Final Formation

[xEbb1993x]

Has anyone got it yet? It's based on the old Jaleco arcade shooter Formation Z. And it's the sequel to Final Exerion released back in 2023, serving as the second installment of City Connection and HappyMeal's "Final" trilogy.

[Sengoku Strider]

I don't, but all their earnest silliness in Game Tengoku Cruisin' Mix totally endeared Jaleco's back catalogue characters to me. I hope it turned out well.

[BIL]

OG Formation Z's a genuinely unfortunate case, imo. I have the biggest iron boner for heavy mecha action, and this one's got a great concept. Unfortunately the handling's clunky in a bad way. (as opposed to a good way - that iota of drift that conveys you are controlling not merely a dude, but a dude controlling a giant mech that's hefting a Greyhound-sized assault rifle) And the stage design's not great, wrong side of rustic. You can see the broad strokes of what would be Leynos in those open plains, with a killer Hyper Duel Macrossup transfomer mechanic, too. But Finest Hour was first to make it through the breach imho. (not that FH doesn't have a certain bugbear of its own!)

Anyhoo what I'm saying is good effort Z-DYNE, I'm glad your debut is archived for posterity! Also, your Game Over quote from Tengoku - a bug-eyed sweatdropping "Jesus!" - cracked me up as a young importer fuckboi! I think he goes "YOKAI" if you toss 'im a credit, too! Mirth means a lot in this sad world of ours

[Sengoku Strider]

This Japanese retro Youtuber I like (Bakken) put up a pretty detailed video on it. He's quite positive on the game:

ばっけんのレトロゲームチャンネル - Formation Z returns in the Reiwa era!

[xEbb1993x]

Game was hard as hell, but through trial-and-error, I finally cleared it. Now I wonder what the third and final installment will be like… I do hope Ai Rindou returns as the main character again in the inevitable third chapter.