Three years after Battle Marine a new battle is about to begin! Battle AirForce is the first orthodox style vertical scrolling bullet hell STG since NOKOGI Rider by SUZUKI PLAN. It was created in Z80 full assembly language, aiming at a level close to the limit of VGS-Zero.
Modeled estimate, not a reported figure. How we estimate →
Media
About
Battle AirForce is a vertical scrolling bullet hell STG.
Three years after Battle Marine you have been rescued by an enemy soldier and decided to defect to the opposing nation.
In your homeland, the commander who lured you into a trap has become emperor in a military coup. The emperor is now expanding his territory by invading formerly neutral countries while converting them into colonies.
You have risen up to thwart his ambitions in Battle AirForce.
The autocannon is fully automatic.
The laser can be charged with energy while holding the button and fired by releasing.
Canon and laser can be fired simultaneously.
The players movement slows slightly while the laser is charging and even slower when it is firing.
The laser can cancel enemy bullets.
We recommended playing with one of the following game controllers:
SteamDeck
Logicool (Logitech) F310 series
If you are playing on a PC we have confirmed that F310 can be played successfully on all operating systems. (Windows, macOS, Linux (Ubuntu Desktop))
The game is built to take full advantage of the SteamInput API. As a result the game can function with numerous game controllers, not just the F310. The SteamInput menu allows you to customize your input.
As for SteamDeck, we have not yet verified this as we are not entitled to submit a compatibility check, but it worked fine as far as we have independently verified.
When playing on Windows the switch on the back of the F310 must be set to “X” (XInput mode).
When playing on macOS or Ubuntu Desktop the switch on the back of the F310 must be set to “D” (DirectInput mode).
Z: Autocannon
X: Laser
Space: Start & Pause
Cursor-keys: D-Pads
R: Reset (macOS, Linux)
Ctrl+R: Reset (Windows)
Q: Exit Game (macOS, Linux)
Ctrl+X: Exit Game (Windows)
Alt+Enter: Toggle Full Screen (Windows)
When the player collides with enemy aircraft or enemy bullets the life gauge will decrease.
When the life gauge is empty your game is over.
When your life is not full you can continuously shoot ground targets to obtain recovery hearts.
Obtaining a recovery heart restores partial life but with the penalty that the hit combo is reset and the number of medals obtained is reduced.
In Battle AirForce the player earns "Shooting Points" by shooting enemies with the autocannon, "Bullet Erase Points" by canceling enemy bullets, and "Bonus Points" from medal acquisitions.
Shooting Points = number of medals acquired x 30 + number of HIT combos x 10 points
Bonus Points = number of HIT combos x 10 points
Bullet Erase Points = number of HIT combos x 10 + number of medal acquired x 10
When adding the Shooting and Bonus points to the score, their added values are attenuated linearly depending on the amount of laser charge.
Shooting Points is not added while the laser is being fired.
The number of medals you get decreases as you fire lasers or as your life gauge decreases.
The number of HIT combos is continuously added by firing shots and lasers within 60 frames (about 1 second) or by acquiring medals, up to a maximum of 9999 HITs on display.
Medals are automatically tracked when you are in proximity.
If the HIT combo number is over 1000, the medal will be auto-tracked from the beginning.
Aim for a high score by maintaining the number of HIT combos while obtaining medals as long as possible.
When combos and medals are low, you aggressively use lasers to try to increase combos and medals.
When combos and medals are high, you shoot lasers as little as possible to score points.
Your newest machine, the Battle AirForce, has the special ability to slow down the speed of bullets when enemy bullets approach your AT zone. This special ability is automatically activated.
This game has four areas each with four phases (16 phases in all).
There are 16 different enemy characters in each phase.
Once the phase is completed the ZAKO RUSH mode is unlocked.
Of the total of 16 phases, you can play phases that you have completed once in the main game.
You have unlimited lives in this mode.
Total number of times played, number of times cleared with no mistakes, and high score will be recorded.
View high scores obtained in the main game and ZAKO RUSH
Press the START button to play the replay movie of your high score.
The global leaderboard can be viewed by pressing the LEFT or RIGHT keys.
The global Leaderboard allows you to view the scores of the Top 16 players from all over the world and view replays of when those players earned those scores.
Downloading replays that have not been registered for a short time may cause an error. If an error occurs, please wait a while and try again.
