Section-Z (1985). Play online

Summary

Section Z is a side‑view shoot ’em‑up that challenges you to pierce a massive enemy space station built around a 26‑letter layout, from Section A right through to Section Z. Each of the five stages is broken into five alphabetical corridors, with the final level adding a spare “Z” section, and the action swaps between left‑to‑right horizontal runs and upward vertical climbs. The control scheme is deceptively simple—a eight‑way stick, a fire button and a second button that toggles the direction of aim—letting you shoot forward while retreating or drop bombs straight down. Destroying the dome‑shaped containers yields three lettered power‑ups: S for speed, P for stronger blasts (stackable three times), and B for bonus points, all of which disappear on death. Bosses guard the end of each stage, culminating in a showdown with the “L‑Brain” in Section Z. The arcade classic has resurfaced in several retro packs, appearing in Capcom Classics Collection on PS2 and Xbox as well as later digital bundles for newer consoles.

Storyline

Section Z drops you into an unspecified year of the third millennium, where you play as an astronaut on a covert mission. Your objective is to infiltrate a mysterious space station orbiting close to Earth.

The station isn’t what it seems—it’s the hidden stronghold of the alien empire known as the Balangool. You must navigate its corridors, uncover the alien secrets, and ultimately destroy the base to stop the extraterrestrial threat.