the arcade: 0
In the meantime, head into the arcade and play the cabinets that are already there
- Year
- 1989
- Manufacturer
- Capcom
- Players
- 2 players at once
- Genres
- Shoot 'em ups
- Decade
- '80s arcade games
U.N. Squadron was the flight game for players who wanted more than just dodging bullets. Between missions you hit the shop and spent your earnings on bombs, missiles, and special weapons, and that call could save your run or sink it.
The jets were real-world planes you could recognize, the side-scrolling stages swept over deserts, oceans, and fortresses, and the bosses were massive war machines. With a buddy flying next to you, every mission felt like an action movie dogfight.
History
Capcom released U.N. Squadron in 1989. In Japan it was called Area 88, after the Kaoru Shintani manga it's based on, which follows mercenary pilots fighting in a fictional Middle Eastern country.
The game borrows the manga's three main pilots and its soldier-of-fortune vibe, then turns it into a side-scrolling shooter with a shopping system you rarely saw back then.
How to play
Choose one of three pilots, Shin Kazama, Mickey Simon, or Greg Gates, each with their own strengths. One button fires your guns and the other launches whatever special weapon you bought. Unlike a lot of shooters, one hit doesn't kill you: you've got a health bar.
The money you earn shooting down enemies buys special weapons at the shop: bombs, missiles, napalm, and more. Every weapon has limited ammo, so pick based on the mission and save your heaviest hardware for the boss.
Fun facts
- In Japan it was called Area 88, after Kaoru Shintani's manga.
- You get a health bar instead of dying in one hit.
- Its between-mission weapons shop set it apart from other shooters of the day.
In the arcade
U.N. Squadron isn't in the arcade yet. It's on the wish list, and you can hit “I Want to Play It” on this page to help it climb. Coming soon to UsuArcade if the votes call for it.
In the meantime, you can take to the skies in 1943: The Battle of Midway, another Capcom classic, or Aero Fighters, both with two-player co-op. And if you love shopping for gear between stages, you'll dig Black Tiger.
Once U.N. Squadron lands in the arcade, you'll be able to play it online two-player, each on your own phone or PC, in the same game.
FAQ
When did U.N. Squadron come out?
1989, from Capcom.
How many players is U.N. Squadron?
Two players at the same time, co-op.
Are U.N. Squadron and Area 88 the same game?
Yes. Area 88 is the Japanese title, taken from the Kaoru Shintani manga it's based on.
Can I play U.N. Squadron on UsuArcade?
Not yet. Vote for it with “I Want to Play It”; meanwhile you can play 1943 or Aero Fighters in the arcade.