The DOWNLOAD data size for replays is approximately 10KB (0.01MB) for a 10-minute movie, so there is no need to be concerned about the traffic in most Internet environments.
Future updates may result in replay incompatibility. Please be aware that we may reset the global leaderboards after releasing an update that will cause a loss of replay compatibility. We will make sure to maintain replay compatibility whenever possible but we encourage you to post any superplays you wish to keep for future reference on YouTube or elsewhere.
Scores that fall under the following cases may be removed (reset) if we discovers a score within the top 16 of the Global Ranking.
Replay data is not attached
Replay data is corrupted (e.g., replay results and scores are mismatched)
If you find a score that falls into any of the above categories, please contact the community or the operator Twitter (X) and we may be able to take action.
The following settings can be customized in CONFIG on the title screen:
Window Mode: Select full screen or window
Window Size: Select Linux or macOS window size
Scanline: Select ON or OFF for the scanline screen effect.
BG Interlace: Select ON or OFF for map interlace effect
BGM Volume: Select the volume of background music from 0% to 100%.
SFX Volume: Selects the volume of sound effects from 0% to 100%.
Remarks
In case of BigPicture mode (e.g. SteamDeck), the setting will automatically change to full screen mode when the application is launched, even if windowed mode is selected.
On macOS or Linux, a restart of the application is required to reflect the Window Mode, Window Size, and Scanline settings.
The Window Size setting is disabled in Windows. (It will always be ADJUST)
If you want to adjust the window size in Windows, switch to Window mode and drag the four corners of the window.
Press Alt+Enter to exit full screen mode
Customize various settings on the status bar
When Battle AirForce is launched, the config.json file is automatically created.
The output path for config.json is as follows:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Steam/userdata/<UserID>/3476490/local/config.json
Linux: ~/.local/share/Steam/userdata/<UserID>/3476490/local/config.json
The configuration entries are as follows:
avoidNotch: true = avoid that notch on MacBook when in full screen
isFullScreen: true = full screen mode, false = window mode
isScanline: true = filter ON, false = filter OFF
keyboard: SDL keycode as hex string for assigned keys
sound: Set the sound pressure of music (BGM) and sound effects (SE) as a number (%) from 0 to 100
If isScanline is true and isFullScreen is true, the screen will be slightly smaller by 0.5x increments of magnification to avoid line noise on the screen.
You can restore the default settings by deleting the config.json file and restarting the game.
This game can be freely distributed on video distribution platforms such as Nico Nico Douga, YouTube, Twitch, terrestrial TV, and cable TV for gameplay and play-by-play videos.
There are no restrictions on monetization (Nico Nico Douga's Creator Incentive Program, YouTube Partner Program, etc.) for video distribution using this game.
You are also free to use screenshots, music and video clips for your web media and magazines. Of course, you do not need our supervision.
There are no restrictions on holding eSports tournaments using this game, nor are there any restrictions on the use of assets, but please comply with the laws of the country or state where the event is held.
It does not matter whether the media distributor is an individual or a corporation.
No prior or subsequent permission is required.
The regulations regarding video distribution for the GBA version are the same as above.
The ROM file of the GBA version of this title is distributed as a purchase bonus on Steam.
The GBA version can also be played on the actual device by writing the ROM file to a Flash cartridge, but basically we recommend using an emulator such as mGBA.
The GBA version ROM file is stored in a folder called “omake” which can be checked by clicking the Battle AirForce settings icon on the Steam client and selecting ‘Manage’ -> “Browse Local Files” to launch Explorer or Finder.
Stats
All-time low is the lowest price we've recorded for this game since we started tracking it.
Languages: English
Reviews
An absolutely brutal score attack with zero memorization. Good Luck :)
Battle AirForce is a nice vertical shmup with randomized enemies wave after wave by the devs of Battle Marine. Chain for big points. Original enemies and interesting game mechanics make it both fun and challenging. Each wave cleared in the main game will be unlocked to play in Zako Rush mode. Another mode can be unlocked by clearing the regular mode. You can watch replays in-game of the top 16 on the Steam leaderboard.
