Truxton II

File:ARC Truxton II (Tatsujin Ō).png

Truxton II is a science fiction-themed vertically scrolling shoot 'em up game that plays similarly like its predecessor, Truxton, where players assume the role of two pilots taking control of the HyperFighter space fighter crafts through six stages, each with a boss at the end, in a last-ditch effort to overthrow the returning Dogurava and his Gidan army as the main objective.Truxton II arcade flyer (Toaplan, JP){{cite magazine|last=Uemura|first=Sly|url=https://archive.org/stream/gamest0074#page/133/mode/2up|title=New Game Wasshoi: 達人王|magazine=Gamest|issue=74|publisher=Shinseisha|date=July 1992|pages=132–133|lang=ja}}{{cite web|last=Kalata|first=Kurt|url=http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/truxton-ii/|title=Truxton II|publisher=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=3 November 2011|access-date=2019-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190331045919/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/truxton-ii/|archive-date=31 March 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://shootingstar.game.coocan.jp/tatsujin-ou.html|title=達人王|publisher=Shooting Star|access-date=2019-10-08|language=ja}} Several changes were implemented in the sequel compared to its predecessor such as an autofire mechanism.

There are three types of weapons in the game that can be acquired by destroying incoming carriers, ranging from red napalm bombs that act in a similar way to the red Bakuryu-housen-ka (Exploding Flower) shot from Robo Aleste, the blue homing laser from Truxton, and the wide-reaching salvos of green shots, which replace the red weapon from the original game and each weapon can be powered-up several times by collecting the respective color of each one. In addition, a set of two satellite "options" are activated after collecting any weapon type. There are only two types of collectible items; speed increasers for the ship and bombs capable of obliterating any enemy caught within their blast radius.

In some occasions, players can pick up a 1UP icon to increase their lives reserve. Similar to Dogyuun and Gun Frontier, the game hosts a number of hidden bonus secrets to be found, which is also crucial for reaching high scores to obtain extra lives. The title uses a checkpoint system in which a downed single player will start off at the beginning of the checkpoint they managed to reach before dying. Getting hit by enemy fire or colliding against solid stage obstacles will result in losing a life, as well as a penalty of decreasing the ship's firepower and speed to its original state and once all lives are lost, the game is over unless the players insert more credits into the arcade machine to continue playing. As with previous shoot 'em ups from Toaplan, the game loops back to the first stage after completing the last stage and each loop increases in difficulty.

Truxton II takes place after the defeat of Dogurava and his Gidan army in the original game, where volcanic eruptions have been occurring on a planet for some time, which ultimately culminated in an explosion that revealed the returning Dogurava from his previous defeat and the resurrection of the Gidan army as a result. Under a short time period, the Gidans quickly dominated the galaxy, while few surviving refugees were able to escape from their grasp to deliver news about the current situation to the astroport. Two fighter pilots taking control of the HyperFighter space fighter crafts are dispatched to counterattack the invaders and overthrow their dominance in the galaxy.

File:truxton2.jpg]]

