Truxton II (1992). Play online

Summary

Truxton II (often just called Truxton 2) lets you pilot the HyperFighter through six looping stages, each ending with a boss. The ship can pick up three distinct weapons – red napalm bombs, a homing blue laser and a green spread shot – and power them by collecting matching colour items, while speed‑up pods and smart‑bombs keep the action fluid. An autofire system and two satellite ‘options’ drop in with any weapon, and extra lives appear at 70,000 points then every 200,000 thereafter, rewarding careful play and secret hunting.

The arcade version was the first Toaplan title to blend FM synthesis with PCM drums, a soundtrack crafted by Masahiro Yuge. Graphic designer Tomonobu Kagawa, who helped design the HyperFighter ship, was one of three pixel artists behind the game’s sharp visuals. Critics praised its detailed graphics and sound, and Japanese arcade reports listed it among the top shooters of mid‑1992.

Even decades later the title enjoys a cult following; its rights now sit with Tatsujin, the firm founded by former Toaplan staff.

Storyline

Truxton II (also released as Tatsujin Oh) continues the space‑shootout saga after the original’s defeat of Dogurava. Volcanic eruptions on a distant planet culminate in a massive explosion that awakens the Gidan alien race and brings their leader Dogurava back from defeat. Within a short span the Gidans seize control of the galaxy, leaving only a handful of refugees able to reach the astroport and warn the resistance. Players assume the roles of two fighter pilots who pilot the HyperFighter spacecraft, tasked with breaking the alien domination. Their mission is to strike back, destroy the revived Gidan forces and finally free the galaxy from enslavement.