Ludography
69/100
Players6 ratings
Hyper Dyne Side Arms cover

1986 · Capcom · Arcade · Shoot 'em up

Hyper Dyne Side Arms

Forerunner to Forgotten Worlds. The control method allows you use the fire buttons to shoot in opposite directions, defending yourself from attacks from the rear. The power ups are selectable and if you collect an alpha symbol you combine with another ship for a super robot.

Released
31 December 1986
Platforms
AmigaAmstrad CPCArcadeAtari ST/STECommodore 64Commodore C64/128/MAXMS-DOSPlayStation 3TurboGrafx-16ZX Spectrum
Genres
ArcadeShoot 'em upShooter
Developers
Capcom
Publishers
Capcom
Perspective
Side view
Themes
ActionScience fiction
Country
Japan

About

Hyper Dyne Side Arms is a horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed and published by Capcom in 1986. The player controls a flying mecha fighter battling an alien army. Side Arms uses a two-directional attacking system similar to Capcom's previous shoot-'em-up Section Z.

Keywords

  • shoot 'em up

Media

The articlegameplay, story, development, reception

Gameplay

The controls consist of an eight-way joystick for moving the Mobilsuit and three action buttons. Side Arms uses two shooting buttons, one for shooting to the left and the other to the right. The third button is used to change between the weapons acquired by the player. There are five types of power-ups that can be acquired by the player: a speed upgrade, an orbital bit that will provide additional firepower with the standard gun, a shotgun that shoots in a fan-shaped range, a three-way shooter, and a mega bazooka launcher that fires a laser beam.

The player can choose what power-up their mecha will receive by shooting the power-up icon until getting the item they want. All of the weapons, as well as the mecha's speed, can be upgraded up to two or even three levels depending on the item. There is also a speed downgrade that will reduce the Mobilsuit's speed by one level. There are also two "Auto" power-ups, shaped like the enemy characters from Vulgus: one is shaped like the "Yashichi" and allows the player to fire continuously with either firing button held down; while the other, which is shaped like the "Sakichi", allows the player to shoot upwards, downwards and forwards at the same time, but at a slower rate than the regular shot.

Story

An evil alien empire known as the Bozon are launching a full-scale attack on Earth. As either Lt. Henry or Sgt. Sanders, the player must pilot a giant space mecha known as a "Mobilsuit" to defeat the aliens. Up to two players can play simultaneously.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Hyper Dyne Side Arms on their February 1, 1987 issue as being the ninth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.

Computer and Video Games magazine reviewed the PC Engine version in 1989, giving it a 90% score.

Releases by platformdates and regions as published

PlatformReleasedRegions
Arcade31 December 1986Japan
Commodore C64/128/MAX31 December 1988Europe
MS-DOS31 December 1988North America
Amstrad CPC31 December 1988Europe
ZX Spectrum31 December 1988Europe
Amiga31 December 1989Europe
Atari ST/STE31 December 1989Europe

Editions and related releases

Included in
Capcom Coin-Op Collection Volume 1Capcom Classics Collection Vol. 2Capcom Classics Collection RemixedCapcom Coin-Op Classics Series 1Capcom Arcade Cabinet
Ported as
Hyper Dyne Side Arms Special
Built on it
Hyper Dyne Side Arms Special

Games like this

Collections2 collections

Platform libraries

Description adapted from its source, CC BY-SA 4.0.