Whip Rush (1990). Play online

Summary

Whip Rush is a side‑scrolling space shooter that feels like a classic R‑Type update. The player's ship can mount two rotating Options, letting you switch directional fire while choosing among three weapon types and eight speed settings. Across seven tightly designed stages you battle gigantic bosses with carefully timed attacks, earning extra lives as you progress. There are no checkpoint saves; a continue restarts the entire level, adding tension to each run. Although the Japanese and North American versions share identical gameplay, the box art differs and the cartridge runs in English on both the Mega Drive and the Genesis.

Storyline

In the 22nd century humanity has exhausted every planet in the Solar System of its natural resources. Three Alpha‑type robotic spaceships were launched from the overpopulated Earth to search for a new world to colonize.

After five years the pilots reported finding a planet they named Voltegeus, but their transmission vanished as they approached and contact was never re‑established. Within a week a massive alien vessel materialized near Mars and began bombarding Earth.

Earth’s smallest yet most powerful starfighter, the Whip Rush, is the only hope to stop the Voltegian invasion. It must also uncover the fate of the missing colony ships.