Truxton II marked the first time Toaplan made use of PCM for sound, although the company still made use of FM as well for the project.{{cite web|url=https://vgmdb.net/album/759|title=PCCB-00094 | Tatsujin Ou|work=vgmdb.net|publisher=VGMdb|access-date=2019-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160321035443/http://vgmdb.net/album/1141|archive-date=2016-03-21|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplanmusic/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191022183049/http://shmuplations.com/toaplanmusic/|date=2019-10-22}}).{{cite web|url=https://sweeprecord.com/srin-1100/|title=東亜プラン シューティングクロニクル|work=SweepRecord|publisher=SuperSweep|date=14 November 2011|access-date=2020-02-15|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191021030143/https://sweeprecord.com/srin-1100/|archive-date=2019-10-21|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicle/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180711134859/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicle/|date=2018-07-11}}).{{cite web|url=https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|title=東亜プラン シューティングクロニクル 特設ページ|work=SweepRecord|publisher=SuperSweep|date=27 October 2011|access-date=2020-02-15|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200215231114/https://sweeprecord.com/toaplan-shooting-toku/|archive-date=2020-02-15|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191002072400/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-chronicleqa/|date=2019-10-02}}).{{cite magazine|last1=Kiyoshi|first1=Tane|author2=hally (VORC)|last3=Yūsaku|first3=Yamamoto|title=東亜プラン特集 - 元・東亜プラン 開発者インタビュー: 弓削雅稔|magazine=Shooting Gameside|volume=4|publisher=Micro Magazine|date=3 February 2012|pages=41–48|lang=ja|isbn=978-4896373844}} ([http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-yuge1/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190906023744/http://shmuplations.com/toaplan-yuge1/|date=2019-09-06}}). The soundtrack was composed by Masahiro Yuge and the team wanted to preserve Toaplan's musical style while challenging themselves with new ideas. Due to memory constrains, Yuge only used PCM for drums, prompting him to focus on FM sound instead. In 2020, former Taito designer Tomonobu Kagawa revealed on Twitter that he was involved during the game's development at Toaplan as graphic designer, as well as creating the HyperFighter ship.{{cite tweet|number=1321555808891498496|user=kagap_t|title=初めましてGoldWingさん。東亜プランでは達人王のグラフィックを担当してました。ハイパーファイター号のデザインも私です。|date=2020-10-28|access-date=2020-10-28|lang=ja|archive-date=2020-10-28|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201028221632/https://twitter.com/kagap_t/status/1321555808891498496|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}} Kagawa stated that he was one of the three graphic designers responsible for the pixel art, among them being Naoki Ogiwara as lead artist, who later worked on DoDonPachi at Cave.{{cite tweet|number=1321596566101127168|user=kagap_t|title=DT7は達人王のグラフィックリーダーが関わっています。その人はその後ケイブで怒首領蜂とかの製作に関わりました。発売出来なくて残念なゲームです。|date=2020-10-28|access-date=2020-10-28|lang=ja|archive-date=2020-10-28|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201028234538/https://twitter.com/kagap_t/status/1321596566101127168|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}{{cite tweet|number=1321639287675252736|user=kagap_t|title=正解です。荻原直樹は達人王チームの私の上司です。達人王は3人のグラフィッカーが参加しています。私はそのうちの一人です。翻訳の関係でちゃんと伝わってなかったらすみません。|date=2020-10-28|access-date=2020-10-29|lang=ja|archive-date=2020-10-29|archive-url=https://archive.today/20201029024856/https://twitter.com/kagap_t/status/1321639287675252736|url-status=live|df=dmy-all}}

