Arcade Archives: Plus Alpha

About

Arcade Archives brings Plus Alpha to modern screens with a faithful port of Jaleco's 1989 shooter. You control either Selia or Rumy as they pilot fighter ships against tyranny across seven kingdoms. The core loop involves shooting down enemies while collecting items that let you swap between three distinct ship forms. Each vessel offers different weapon setups and movement styles, forcing you to adapt your strategy on the fly. This classic vertical scroll action runs smooth on PlayStation 4 and Switch without losing any of the original charm. The ability to change ships mid-battle keeps the gameplay fresh compared to other shooters from the era. Players can switch between a fast flyer, a heavy attacker, or a balanced cruiser depending on what threats appear on screen. HAMSTER has preserved the tight controls and colorful sprite work that defined late eighties arcade hits. The game supports both single player runs and local multiplayer sessions where friends can team up against waves of bosses. It remains a solid choice for anyone who wants to see how Jaleco handled ship switching mechanics before it became common.