Alpha Mission II (ASO II: Last Guardian in Japan) is the vertical shooter SNK released in 1991 for the Neo Geo, a continuation of ASO: Armored Scrum Object. Its most remembered mechanic is the Option Core system: armor spheres the player collects and combines to change the firing pattern, giving the game an extra layer of resource management uncommon in the genre. It's one of the most solid pieces in the Neo Geo's shooter catalog, appreciated for its level design and for that customization mechanic that sets it apart from so many clones of the era. It remains a good entry point for anyone wanting vertical shooters with a bit more tactical depth.
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