From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Formation Z
Developer(s)	Jaleco
Publisher(s)	Jaleco
Platform(s)	Arcade, MSX, NES, Virtual Console
Release date(s)	Arcade 1984 MSX JP 1985 EU 1985 NES JP April 4, 1985 Virtual Console JP February 3, 2009
Genre(s)	Shoot 'em up
Mode(s)	Single-player
Media	ROM Cartridge
Input methods	Gamepad, Keyboard
Cabinet	Upright
CPU	M6809 clocked at 1.25MHz[1]
Sound	M6809 sound chip clocked at 0.625MHz, 2x AY-3-8910A clocked at 1.25MHz and 0.625MHz respectively

Formation Z (フォーメーションZ^?) is a side-scrolling shoot 'em up video game initially released in arcades in 1984 by Jaleco. The arcade release was distributed by Williams and known as Aeroboto outside of Japan. It was later ported to the MSX and to the Famicom, the latter being included as part of Jaleco Collection Vol. 1 for the PlayStation. More recently the Famicom version of the game was made downloadable via the Wii's Virtual Console download service in Japan.

Gameplay

Unlike most shoot 'em up video games, the player controls a robot which can transform into an aero fighter. The robot may move forwards and backwards, and the aero fighter may travel anywhere on screen but has limited fuel in which to do so. A combination of the two must be used to avoid obstacles, as well as to destroy any on-screen enemies for extra points.

References

From StrategyWiki, the free strategy guide and walkthrough wiki

This page is a stub. Help us expand it, and you get a cookie.

Help expand it

This page is a stub. Help us expand it, and you get a cookie.

Formation Z
Developer(s)	Jaleco
Publisher(s)	Jaleco (Williams in U.S.)
Japanese title	フォーメーションZ
Release date(s)	1984 Wii Virtual Console  February 3, 2009
Genre(s)	Shooter
System(s)	Arcade, NES, MSX, Windows, Wii Virtual Console
Players	1-2

Wikipedia has an article about:

Formation Z

Formation Z (known as Aeroboto in the U.S.) is a shoot'em up game developed by Jaleco with a twist. The machine that you pilot starts out as a robot. By pressing and holding the jump button down, you will transform from a robot to a jet fighter plane (in a manner similar to the Robotech VF-1 Valkyrie). In this mode, you can travel extremely fast and cross bodies of water that the robot mode cannot. But you consume a supply of fuel, so you can't remain a jet forever unless you collect more fuel.

It was never released for home consoles outside of Japan. It was converted for play on the Famicom where it retained most of the features found in the arcade. A graphically limited conversion was also produced for the MSX home computer. The game was later contained in Jaleco Collection Vol. 1 for the PlayStation in 2003, and in Jajamaru Jr Denshouki Jaleco Memorial for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. A faithfully emulated conversion was also released for Windows in 2004

Title screen

Controls

Robot mode

• Joystick: Use the joystick to advance and retreat the robot, and aim your gun high or low.
• Fire: Press the fire button to shoot you gun. You can aim the gun straight, or you can aim it high or low by holding the joystick up or down when you fire. Hold the fire button down to store up energy and fire a strengthened blast that will not stop when it hits an enemy.
• Jump: Press the jump button to make the robot leap in the air. The longer you hold jump, the higher it will jump. However, if you hold the button down until the robot jumps as high as he can, he will initiate the transformation into a jet plane.

Plane mode

• Joystick: Use the joystick to direct the plane in any one of eight directions. In this mode, you can climb rather high into the sky and away from the ground.
• Fire: Press the fire button to shoot you gun. You gun shoots in whatever direction the plane nose is facing, so it can be controlled by holding the joystick up or down when you fire. Hold the fire button down to store up energy and fire a strengthened blast that will not stop when it hits an enemy.
• Jump: Press the jump button to initiate the transformation back into a robot. You can only do this provided you are within enough view of the ground.

Home Conversions

Famicom box

MSX box

Windows case