G-LOC: Air Battle

G-LOC: Air Battle[lower-alpha 1] is a 1990 combat flight simulator arcade game developed and published by Sega. It is a spin-off of the company's After Burner series. The title refers to "G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness".

G-LOC: Air Battle
Japanese promotional sales flyer
Developer(s)Sega AM2
Publisher(s)Sega
Designer(s)Yu Suzuki
Composer(s)Hiroshi Kawaguchi
Yasuhiro Takagi
SeriesAfter Burner
Platform(s)Arcade, Game Gear, Sega Genesis, Master System, Nintendo Switch
Release
  • WW: 1990
Genre(s)Air combat simulation
Mode(s)Single-player
Arcade systemSega Y Board

Gameplay
Arcade version screenshot

The game puts the player in a fighter plane, dog fighting other planes. Once the player takes too many hits or the game-timer runs out the game is over. The player earns more time and advances stages by achieving goals that are set in each stage. The player initially starts with limited armament which is replenished by completing missions. Players choose what targets to destroy, like ships, jet fighters, or tanks. Eventually, players will attack bosses such as War Balloon, the Bomber, and the final adversary, an enemy ace who uses the same plane as the player, except with enhanced durability and strength.

The player controls an experimental aircraft (referred to as A8M5, but upgraded over time, finally becoming the A8M6) in a mission to eliminate enemy planes. During the game, the player is attacked from the front and back. The game is mostly played from a first person perspective; however, once locked onto by an enemy missile, the perspective changes to third person behind the player's plane to allow the player to perform evasive maneuvers. The plane is controlled by a joystick and has two weapons: a cannon and missiles. The player can either try to shoot down enemy planes or target them by moving the crosshair over them and launching missiles at targeted planes to destroy them.

Release

The game was ported to the Sega Mega Drive, the Sega Master System and the Sega Game Gear. Because the R360 cabinet made the game more impressive the home computer versions (Commodore 64, Amstrad CPC, ZX Spectrum and Amiga) were named G-LOC R360.

Some ports include certain features not present in the arcade version. The Mega Drive version alternates between first and third-person perspectives at times, the Master System one features bosses, and the Game Gear one employs points that can be used to upgrade the jet.

The original arcade version was ported to home consoles for the first time in 2020 for the Nintendo Switch under the Sega Ages series. This version was released on March 26, 2020, in Japan and is due to be released on April 30, 2020, in North America and Europe[1] and features new control options and new ways to play through stages.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed G-LOC: Air Battle on their June 1, 1990 issue as being the most-successful upright arcade game of the year.[6]

Sequel

G-LOC received a Japan-only sequel in 1991, Strike Fighter[7] (not to be confused with Sega Strike Fighter, released in 2000). It was ported to the FM Towns computer and the Sega CD console as After Burner III.

Notes
  1. Japanese: ジーロック エア バトル, Hepburn: Jī-Rokku Ea Batoru

References
  1. Craddock, Ryan (17 April 2020). "Sega Ages G-LOC: Air Battle Is Getting A Western Switch Release Later This Month". Nintendo Life. Gamer Network. Retrieved 17 April 2020.
  2. "C+VG Arcade Action - G-LOC" (PDF) (104). United Kingdom: Future Publishing. Computer + Video Games. pp. 88–89. Archived from the original (PDF) on 29 March 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  3. "Be Mega Dog Race - G-LOC" (PDF) (in Japanese). Beep! Mega Drive. March 1993. p. 21. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  4. Olivier (January 1993). "G-LOC Air Battle" (PDF) (in French) (16). Joypad. Archived from the original (PDF) on 21 February 2020. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
  5. Mega rating, issue 17, page 64, February 1994
  6. "Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - アップライト, コックピット型TVゲーム機 (Upright/Cockpit Videos)". Game Machine (in Japanese). No. 381. Amusement Press, Inc. 1 June 1990. p. 29.
  7. Kalata, Kurt. "After Burner III". HG101. Retrieved 6 March 2020.
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