The Avenger (アヴェンジャー in Japanese) is the titular protagonist of the 1990 PC Engine shoot 'em up Avenger. It is an advanced attack helicopter developed by the Pacific Rim Confederation in an effort to stop the evil Eurasia Alliance from conquering the planet. A highly durable aircraft, the Avenger is armed with a wide variety of weapons, making it a force to be reckoned with.
History[]
In 2061 A.D., a world war breaks out across the planet when an evil terroristic organization called the Eurasia Alliance launches numerous attacks using a weapon of mass destruction in the form of satellite lasers, leveling cities across the globe to rubble and killing millions of civilians in the process. To make matters worse, the Alliance brutally executes any military force that gets in its way of world domination. In an attempt to crush the Alliance, a rebel group called the Pacific Rim Confederation launches a powerful attack helicopter called the Avenger into combat.
Over the course of four missions, the Avenger travels to various locations across Earth, where it destroys much of the Alliances super weapons with ease. On the final mission, the Confederation locates the headquarters of the Alliance hidden underneath an air force base, the helicopter is assigned to infiltrate the base, where it gains entry to the hidden bunker and track down Volos, the main super weapon of the Alliance. After engaging the weapon in a nail-biting battle, the Avenger manages to destroy the super weapon.
In the aftermath, the hidden bunker is destroyed in a chain-reacting explosion. The Avenger manages to escape destruction and lands a distance away, its pilot exits out of the aircraft and reveals as a woman. In the epilogue, the Confederation becomes victorious over the Alliance, who is weakened significantly following the destruction of Volos. The following year, the Alliance surrenders, and the two belligerents sign a peace treaty in an effort to repair the damage that was caused across the planet as a result of the war. The cooperation ultimately led to a new era of peace.
Weapons[]
The Avenger is armed with a total of nine different weapons that are split into three categories each containing three weapons each. The helicopter is only capable of equipping one weapon per category, which is done prior to beginning a level. Each weapon in the main and secondary categories can be upgraded a total of five and two times each, which are done by obtaining power-ups with the letters "M" and "S" whenever an enemy carrier aircraft is destroyed.
Main[]
Each main weapon can be manually aimed by moving the Avenger horizontally, holding down the secondary fire button will lock the position of the weapon, allowing it for more precise aiming.
- Vulcan - fires a rapid-fire cannon that deals average damage and has a fast fire rate, when upgraded, the fire rate increases, as well as adding a second shot to the cannon, effectively doubling its firepower.
- Rocket - fires a single rocket that deals high damage, but has a slower fire rate than the other main weapons. When upgraded, the rocket's size and damage increases, on top of firing a second rocket simultaneously.
- Laser - fires a penetrating laser that deals high damage and has a fast fire rate. When upgraded, the lasers width and damage increases, whilst adding a second laser to the helicopter's firepower.
Secondary[]
- Homing Missiles - fires a pair of missiles from the side of the Avenger that track down nearby enemies and destroys them, they are highly accurate but deal low damage. When upgraded, the movement speed, as well as the number of missiles fired increases to four.
- Directional Wave - fires a wave shot in the opposite direction that the Avenger travels. It is hard to use, but can be fired in all directions and deals high damage. When upgraded, the wave shot's size and damage increases.
- Gun Pods - deploys a pair of options to the side of the Avenger, each of which fires a small wave shot straight forward that deals moderate damage. When upgraded, the wave shot's size and damage increases.
Special[]
All special weapons only have a limited number of uses, and cannot be replenished over the course of a level.
- E.C.M - deploys a chaff-like bomb that clears the entire field of vision of enemy projectiles. It can be used up to 3 times per level.
- Barrier - deploys a barrier that renders the Avenger temporarily invincible against all forms of damage. It can only be used once per level.
- Buster - deploys a powerful nuclear bomb that eliminates all small enemies in the field of vision, whilst dealing heavy damage against larger enemies and bosses. It can be used up to 2 times per level.
Other[]
- Shield - though not technically a weapon, it is a vital part of the Avenger's survival, the shield allows the aircraft to withstand five hits before being shot down. It can be recharged by means of collecting red "R" power-up icons dropped by enemy carrier ships.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- In English translation of this game, Avenger pilot's rank is stated as sergeant(SGT). This is incorrect, as in the original Japanese states Yoko's rank as 曹長, which is equivalent to American military's sergeant major(SGM).