Phalanx: The Enforce Fighter A-144 is a horizontally scrolling shoot ’em up for the Super Nintendo, developed by Zoom Inc. and published by Kemco, released in Japan on August 7, 1992. The player takes the role of ace pilot Wink Baulfield, sent in the experimental A/144 Phalanx fighter to investigate a disaster and an alien invasion on the planet Delia. What sets it apart from most shooters of its era is its weapon system: rather than a single fixed gun, the Phalanx carries up to three weapon types at once, freely swapped in flight, each with its own attack pattern and a sacrificial “smart bomb” effect.
How to Play
Fly the Phalanx fighter through waves of enemies, collecting weapon drops and switching between them to suit the situation. The ship can also shift between three movement speeds for finer control while dodging fire, and can absorb multiple hits before losing a life, with a shield power-up available to restore lost hit points.
| Gamepad control: | |
| direction buttons | ââââ |
| action button A | Z |
| action button B | X |
| action buttons X, Y | A, S |
| shoulder buttons L, R | Q, E |
| SELECT | Shift |
| START | Enter |
Tips
- Don’t hoard a weak weapon in a slot â sacrifice it for a smart bomb to clear the screen and free the slot for a better drop.
- Switch to the laser type for piercing damage against lined-up enemies, and to homing weapons when facing scattered or fast-moving targets.
- Slow your ship’s movement speed during dense bullet patterns for more precise dodging; speed back up when the screen clears.
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