Air Raid

Air Raid is an arcade shoot ’em up released by Seibu Kaihatsu in 1987. It is also known as Cross Shooter, it’s the predecessor to “Raiden”.

The game is a vertically-scrolling shoot ’em up. Unlike other Seibu shmups, this one is a Cute ’em Up, with bright-colored pastel graphics very similar to TwinBee. Players are equipped with a forward firing shot and limited bombs. Enemies will drop colored power-ups whose color will continuously cycle, each color equipping the ship with a different upgrade. This power-up system would later make it’s way into the Raiden series.