The golden age of 3D arcade gaming continues its modern resurgence as HAMSTER Corporation launches its latest title, Arcade Archives 2 AIR COMBAT 22, on Xbox Series X|S today.
This faithful reproduction of the classic 1995 NAMCO flight shooter is available now for £14.99, featuring the full suite of enhancements from HAMSTER’s new “Arcade Archives 2” series.
Following the recent launch of RIDGE RACER, this is the second title to grace the new and improved retro lineup, bringing another 90s legend to a new generation of players. This is an Xbox Series X|S exclusive and is not available on Xbox One.
Return to the Danger Zone
AIR COMBAT 22 was originally released by NAMCO in 1995 and represented an evolutionary step in 3D graphics, using the powerful “System Super 22” arcade board – an upgrade to the architecture that powered RIDGE RACER.
As a hero of the skies, you will take on diverse aerial combat scenarios, from the simple thrill of shooting down lots of enemy crafts to white-knuckle missions that require expert flying techniques to conquer.
Modern Enhancements for a Classic
As part of the new Arcade Archives 2 series, AIR COMBAT 22 comes with a host of welcome quality-of-life improvements designed for modern gaming.
The entire user interface has been completely redesigned for a cleaner experience. Crucially, players can now enjoy a rewind feature to retry tricky dogfights, multiple save slots to preserve their progress, and a quick start feature to dive straight into the action.
VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support has also been added, enabling a more accurate and smoother reproduction of the original arcade game’s experience on today’s displays.
Beyond the standard ORIGINAL MODE, this new series retains fan-favourite modes like HIGH SCORE MODE and CARAVAN MODE, while also introducing a new TIME ATTACK MODE. This mode challenges you to compete against others to see who can complete the game the fastest, focusing purely on speed rather than score.
Key Features
The Arcade Classic, Reborn: The legendary 1995 NAMCO flight shooter, AIR COMBAT 22, faithfully reproduced.
- The Arcade Archives 2 Treatment: Part of the new, enhanced series from HAMSTER with a redesigned UI and new features.
- Modern Quality-of-Life Features: Includes a rewind function, multiple save slots, a quick start option, and VRR support.
- Multiple Game Modes: Take on ORIGINAL MODE, HIGH SCORE MODE, CARAVAN MODE, and the new TIME ATTACK MODE.
- Powered by System Super 22: Experience an evolutionary step in early 3D arcade graphics.
Take to the Skies, Exclusively on Xbox Series X|S
The skies are calling for a new hero.
If you’re ready to experience a legendary arcade masterpiece, now made more fun and user-friendly than ever, Arcade Archives 2 AIR COMBAT 22 is waiting for you on the Xbox Store right now.
Arcade Archives 2 AIR COMBAT 22 Description
“AIR COMBAT 22” is a flight shooter released by NAMCO (Bandai Namco Entertainment) in 1995. This title features an evolutionary step in 3D graphics and flashy animations using the “System Super 22” arcade board, an upgrade of the “System 22” architecture used for a wide range of legendary 3D games. Take on missions for the thrill of shooting down lots of enemy crafts, white-knuckle missions that require expert techniques, and more as you conquer diverse aerial combat scenarios. Become a hero of the skies!
