Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

After Burner drops you into the pilot’s seat of an F-14 Tomcat with one simple directive: obliterate every enemy aircraft in your path. Viewed from a dynamic third-person perspective, the action unfolds at breakneck speed as waves of fighters, bombers and surface targets close in from every angle. Whether you’re weaving through tight formations or skimming just above the clouds, the core loop—dodge, lock, fire—is immediately satisfying.

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The Tomcat’s arsenal is straightforward yet effective. You have a stock of lock-on missiles that can track multiple foes simultaneously, and a Vulcan cannon for close-quarters blasting. In some ports, you can toggle automatic cannon fire, freeing you to concentrate on positioning and missile salvos. Between sorties, docking with friendly supply planes replenishes your missile count, injecting moments of tension as you race to align with the tanker before your remaining ammo runs out.

Difficulty ramps up quickly. Early encounters feel manageable, but by mid-mission you’re juggling dozens of targets, narrow passes and sudden missile barrages. Replay value hinges on memorizing enemy patterns and mastering barrel rolls at just the right moment. For seasoned players, the option to disable auto-fire adds a rewarding layer of challenge, forcing you to balance trigger discipline with split-second aiming.

Graphics

Originally an arcade powerhouse, After Burner dazzled with sprite-scaling effects that simulated true 3D movement. Planes grow and shrink smoothly, projectiles streak across the sky and clouds blur beneath your wings—all at a high frame rate that keeps the illusion of speed intact. Despite hardware limitations of the era, enemy formations and explosions pop with cinematic flair.

Console and computer ports—largely based on After Burner II—strive to replicate the arcade’s visual punch. On systems like the Sega Master System, you’ll notice simpler backgrounds and a reduced color palette, but the signature zooming sprites and shockwave effects remain. Meanwhile, the arcade original boasts richer textures and more elaborate stage backdrops, setting a higher bar for immersion.

While not a showcase of photorealism, After Burner’s graphical style prioritizes clarity and excitement. Enemy craft are instantly recognizable, lock-on reticles snap into place with satisfying precision, and missile trails cut bright arcs across the sky. The presentation may feel dated by modern standards, but it still captures the raw thrill of an adrenaline-fueled dogfight.

Story

After Burner isn’t narrative-heavy, but it frames its high-octane action with a simple military premise: you’re the ace pilot dispatched to thwart an encroaching enemy air force. Briefing screens hint at hostile forces massing across multiple regions, providing just enough context before you’re airborne once more.

Each mission flows seamlessly into the next, with escalating enemy tactics—missile lock warnings, fast-attack jets and armored bombers—serving as implicit plot beats. The only real “boss” comes in the Sega Master System port, where a climactic showdown forces you to apply every maneuver you’ve learned up to that point.

Though you won’t find deep character arcs or cutscene drama, the game’s pacing and escalating threat levels create their own narrative momentum. You feel like an elite pilot fighting a desperate aerial campaign, and every successful sortie contributes to an unstated—but keenly felt—story of survival and triumph.

Overall Experience

After Burner excels at delivering pure, unadulterated arcade action. Its pick-up-and-play controls make it accessible to newcomers, while the escalating difficulty and nuanced use of missiles versus Vulcan cannon fire keep seasoned players coming back. The dock-and-refuel mechanic adds a strategic twist, ensuring you can’t simply spray enemy formations without consequence.

Visually, the game’s bold sprite work and explosive effects stand the test of time, even on lesser ports. Sound design—engine roars, missile locks and radio chatter—further immerses you in the cockpit, reinforcing the sense that every dogfight is a life-or-death engagement. While the story is minimal, it never feels absent; the relentless pace and changing battlefield conditions create a compelling throughline.

For fans of fast-paced shooters and aviation enthusiasts alike, After Burner remains a classic worth experiencing. Whether you opt for the original arcade version, a console port with added boss encounters, or a modern reissue, you’ll find an adrenaline rush that’s both challenging and deeply rewarding. This is a title that proves less can be more—by focusing on core shooter thrills, it offers a timeless aerial combat experience.

Retro Replay Score

6.3/10