Play After Burner II (Japan) on sega Online

You're blasting through clouds at full throttle, dodging missiles and barely pulling up in time before slamming into mountains—enemy jets zoom in from tiny dots to filling your screen while that synth-heavy soundtrack blares. It's pure arcade chaos with just enough control to feel like you're barely hanging on.

Developer: Sega

Genre: Arcade

Released: 1987

File size: 242 bytes

Game Overview

After Burner II is that classic arcade jet fighter game where you're basically just holding down the throttle the whole time while missiles scream past your cockpit. The Genesis port doesn't have the fancy moving arcade cabinet, but it still nails that feeling of barely being in control as you barrel roll through clouds and take down enemy fighters.

The first time I played it, I crashed into like three mountains before realizing you actually have to steer. The scaling effects were mind-blowing for 1987 though—watching enemy jets grow from tiny dots to filling your screen never gets old. And that soundtrack? Pure 80s arcade energy.

It's way simpler than modern flight sims, but that's the charm. You're not managing fuel or radar—just dodging, shooting, and trying not to black out from all the G-forces. The Genesis version holds up surprisingly well if you're into that old-school arcade rush.