This After Burner II arcade port holds up remarkably well despite the technical compromises. The speed, the missiles, the rush : the essentials are all there.
Your verdict
Category
Rail Shooter1 player7+
Description
The player pilots a fighter jet in third-person view to shoot down targets in this Sega rail shooter. Published by Sega, released in Europe in June 1990. Aerial rail shooter with third-person view, varied interdiction missions and high-speed aerial dogfights.
After Burner II review
4/5
Art direction
★★★★★
"Striking"
3/5
Music
★★★★★
"Memorable"
1/5
Story
★★★★★
"Anecdotal"
Gameplay
"Solid"
Fun
"From the very first minutes"
Addictiveness
"Engaging"
Difficulty
"Balanced"
Lifespan
"Short"
Technical info
💾0,23 MB📅01/06/1990
Published by Sega
After Burner II (Mega Drive) price, value & rarity
Sega's 1990 port of the famous arcade rail shooter, released in Europe early in the Mega Drive's life. Extremely common loose, it stays one of the console's most accessible titles, which explains a minimal loose value. The dramatic jump to sealed examples comes from the scarcity of unopened boxes of a common launch-era game, quickly torn open and played. Desirability therefore concentrates on sealed stock, not the unremarkable cartridge.
Is After Burner II still worth playing in 2026?
After Burner II brings Sega's aerial rail shooter to Mega Drive, in which you pilot a fighter in a rear view to down squadrons with cannon and missiles. The conversion keeps the exhilarating sense of speed and the frantic pace of the cabinet, despite inevitable technical sacrifices against the arcade. The gameplay stays simple and snappy, cut for short sessions. For fans of retro rail shooters and 80s aviation aesthetics, it is a pleasant port, faithful to the original spirit.