Truxton II was released on arcades in 1992.{{cite magazine|last=Knauf|first=Andreas|url=https://www.kultboy.com/pic/2420/|title=Arcade-News - Panik im Weltraum|magazine=Video Games|issue=11|publisher=Future-Verlag|date=October 1992|pages=144–145|lang=de}} Prior to release, it was showcased to the public at events such as the 1992 AOU Show.{{cite magazine|last=Yamashita|first=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1992-05#page/n192/mode/1up|title=AOU'92 アミユース、メントエキスポ・レポート|magazine=Micom BASIC Magazine|issue=119|publisher=The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation|date=May 1992|page=209|lang=ja}} On September 18, an album was co-published exclusively in Japan by Scitron and Pony Canyon, featuring an arranged song composed by Yuge. The title later received a faithful conversion to the FM Towns by Ving and was published exclusively in Japan in April 1993, but it features a cropped resolution and the parallax scrolling was removed.{{cite magazine|last=Borrachero|first=David|url=https://archive.org/stream/RetroManiac-Magazine-8#page/n103/mode/1up|title=Japon BITS: La historia del FM TOWNS - Los mejores juegos del FM TOWNS|magazine=RetroManiac Magazine|issue=8|publisher=RetroManiac|date=August 2013|pages=98–115|lang=es}} M2 included a new version of Truxton II as part of their M2 ShotTriggers publishing label.{{cite news|last=Romano|first=Sal|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2020/04/toaplan-shoot-em-ups-twin-cobra-truxton-ii-flying-shark-and-out-zone-coming-to-consoles|title=Toaplan shoot 'em ups Twin Cobra, Truxton II, Flying Shark, and Out Zone coming to consoles - M2 porting the late 80s and early 90s titles|work=Gematsu|date=April 18, 2020|access-date=2020-04-23}}{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2020/04/m2_is_making_a_stupidly_expensive_shooter_more_affordable_on_home_consoles|title=M2 Is Making A Stupidly Expensive Shooter More Affordable On Home Consoles - Along with some other amazing Toaplan titles|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=April 18, 2020|access-date=2020-03-23}}{{cite web|last=Wong|first=Alistair|url=https://www.siliconera.com/toaplans-flying-shark-twin-cobra-truxton-ii-and-out-zone-coming-to-modern-platforms/|title=Toaplan's Flying Shark, Twin Cobra, Truxton II, and Out Zone Coming to Modern Platforms|work=Siliconera|publisher=Curse LLC|date=April 19, 2020|access-date=2020-04-23}}{{cite web|last=Moyse|first=Chris|url=https://www.destructoid.com/out-zone-twin-cobra-and-other-classic-toaplan-shmups-coming-soon-from-m2-587574.phtml|title=Out Zone, Twin Cobra, and other classic Toaplan shmups coming soon from M2 - Save your quarters|work=Destructoid|publisher=Enthusiast Gaming|date=April 20, 2020|access-date=2020-04-23}} The game was announced for release on the Nintendo Switch.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ndw.jp/nd200708-315/|title=Switchにくる! 東亜プランの4タイトル|magazine=Nintendo Dream|issue=315|publisher=Tokuma Shoten|date=July–August 2020|lang=ja}} In 2022, the original arcade version was included as part of the Sega Astro City Mini V, a vertically oriented variant of the Sega Astro City mini console.{{cite web|last=McFerran|first=Damien|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/12/segas-astro-city-mini-is-getting-a-tate-version-packed-with-shmup-goodness|title=Sega's Astro City Mini Is Getting A 'TATE' Version Packed With Shmup Goodness|work=Nintendo Life|publisher=Nlife Media|date=December 17, 2021|access-date=2021-12-17}}

{{Video game reviews

|Edge = (FM Towns) 8 / 10{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/Edge_UK_002#page/n77/mode/2up|title=Testscreen - Tatsujin 2 (FM Towns Marty)|magazine=Edge|issue=2|publisher=Future plc|date=November 1993|pages=78–80}}

|GameFan = (FM Towns) 306 / 400{{cite magazine|last1=Halverson|first1=Dave|author-link=Dave Halverson|author2=Sgt. Gamer|last3=Stratton|first3=Tom|last4=Cockburn|first4=Andrew|url=https://archive.org/stream/Gamefan_Vol_1_Issue_08#page/n10/mode/1up|title=Viewpoint - Marty - Tatsujin|magazine=GameFan|volume=1|issue=8|publisher=DieHard Gamers Club|date=July 1993|page=11}}

}}

In Japan, Game Machine listed Truxton II on their August 1, 1992 issue as being the sixth most-popular arcade game at the time.{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=431|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=1 August 1992|page=25|lang=ja}} In the September 1992 issue of Japanese publication Micom BASIC Magazine, the game was ranked on the number five spot in popularity.{{cite magazine|last=Yamashita|first=Nobuyuki|url=https://archive.org/stream/micomBASIC_1992-09#page/n225/mode/1up|title=Super Soft Hot Information - Video Game: Hot 20|magazine=Micom BASIC Magazine|issue=123|publisher=The Dempa Shimbunsha Corporation|date=September 1992|page=242|lang=ja}}

