Alpha Mission
Alpha Mission, known as ASO: Armored Scrum Object 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.
Also recorded as Armored Scrum Object · ASO: Armored Scrum Object · Arian Mission
Alpha Mission
- Date
- 1986
- Publisher
- SNK
- Genre
- shoot 'em up · science fiction video game
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Alpha Mission, known as ASO: Armored Scrum Object 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.
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q2819439 · wikipedia · Alpha Mission
In this article
Gameplay
Gameplay
A sequel, Alpha Mission II, was released for the Neo Geo arcade system in 1991.
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.
Plot
Plot
The seven stars from the Tetranova galaxy have been in a fierce war between themselves for a very long time, a war which only served to lay waste to their homes. In the end, their homes were completely destroyed and all of their natural resources exausted, so they stopped the fighting and formed the Seven Star Alliance, with the objective of seeking a new home where they can rebuild their strength to continue waging war. Around the year 2300, the Seven Star Alliance's fleet finally reaches the Solar System, as they choose Earth to be their new home. They decide to attack Earth and destroy the human Race so they can conquer the planet. In response, Earth sends the SYD fighters to stop the invasion. The war between Earth's forces and the Seven Star Alliance would go on for 200 years, in 2515 The Player Character Came into Picture and Must End the War
Release
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.
History of the object
Dated record
History of the object
Explore 1986–2014
The full dated record · 4 entries
1986
Alpha Mission published.
1986
Alpha Mission is recorded as published in 1986.
2014
Alpha Mission (2014) is digitised and catalogued by Open Library.
2014
Alpha Mission digitised by Open Library.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Japan
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.
Primary material
Documents and archives
reference work
- “Alpha Mission”, English Wikipedia, consulted as further reading
Reputable secondary · Wikipedia
authority record
- Wikidata, structured authority record Q2819439: Alpha Mission
General reference · Wikidata
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Akagi, Masumi. アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971–2005). Amusement News Agency. 18–9, 133–8. October 13, 2006. 978-4990251215.
- 2.Says, Onmode-Ky. Alpha Mission Review—Finding Pleasure in Pain PSP Minis.
- 3.Alpha Mission (PSP Minis) Review for PSP (2011) - Defunct Games. www.defunctgames.com.
- 4.Three SNK PSP Minis Reviewed. www.tech-gaming.com. 20 September 2011.
- 5.Lane, Gavin. Guide: Every Arcade Archives Game On Nintendo Switch, Plus Our Top Picks. Nintendo Life. 2020-03-13.
- 6.Arcade Archives Alpha Mission PS4 HAMSTER Corporation. www.hamster.co.jp. 18 July 2019.
- 7.SNK 40th ANNIVERSARY COLLECTION: ALPHA MISSION OFFICIAL WEBSITE. snk40th.com.
- 8.Amusement Press, Inc. Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos). Game Machine. 273. 23. 1 December 1985.
- 9.Amusement Press, Inc. Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '86 上半期. Game Machine. 288. 28. 15 July 1986.
- 10.Amusement Press, Inc. Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25: '86 下半期. Game Machine. 300. 16. 15 January 1987.
References
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witnessauthority record
General reference
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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