Keio Flying Squadron

About

Keio Flying Squadron is a 1993 Sega CD shooter where you control Rami, riding a dragon named Spot through chaotic, side-scrolling levels. Spot fires fireballs at enemies, and when the shots stop, two smaller dragons pop in to help. These companions blast weaker fireballs and can be used for explosive hits before vanishing. The action loops as Spot resumes firing, making resource management key. The game’s structure keeps things tight despite its fast-paced, anime-inspired chaos. Critics in Retro Gamer ranked it among the top ten Mega CD games, praising the CD-quality audio and flashy cutscenes that showcase the hardware. Its goofy tone and horizontal-scrolling frenzy drew comparisons to Parodius, with fans noting it hits similar notes of over-the-top fun. A European demo in Sega Pro magazine tricked players into thinking the game ended after level one, but a hidden level-select cheat let you skip ahead, a quirk that only added to its charm.