Vapor Trail

About

Vapor Trail is a side-scrolling shooter from 1989 that lets two players jump in at once. You pick one of three jets with distinct speed and handling traits to fight through waves of enemies in New York City. Each ship has its own playstyle, fast but fragile, slow but tough, or balanced in between. The levels mix combat and vertical navigation as you blast through clouds and buildings. Both players can team up to take on the same objectives or turn the screen into a dogfight. The game stands out for letting two players share the action without splitting the screen. Community archives note it as an early example of arcade co-op that holds up for its tight controls and simple but satisfying combat. Released on arcade boards and Sega Mega Drive, it’s a relic of late 80s shoot-'em-up design with a focus on raw firepower and player choice.

Storyline

Unidentified forces have taken over New York City, and a network of airborne military fleet is manned to reclaim the city. You play as one of three ships in the network: Sliph, a medium-speed attacker/fighter, Valkyrie, a low-speed attacker, and Seylen, a high-speed fighter. A second player can man a second ship for two-player combat.