Play Eco Fighters Online

Eco Fighters came out in the arcades in 1993, a Capcom release from a time when side-scrolling shooters were a staple. It didn't have the same recognition as some of their other titles, but it had a distinct personality that made it stand out on the crowded arcade floor.

You pilot a small aircraft through a series of industrial and natural environments, fighting against an army of polluting machines and mutant creatures. Your main weapon is a rotating gun mounted on the front of your ship; you control its direction independently with a second joystick, allowing for precise 360-degree aiming. This lets you fire in any direction, even straight behind you, which is crucial for hitting enemies on your tail. The game progresses screen by screen, with each area presenting waves of enemies and a large, screen-filling boss. The pacing is fast and the difficulty is typical for an arcade game of its era, demanding quick reflexes and smart use of your rotating firepower. It feels incredibly tactical for a shooter, constantly making you think about positioning and attack angles.