A likeable Kaneko horizontal shooter, great in two-player, with varied weapons and a brisk pace. It won't revolutionise the genre but delivers a fine time.
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Category
Shooter1 player7+
Description
Space fighters battle enemy formations in this Kaneko horizontal shoot'em up for Mega Drive. Published by Kaneko, released in the United States in July 1991. Horizontal shoot'em up with varied power-ups, progressive levels and complex bosses in a sci-fi universe.
Complete: box, manual and disc/cart very clean. Lightly handled.
Q1 damagedQ6 completeQ10 new
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Collector interest
North American Genesis edition of Kaneko's horizontal shooter, released in 1991 as Air Buster, distinct from the Japanese Aero Blasters name. A faithful arcade conversion, this two-player simultaneous shmup stays well regarded among 16-bit shooter fans without reaching the genre's peaks. Its moderate value reflects a reasonable US run and steady niche demand, scarcity arising mainly from complete US cardboard-box sets rather than the cartridge itself.
Is Air Buster still worth playing in 2026?
Air Buster is the Western version of Kaneko's horizontal shoot'em up, in which space fighters face dense enemy waves with varied power-ups. The snappy pace, imposing bosses and a two-player co-op mode bring genuine arcade fun, in line with the good shmups of the era. The high difficulty and a classic flow temper the originality. For fans of retro horizontal shooters and tough challenge solo or in pairs, it is a solid representative of the genre on the machine.
