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Cover art of Top Gun: The Second Mission

2.6 / 5

7 votes

Platform
NES
Genres
Action · Simulation · Flight Simulation
Player Perspective
First person
Developers
Konami
Publishers
Konami
Release date
December 15, 1989

Summary

Top Gun: The Second Mission (known as Top Gun: Duel Fighters in Japan) feels like a polished upgrade to its NES predecessor. The F‑14’s auto‑cannon fires endlessly, while you can slot one of three real‑world missiles—Sidewinder, Sparrow or Phoenix—each with a noticeably larger lock‑on area, even letting you target ground installations. The graphics jump forward with sharper sprites and smoother scrolling, and the in‑game music finally matches the arcade vibe that was missing before.

Landing on the carrier is surprisingly forgiving, turning a once‑frustrating chore into a quick tap‑and‑hold routine. A versus mode lets one or two players dogfight, adding a competitive edge that extends replay value beyond the single‑player missions.

Critics seemed split: German magazines gave it middling scores, but Game Players praised the visual boost and the new roll mechanic, calling it a clear step up from Konami’s earlier effort.

Storyline

In Top Gun: The Second Mission you once again step into the cockpit of Maverick’s F‑14 Tomcat for a three‑part operation. The first stage pits you against a massive Tupolev Tu‑160 Blackjack, while the second ups the ante with an advanced Mil Mi‑24 Hind helicopter weaving through a forest obstacle course. The final showdown sends you after a “star wars” space shuttle, dodging lightning bolts and laser beams as you try to bring it down.

The enemy forces aren’t named outright, but every boss is a high‑tech Soviet prototype with stereotypical Russian monikers like Gorky, Demitri and Stalin. This leg of the campaign is described as ten times deadlier than the first, throwing planes, tanks, ships, satellite lasers, anti‑aircraft blasts, cannon bursts and heat‑seeking missiles at you.

Beyond the story missions, the game offers a one‑on‑one dogfight mode where you can battle seven ace pilots or a second player, testing your skill in pure aerial combat.

Edited by Maya Carter

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Alternative Titles

  • Top Gun: Second Mission Short
  • Top Gun: Dual Fighters Alternative