A Jax

Japanese arcade flyer.

***A Jax*** (エー・ジャックス, *Ē Jakkusu*?) is a vertically scrolling shoot 'em up arcade game released by Konami in 1987. The game was also released on the home computer systems ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC and Commodore 64 in 1988 by Imagine Software under the name ***Typhoon***. The one chosen for distribution outside Japan was on the Sharp X68000 by SPS as "*A Jax*" in its home country. The player controls a "Tom Tiger" helicopter (Ah-64 Apache) in the 2D stages and later a "Jerry Mouse" (F-14D) fighter jet in the 3D stages, and shoots enemies in the air and bombs them on the ground, collecting power-ups and defeating bosses to advance levels.

## Plot

The game takes place in a fictional 2007 where the Earth has been conquered by alien invaders. The player combats the occupation forces using vehicles under operation code named 'A Jax' created to liberate the Earth.

## Gameplay

Gameplay is divided into two scrolling sections with two different vehicles, the first being a vertical scrolling section with the helicopter, and a rail scrolling stage with the jet/space fighter. In the arcade version, the player's vehicle is controlled via an 8-way joystick and three buttons; one fires the ship's main weapon, the second drops bombs that land on the red reticle displayed in front of the ship to destroy grounded enemies, and the third is to activate the screen-clearing POW bomb. The game spans eight stages and extends by default are set to 30,000 and a second at 150,000 points (this can be increased via the PCB's DIP switches).

During the helicopter segments, the player has access to four different weapons, including the Vulcan, Bomb, 3-Way, Triple and Laser. However, the helicopter can only equip one firing weapon at a time; only the Bomb is constant and can be active along with any other weapon. Weapons only have one default level (that is, picking up another weapon icon of the same type the player is currently carrying will neither increase its power nor behavior in any way), but Bombs can be upgraded up to two more levels by collecting further 'B' icons. The second level drops a volley of bombs that cover a larger area, and the third level turns them into laser rays with increased traveling speed.

Power-up icons are revealed by destroying red enemy helicopters. When released, the power-up icon will start changing the letter it displays, with each representing one of the available weapons in the game. Unlike other games of the genre, power-up icons don't remain on the screen for too long; after released, they'll continue their trajectory until leaving the screen, even if they just stay in it for a few seconds.

The player also has access to an "Option" which appears as a little aircraft companion that flies beside the player's ship, providing additional firepower. The Option icon only appears by destroying complete formations of small red enemy fighters. The Option ship is indestructible and can absorb enemy bullets to shield the player's main ship. However, it has a limited lifespan and will disappear after a certain period of time has passed. Due to its rarity (it only appears once per level), only one Option can be active at a time.

Weapons
* (**V**) **Vulcan**: Rapid bullets are fired in the directions controlled.
* (**B**) **Bomb**: Air to ground missiles which can be upgraded twice.
* (**3**) **3-Way**: Bullets fire forward, right, and left.
* (**T**) **Triple**: Missiles are fired that spread out three ways in front.
* (**L**) **Laser**: Player can shoot double lasers.
* (**O**) **Orbital**: A small drone using the same weaponry as the helicopter which can be obtained by clearing a special formation of little red fighters.

There is an additional POW bomb super weapon that destroys all the enemies on the screen at once. However, use of this weapon is limited.

The jet 3D segments contrast highly from the helicopter segments in the complete lack of available power-ups and additional weapons beyond a machine gun and missiles. These sections are played more like a bonus stage of sorts, with small formations of enemy fighters or tanks constantly moving toward the screen, although they'll shoot missiles at the player (gameplay is similar to Sega's *After Burner*). At the end of each 3D section there is a large boss target the player has to destroy. Targets include a large naval carrier, an enemy base, and the enemy's mother planet (the final boss of the game).

## Gallery

### Packaging artwork

Arcade cabinetMarqueeControl panelAmstrad CPC cover artworkCommodore 64 cover artworkMS-DOS cover artworkSharp X68000 cover artworkZX Spectrum cover artwork
### Screenshots

Title screen
(arcade)Gameplay
(arcade)
### Promotional artwork

North American arcade flyer
(front)North American arcade flyer
(back)Japanese arcade flyer
(front)Japanese arcade flyer
(back)European arcade flyer
### Miscellaneous

Home computer key artwork by Tom duBois.Home computer key artwork by Tom duBois.
## Trivia

* The Jerry Mouse and other famous Konami fighters reappear in *Airforce Delta Strike*.
* Kokoro Belmont's BGM pack in *Otomedius Excellent* features *A Jax'*s most famous theme, "Command 770".

## External links

* *A Jax* at Gaming History
* GameFAQs
* MobyGames