Capcom Classics Collection -- Day 5.

Bionic Commando was released in 1987 on the aging Z80 arcade hardware. It features Super Joe, from Commando fame. This time around it's a sidescrolling action game. You can both run and shoot to the left and right. There isn't any jump feature. To get around that, you have a grappling hook like bionic arm. You can reach up to the ledges above you, grab on, and pull yourself up. You can also use the arm to knock larger enemies down. It's a cool concept. One successfully employed in the home conversion for what became one the NES' classic games. The arcade version is really short. Five small stages. You can clear this game in under fifteen minutes, if it weren't so freaking hard. Not being able to fire upwards or at least at angles is a real flaw. The enemies are cheap because of it.

1943 Kai is the last game to be released based on the Z80 hardware. It was released in 1987. There isn't really all that much to say about this one. It's essentially 1943 hard version. They did spruce up the graphics and sound here and there. It's still infinitely more playable than 1942.

Forgotten Worlds was the first game released using the new Capcom Play System arcade hardware. Updated versions of the CPS would be used until Capcom left the arcades. Forgotten Worlds is a horizontally and vertically scrolling shooter. You can move in eight directions on the forced scrolling play field. The thing that sets this one apart is that it's designed for two-player simultaneous play. Also, you can shoot in eight directions, but you have to rotate your character around to do it. So you can move and fire independently. Another interesting aspect is that you collect zenny. You can spend it in the shops. You can buy weapons, weapon upgrades, items to extend your overall heal, healing items, and armor. Your weapons are also unique in that they are like little robots that fly near you. They add a separate fire to your primary fire. The game is very bizarre in the themes of the levels and the setting. The game is also gorgeous. 1987-1989 saw a real big step up in arcade graphics and sound, and this comes through clearly with Capcom's first CPS offering.