Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

After Burner: Climax wastes no time asking whether you are in the mood. You are flying hard, enemies are firing, and the immediate question is whether your hands can keep up. This is an arcade jet game in the purest sense: point the aircraft toward danger, dodge what comes back, and survive long enough to turn a chaotic chase into a clean kill streak. The first hour is a rush because every canyon and incoming missile turns simple movement into a small panic.

The core rhythm is satisfyingly blunt. Cannon fire handles enemies at close range, while rockets need a lock before they can be launched. Rockets are not permanently scarce, but careless firing leaves you waiting, so there is a real benefit to picking shots instead of mashing away. Enemy missiles demand fast directional dodges or barrel rolls, and the limited maneuvering keeps the action on a tight rail rather than letting you leisurely circle around problems. You can adjust speed, but this is still about split-second reactions, not piloting a simulation.

Climax mode is the feature that gives the game its biggest bursts of swagger. Fill the gauge, trigger it, and time slows down while you mark multiple targets. When the mode ends, the selected enemies take a coordinated rocket barrage. It is an excellent pressure-release valve in crowded encounters, but it also rewards restraint: using it at the right moment feels far better than burning it on a couple of easy targets.

EX arcade mode adds enough variety to stop the action from becoming a single repeated routine. Its branching mission path can shift the objective from engaging enemies to chasing down a target, using stealth, or flying alongside friendly fighters. The three jets—the F-14D Super Tomcat, F/A-18E Super Hornet, and F-15E Strike Eagle—also give you choices beyond the series’ familiar Tomcat. Unlockable EX options and paint schemes encourage repeat play, while the unlimited-credit scoring mode is a good place to practice routes and chase better performances without a hard stop.

Graphics

The view stays behind your aircraft, putting the jet, enemy fire, rockets, and narrow canyon runs right in front of you. The F-14D, F/A-18E, and F-15E are joined by unlockable Standard, Camouflage, Special, and Low Visibility paint schemes, giving repeated runs a little extra personality.

Story

After Burner: Climax is not interested in pausing the dogfight for elaborate story business. Its missions frame a series of combat objectives: eliminate hostile aircraft, pursue a designated target, get through a stealth-focused section, or operate alongside friendly fighters. That is enough structure for an arcade game whose real drama comes from what is happening directly in front of the cockpit.

The branching EX route is the closest thing to a narrative arc, since your progress moves through different mission paths rather than one fixed sequence. It gives replaying the arcade mode a sense of forward variation, even when your priority remains the same: stay alive, make the lock, and clear the next threat.

If you want characters, major plot turns, or a reason to linger between sorties, this will feel thin. If you enjoy games that let the action carry the tension, the stripped-down framing is appropriate. A pursued target matters because you have seconds to catch it, not because the game asks you to study a briefing.

Overall Experience

This is a strong arcade shooter because it understands the pleasure of being overwhelmed without being buried under complexity. The rules are easy to grasp, yet crowded enemy formations, missile dodges, and narrow passages can turn each stage into a demanding test of nerve. When you are locked in, the game has that rare coin-op quality where failure makes you want another run immediately.

Frustration can set in if you arrive expecting broad flight freedom or measured tactical air combat. Your movement is intentionally constrained, and the game keeps pushing you toward rapid decisions. The unlimited-credit scoring mode softens the learning curve, but improving still comes down to better dodges, cleaner locks, and knowing when to unleash Climax mode rather than hoping brute force will carry you.

At 7.5, After Burner: Climax is easy to recommend to anyone craving a fast, focused aerial action game. It does not stretch its premise into something more complicated than it needs to be. Instead, it delivers jets, missiles, branching arcade missions, and repeatable high-speed pressure with confidence. Give it a chance if you want a compact flight shooter that feels best when your reflexes are firing a half-second ahead of your thoughts.

Retro Replay Score

7.5/10