Truxton II has been met with positive critical reception from reviewers since its initial release in arcades and later on the FM Towns.{{cite magazine|last=Löwenstein|first=Richard|url=https://www.kultboy.com/index.php?site=t&id=15434&s=2|title=Coin Op - Truxton II|magazine=Amiga Joker|issue=36|publisher=Joker-Verlag|date=October 1992|page=123|lang=de}} Andreas Knauf of German magazine Video Games praised the elaborated and detailed presentation, regarding it to be better than Vimana, although Knauf criticized its length. The four reviewers of GameFan praised the FM Towns port for the presentation, graphics and sound, regarding it to be better than the Sega Genesis version of Truxton but some ultimately noted it to be a standard shoot 'em up title. Edge magazine gave the FM Towns port high praise as well but also slight criticism for the use of infinite continues.{{cite web|last=Laurie|first=Malcolm|url=http://www.shmups.com/reviews/tatsujin2/index.html|title=Tatsujin 2 / Truxton 2|website=www.shmups.com|publisher=SHMUPS!|access-date=2019-10-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621123815/http://www.shmups.com/reviews/tatsujin2/index.html|archive-date=21 June 2018|url-status=live}} Damien McFerran of Retro Gamer regarded the FM Towns port as one of the system's "perfect three" games.{{cite magazine|last=McFerran|first=Damien|title=Obscura Machina: Fujitsu FM Towns Marty|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=86|publisher=Imagine Publishing|date=February 2011|pages=62–63}} Kurt Kalata of Hardcore Gaming 101 gave a positive outlook to the game in a retrospective review, praising the detailed presentation and graphics.

Truxton II has since gained a cult following, being cited as an inspiration for Cho Ren Sha 68K,{{cite web|last=Yoshida|first=Koichi|url=http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~yosshin/my_works/postmortem.html|title=超連射68K 開発後記|website=Yosshin's web page|date=12 September 2001|access-date=2020-08-13|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190512090239/http://www2.tky.3web.ne.jp/~yosshin/my_works/postmortem.html|archive-date=12 May 2019|url-status=live}} ([http://shmuplations.com/chorensha68k/ Translation] by Shmuplations. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190702153846/http://shmuplations.com/chorensha68k/|date=2019-07-02}}). while the rights to the game and many other IPs from Toaplan are now owned by Tatsujin, a company named after its predecessor's Japanese title that was founded in 2017 by Yuge, and is part of Embracer Group since 2022.{{cite web|url=http://tatsujin.tokyo/custom.html|title=ライセンス事業|publisher=TATSUJIN Co., Ltd.|date=2019|access-date=2019-10-08|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181225203847/http://tatsujin.tokyo/custom.html|archive-date=2018-12-25|url-status=live}}{{cite web|last=Bravo|first=Roberto|url=https://www.gamercafe.cl/2018/09/12/nueva-compania-tatsujin-asegura-tener-gran-parte-de-las-ips-de-la-extinta-toaplan/|title=Nueva compañía "Tatsujin" asegura tener gran parte de las IPs de la extinta Toaplan|publisher=Gamercafe|date=12 September 2018|access-date=2019-10-08|language=es}}{{Cite web |title=Joining the Embracer Group |url=https://www.tatsujin.tokyo/news/news-en/www.tatsujin.tokyo/news/news-en/www.tatsujin.tokyo/news/news-en/www.tatsujin.tokyo/news/news-en/a27 |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=TATSUJIN ビデオゲーム企画・開発・販売、東亜プランタイトルのライセンス管理 |language=ja}}

A sequel to Truxton II, named Truxton Extreme, was announced by Tatsujin in 2023, as a PlayStation 5-exclusive title.{{cite web | url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/09/truxton-extreme-announced-for-ps5 | title=Truxton Extreme announced for PS5 | date=14 September 2023}}

{{notelist}}

{{reflist|30em}}

• [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/arcade/568984-truxton-ii Truxton II] at GameFAQs
• [https://www.giantbomb.com/truxton-2/3030-42181/ Truxton II] at Giant Bomb
• [https://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=10208 Truxton II] at Killer List of Videogames
• [https://www.mobygames.com/game/truxton-ii Truxton II] at MobyGames
• [http://privat.bahnhof.se/wb831590/toaplansite/allyourbase/truxton2/index.html Truxton II] at The Toaplan Museum

{{Toaplan}}

{{Portal bar|1990s|Japan|Video games}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Truxton II}}

Category:1992 video games

Category:Arcade video games

Category:Cooperative video games

Category:FM Towns games

Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games

Category:Science fiction video games

Category:Shoot 'em ups

Category:Toaplan games

Category:Vertically scrolling shooters

Category:Video game sequels

Category:Video games developed in Japan

Category:Video games scored by Masahiro Yuge

Category:Video games set in the future