Lost In Translation/Side Arms - Hyper Dyne

About The Game
Side Arms - Hyper Dyne is an horizontally and vertically scrolling two-player arcade video game shoot-em-up.

An evil alien race called the 'Bozon' are trying to wipe out Mankind, and Lieutenant Henry and Sergent Sanders are given the responsibility of saving the Human Race. They each climb into a Mobilsuit - a jet-powered, heavily armoured combat suit - and set out on their mission.

Each player has 2 fire buttons, one for shooting ahead and one for shooting behind; crucial for a game in which enemies attack from all directions. Shooting certain enemies will reveal power-ups - displayed as 'POW' icons - and shooting the icons will either change their type, or reveal a special weapon.

Finally, Side Arms features a unique power-up. These power-ups are hidden in the level and can be collected by shooting at their location with any weapon. By collecting a circle icon that flashed between the Greek 'Beta' and ok, both players can join together to become a single, highly powerful combat unit capable of firing in 8 different directions. When a 2 player unit is joined, BOTH players' controllers can control the unit's movement, which can cause the unit to not move if players decide to go in different directions to each other. The player who picks up this power-up will control the main weapon from his current list only and the other player will be able to fire the secondary 8 direction weapon. The 8 direction weapon can be fired by single presses or automatically by holding either fire button.

In a 2 player game, this form will break apart after one hit to the unit, returning to both players individual units. In a 1 player game it will break apart after 2 hits, causing the second unit to be destroyed.

Apperance of the super unit and the 8 directional weapon is dependant on which player gets the power-up. First player unit is a primarly orange unit that fires red triangle projectiles one way. Second player unit is blue that fires blue boomerangs that fly out and return causing a slower rate of fire.

The 8 available power-ups are :
 * Speed-up (POW symbol)
 * Speed-down (Reverse POW symbol, shows just before reaching Auto I or II)
 * Bit - (3 level power-up)
 * Spread Gun - (3 level power-up)
 * Mega Bazooka Launcher (2 level power-up)
 * 3-Way Shot (2 level power-up)
 * Auto I (Chain gun)
 * Auto II (3-Way Auto)

Trivia
Released in December 1986.

Licensed to Romstar for US distribution.

The Japanese version is known as "Side Arms - Hyper Dyne : Zettai Gattai".

The player one character appears as a bonus item in some Capcom games including : "19XX - The War Against Destiny", "Super Buster Bros.", "U.N. Squadron" and "Black Tiger".

Alfa Records released a limited-edition soundtrack album for this game (Capcom Game Music Vol.2 - 28XA-203) on 25/03/1988.

Tips and tricks
During the attract sequences, when the players are joined, you can even move the character around without having to add any credits.

Series

 * 1) Section Z (1985)
 * 2) Side Arms - Hyper Dyne (1986)

Staff

 * Game Designers:
 * Noritaka Funamizu (Poo)
 * Kihaji Okamoto


 * Object Designers:
 * Dekachin, Kawamoyan


 * Scroll Designers:
 * Toride No Yas
 * Miki Chan


 * Supplement:
 * Uhe Uhe
 * Kurichan


 * Sound:
 * Tadanomi Surozoo


 * Music:
 * Ayako Mori


 * Hardware:
 * Panchi Kubozoo (Punch Kubozoo)


 * Software:
 * Mr.

Ports

 * Consoles :
 * NEC PC-Engine (1989)
 * Sony PSP (2006, "Capcom Classics Collection Remixed")
 * Sony PlayStation 2 (2006, "Capcom Classics Collection, Volume 2")
 * Microsoft XBOX (2006, "Capcom Classics Collection, Volume 2")


 * Computers :
 * PC (1987)
 * Commodore C64 (1988)
 * Sinclair ZX Spectrum (1988)
 * Amstrad CPC (1988)
 * Atari ST (1988)
 * Commodore Amiga ("Side Arms", 1989, Go!)