Alpha Mission

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title: "Alpha Mission" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1985-video-games", "arcade-archives-games", "arcade-video-games", "hamster-corporation-games", "nintendo-entertainment-system-games", "vertically-scrolling-shooters", "science-fiction-video-games", "single-player-video-games", "snk-franchises", "snk-games", "tradewest-games", "video-games-developed-in-japan"] description: "1985 video game" topic_path: "geography/japan" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Mission" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary 1985 video game ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox video game"]

Field	Value
title	Alpha Mission
image	Alpha_Mission_arcade_flyer.png
caption	Japanese arcade flyer
developer	SNK
publisher
designer	Koji Obata
artist	Rampty
platforms	Arcade, NES
released	Arcade NES
genre	Scrolling shooter
modes	Single-player
::

| title = Alpha Mission | image = Alpha_Mission_arcade_flyer.png | caption = Japanese arcade flyer | developer = SNK | publisher = | designer = Koji Obata | artist = Rampty | platforms = Arcade, NES | released = Arcade NES | genre = Scrolling shooter | modes = Single-player

Alpha Mission, known as in Japan, is a 1985 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by SNK for Japanese arcades; it was released by Tradewest in North America. It was later ported to the Famicom in 1986 and released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987.

The arcade game was a commercial success in Japan, where it was the seventh highest-grossing table arcade game of 1986. A sequel, Alpha Mission II, was released for the Neo Geo arcade system in 1991.

Gameplay

Alpha Mission is a one-player scrolling shooter game in its segregation of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons. Missiles are used to destroy ground enemies, while laser-like weapons are used for aerial opponents. Throughout each of the levels, the player must fight off waves of enemies that threaten several space stations and a boss must be defeated at the end of each. Like most early games in this genre, when the player dies, all weapons are lost and the player is moved to a point slightly before the point of death. The player's craft can also be upgraded to have more powerful weapons by picking up various power-ups throughout the level.

Release

Alpha Mission was released on the PlayStation Portable as part of PSP Minis via PlayStation Store in 2011. Alpha Mission was also released on the Nintendo Switch in the Nintendo eShop on October 25, 2018 and on the PlayStation 4 via PlayStation Store on July 18, 2019 by Hamster Corporation as part of their Arcade Archives series. The game is also included on SNK 40th Anniversary Collection, containing both the original arcade and the NES version. It includes both the Japanese version and the Western/international version.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed ASO as the second most successful table arcade cabinet of November 1985. The magazine later listed it as Japan's fifth highest-grossing table arcade game during the first half of 1986, and the seventh overall highest-grossing table arcade game of 1986.

Notes

References

References

1. (October 13, 2006). "アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005)". Amusement News Agency.
2. Says, Onmode-Ky. "Alpha Mission Review—Finding Pleasure in Pain {{!}} PSP Minis".
3. "Alpha Mission (PSP Minis) Review for PSP (2011) - Defunct Games".
4. (20 September 2011). "Three SNK PSP Minis Reviewed".
5. Lane, Gavin. (2020-03-13). "Guide: Every Arcade Archives Game On Nintendo Switch, Plus Our Top Picks".
6. (18 July 2019). "Arcade Archives Alpha Mission PS4 HAMSTER Corporation".
7. "SNK 40th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION: ALPHA MISSION {{!}} OFFICIAL WEBSITE".
8. (1 December 1985). "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
9. (15 July 1986). "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '86 上半期". [[:ja:アミューズメント通信社.
10. (15 January 1987). "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '86 下半期". Amusement Press, Inc..

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