The true audience for this game are score hunters and bullet-hell veterans with a high tolerance for frustration and a taste for retro minimalism. From the moment the game boots up, it’s clear this title was originally designed for a handheld console. The visuals feel stuck in a bygone era, with uninspired enemy designs and a barren, repetitive landscape scrolling beneath you. And there’s a good reason for that: the game was made for an old handheld console. Gameplay-wise, everything is very simple. You have basic movement, a fire button that can (and should) be held down constantly for continuous shooting, and a laser that requires you to hold the button to charge it. No power-ups, no weapon upgrades. What you start with is what you finish with, assuming you can survive long enough to get there. Don’t expect a tutorial to ease you in. Instead of reading in-game explanation of mechanics or scoring, you’ll have to go scrolling through the game’s Steam page for crucial information. The core loop revolves around chasing high scores by maintaining a fire combo and collecting medals that drop from enemies. Scoring is complex, but unless you’re a leaderboard chaser, finishing the four stages might be satisfying enough. Each stage is cleverly part of a single, continuous level, segmented into four zones. There’s no flashy transition; the background shifts slightly, enemy types change, and the game just keeps going. It's a cool design choice that gives the campaign a sense of flow, though that won’t mean much if you can’t survive the brutal difficulty. And brutal it is. True to its bullet-hell roots, this game is punishing. Your ship has a tiny hitbox and a shrinking health bar, depleted with every hit. To its credit, there is a thoughtful dodge mechanic: when bullets enter a grid around your ship, they slow down, giving you a chance to navigate the chaos. But run out of health, and it’s back to the start. You can heal by destroying specific ground targets, but these are not found in some zones. Also, this resets your combo score. For those looking to sharpen their skills, the “Zako Rush” mode offers a practice option, but only after you’ve beaten a zone in the main game. So, while you might master some zones, you can’t practice the one you died in during your last try.
【2025年12月25日追記】 ・GBA版は既に完成しており、VGS版と少し違った味付けで楽しめます。 ・10月23日のアップデートから、BGMにFM音源アレンジが追加されました。 コンフィグのBGMテストでじっくり聴くこともできます。ありがとう！ 以下、2025年4月13日時点に投稿したレビューになります。 マスターシステム辺りのレトロな雰囲気を持つ縦シューティングゲーム。 作者さんは「VGS-Zero」という、Z80(8bitCPU)の挙動を再現した バーチャルゲーム機を開発された方で、本作もその規格で作られている……らしいです。 また、ローカルフォルダを覗くとおまけファイルとして、開発中の ゲームボーイアドバンス移植版のロムデータが入っており(mGBAなどのエミュで動作) そちらもレトロゲーム好きならわくわくできるところかと思います。 詳しいルールはこのストアページで説明されていますが、 弾消し効果のある溜め撃ちレーザーの使用タイミングを図りながら 激しい弾幕や体当たりを避ける、忙しさとごちゃごちゃした感じを楽しめるゲームです。 ライフ制を採用しており、撃ち込むと回復アイテムを出すオブジェクトが登場するため (スコアアイテム取得数が減るのを気にしなければ)被弾許容数は意外と多くなっています。 ステージが進むとユーモラスな外見や動きをする敵が登場してくるのも見所です
Great game. Very hard, if playing for score seriously,, but crucially, if you are more of a casual player like me , it's also fun and very well designed. Great minnimilist graphics , the different zones have great variety and the OST is just awesome.
SUZUKIPLAN is a cool little japanese company that maintains a virtual 8-bit console (VGS Zero) that runs on PC and Raspberry-PI. It has about the capacities of a SEGA Master System (the best console ever released IMO). You can find more details on the internet about VGS-Zero. The games are very simplistic, but I'm sure a motivated third party dev could whip out some real gems out of the engine. Battle Air Force is a brutal score attack game where you challenge wave after wave of enemies in a format that is a bit similar to Threshold for Atari VCS. (I know very few people will know about this game lol) The game seems very difficult at the begining with dozens of fast bullets and enemies filling the screen, but if you keep at it you'll realize there's a good window of progression and you can get further and further after a few minutes playing. The game will mostly be of interest for the hardcore retro competitive shmup players, and the retrofetishists who will enjoy the thrill of playing an actual Z80 game in the 2020s. [h1](follow my curator page [url=https://store.steampowered.com/curator/33882793/]GenXPlayers[/url] for more retro and indie reviews)[/h1]
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Pace estimated from the game's recent review growth (our daily snapshots) at its own sales-per-review ratio — a momentum signal, not booked sales.
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