Metal Hawk

Metal Hawk is a multi-directional shooter video game, described as a cross between Namco's own Assault and Sega's Thunder Blade. Assuming control of the titular attack helicopter, the player is tasked with scoring a certain number of points in each level before the countdown timer runs out. Gameplay involves shooting down enemies and avoiding collision with either their projectiles or the ground below. The Metal Hawk is equipped with a machine gun for destroying air-based enemies and air-to-surface missiles for destroying ground-based enemies.

Enemies awards points when destroyed, and earning the required number of points will allow the player to progress to the next level. An arrow icon will point in the direction of the nearest enemy. The Metal Hawk can change its altitude via a throttle lever attached to the arcade cabinet, allowing it to either rise higher into the air or lower towards the ground, which is used for destroying air and ground-based enemies. The map rotates around the player, who remains in the center of the screen at all times, a concept previously used in Assault.

By the mid-1980s, Japanese video game developer Namco quickly rose to become one of Japan's leading video game developers, creating hit titles such as The Tower of Druaga (1984), Pac-Land (1984), Metro-Cross (1985) and Rolling Thunder (1986). The success of these titles generated a lot of income for the company, who began to set up a new research and development (R&D) division for future hardware endeavors, aiming to help create unique, interesting new coin-op games. Metal Hawk was one of the first games produced under this new division, alongside Assault (1988). It was produced for the Namco System 2 arcade system, which also powered titles such as Burning Force, Valkyrie no Densetsu, Finest Hour and Cosmo Gang the Video.

When designing the game, Namco primarily focused on the game's technological capabilities; most notable of these is the arcade cabinet, a motion-based machine that rocked back and forth based on the player's actions in the game. Production documents also heavily focused on the game's controls, specifically its analogue joystick, which was to help make sure the controls themselves were smooth, responsive, and easy-to-use for players. The development staff also made sure the gameplay itself was intense and fun to play, instead of being overshadowed by the hardware itself.

Despite a low production run, Metal Hawk proved to be a commercial success. The September 1990 issue of Leisure Line magazine reported the game to be the seventh most-popular coin-op game of the year, outdoing both Out Run and After Burner. In Japan, Game Machine listed it as being the sixth most-successful cockpit/sitdown arcade unit of the year.

The game was well received by critics. The Games Machine referred to it as a "remarkable flight sensation", while Amstrad Computer User labeled it a "sure-fire winner" and Namco's next major "blockbuster" arcade game. Many publications greatly focused on the gameplay, and commended it for its speed and fast-paced action. Computer + Video Games claimed that "lots of excitement and a thrilling ride are guaranteed if you're man enough to ride the Metal Hawk.