{{Short description|1990 video game}} {{notability|Product|date=May 2023}} {{Infobox video game |title = Aurail |image = AurailArcadeTitleScreen.jpg |caption = Title screen |developer = [[Westone Bit Entertainment|Westone]] |publisher = [[Sega]] |platforms = [[Arcade game|Arcade]] |released = {{vgrelease|JP|October 1990<ref>{{cite web |title=Aurail |url=https://mediaarts-db.bunka.go.jp/id/M728513 |website=Media Arts Database |publisher=[[Agency for Cultural Affairs]] |access-date=27 September 2021}}</ref>|NA|Late 1990}} |composer= Shinichi Sakamoto |genre = [[Shooter game]], [[first-person shooter]] |modes = [[Single-player]], [[multiplayer]] |arcade system = [[Sega System 16|Sega System 16B]] }}
'''''Aurail''''' is a scrolling [[shoot 'em up]] [[arcade game]] developed by [[Westone Bit Entertainment|Westone]] and released by [[Sega]] in 1990. The player pilots a [[tank]] [[mecha]] and shoots enemies (it can fire in 8 directions), collects [[power-up]]s to increase shields, operates the remote attack drone, and defeats [[boss (video games)|bosses]] to advance levels. It features tunnel levels with a [[first person (video games)|first-person]] view.
In North America, the game was released as an [[arcade conversion]] kit.<ref name="RePlay">{{cite magazine |title=Snazzy at Sega: simple technology provides hi-tech effets in ''Laser Ghost''; ''GP Rider'' offers built-in head to head player competition |magazine=RePlay |date=January 1991 |volume=16 |issue=4 |pages=102, 104 |url=https://archive.org/details/re-play-volume-16-issue-no.-4-january-1991-600dpi/RePlay%20-%20Volume%2016%2C%20Issue%20No.%204%20-%20January%201991/page/102}}</ref>
==Gameplay== Gameplay is divided into two types. Some stages let the player take control of the tank from a top-down 3rd-person view. The tank can shoot in 8 directions. Holding down the fire button enables auto-fire, but the tank is not able to move during that time. The tank is destroyed with one hit, but a certain amount of energy can be used to create a shield, which can take one hit. Up to three shields can be stacked. Energy is obtained by collecting power orbs which are left by shot down enemies. Enemies can also leave a green "D"-power up, which summons a [[robot]]ic orb which will accompany the tank until the next life loss. As long as energy is available, the orb can be ordered to attack a target in range. The other stages are played from a first-person view. The player must fend off several waves of enemies and navigate through destructible mines. In this mode, the tank can also move while auto-firing. Power orbs can again be obtained, but the robotic orb is not present in this mode. The button to make the orb attack is instead used to turn the tank around.
==Relation to ''Blood Gear''== Westone's [[TurboGrafx-16|PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16]] game ''Blood Gear'' (1994) identifies itself as "Aurail Scenario 2" in the ending credits. The game also contains artifacts and references to Aurail as a lost civilization, but Westone co-founder Ryuichi Nishizawa has stated in an interview, that ''Blood Gear'' is not a sequel.<ref>{{cite web | title = Hardcoregaming 101 interview with Ryuu Nishizawa | publisher = IGN Entertainment | date = 2012-12-21 | url = http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/aurail/aurail.htm}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.arcade-history.com/?n=aurail&page=detail&id=150 ''Aurail''] at [http://www.arcade-history.com/index.php?page=news Arcade History] * [http://www.gamefaqs.com/arcade/584030-aurail/data ''Aurail''] at [[GameFAQs]] * {{KLOV game|id=6974}} * [http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/aurail/aurail.htm ''Aurail''] at Hardcoregaming101.net
[[Category:1990 video games]] [[Category:Arcade video games]] [[Category:Arcade-only video games]] [[Category:Cooperative video games]] [[Category:First-person shooters]] [[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]] [[Category:Scrolling shooters]] [[Category:Sega arcade games]] [[Category:Video games about mecha]] [[Category:Video games developed in Japan]] [[Category:Westone Bit Entertainment games]]