After Burner II is the improved version Sega released just months after the 1987 original: same on-rails flight concept piloting an F-14 Tomcat, constant missile pursuit, and a sense of speed that had no equal at the time, amplified by cabinets with a hydraulic seat that tilted with every maneuver. It adjusted the difficulty balance and added small route changes compared to the first version.
Along with Out Run, it's the most cited postcard of what Sega did with its Super Scaler boards: pseudo-3D graphics achieved through scaled sprites and a sense of spectacle that still feels fresh. It's still played today for that combination of simple controls and over-the-top staging.
If you liked this one
