Keio Flying Squadron is a unique shoot'em up on MegaCD. A Japanese shrine maiden on a dragon in ultra-colourful, absurdly humorous levels. Excellent gameplay, fairy-tale visuals. A treasure.
Your verdict
Category
Action Adventure1 player7+
Description
Ninja Rami rides her dragon to recover her temple key stolen by a tanuki in this colourful anime action game. Published by JVC, released in Europe in January 1994. Scrolling action on dragonback, varied and humorous bosses, quality anime animation, sharp humour. Multilingual version.
European distribution of the Compile-adjacent shoot 'em up by JVC/Victor, shipped in a jewel case with an English manual translated from the Japanese by Sega Europe. The European copies retain the original Japanese-animated intro with subtitles, unlike the partially re-dubbed North American version. That linguistic preservation makes this the favored version among anime-flavored shmup enthusiasts and late-cycle Mega-CD collectors.
An underrated gem
Behind its kimono-clad heroine riding a dragon hides a horizontal shooter brimming with humour and Japanese-cartoon animation. Too quiet and confined to a niche format, it barely found its audience in Europe. Short and not very hard, it will nonetheless charm those who love action games full of colour and whimsy.
Is Keio Flying Squadron still worth playing in 2026?
A horizontal shooter by Victor Entertainment, Keio Flying Squadron offers a cute adventure in which Rami rides a dragon through colourful battles with a good dose of Japanese humour. The cartoon animations, readable patterns and catchy soundtrack make it a charming and accessible experience. Short but carefully crafted, the title keeps a very particular kawaii flavour that few shoots have reproduced. For anyone seeking an atypical and joyful horizontal shoot on Mega CD, a warm recommendation today still on the console here in the catalogue truly indeed.
