Released for arcades in 1986 by Toaplan and Taito, Slap Fight (also known as Alcon) is a classic vertical-scrolling shooter that stands out with its distinct upgrade system. Instead of standard item drops, players collect stars to advance a selection bar and activate their chosen power-ups, allowing for strategic control over the ship’s arsenal as they battle through intense sci-fi waves.
How to Play
The objective is to survive the relentless enemy onslaught while carefully building up your ship’s firepower. As you activate more advanced weapons, your ship physically increases in size, granting immense destructive power at the cost of becoming a larger target. For arcade controls in the browser, insert a coin with Shift, press Enter to start, use the Arrow Keys to pilot your ship, and use the Z and X keys to fire your weapons and activate your currently highlighted power-up.
Tips
If you are destroyed, you lose all your upgrades and shrink back to your base form, so prioritize grabbing a speed upgrade early to improve your initial mobility. The homing missiles are exceptionally useful for dealing with enemies that approach from awkward angles or try to flank your ship. Remember that a larger, fully-upgraded ship makes dodging dense bullet patterns more difficult, so balance your offensive power against the need to maneuver safely.
Leave a Comment / Review: