Re-released as both Arcade Archives and Arcade Archives 2, Air Combat 22 is a storming 3D polygon game with Top Gun vibes.
While SEGA’s Afterburner was a popular title, it lacked a bit in the realism stakes. Air Combat 22 did a better job of mixing realistic combat and arcade thrills, and it is out today on the Nintendo Switch 2!
This is the original Air Combat 22, which featured “hypersonic air battles on the System Super 22 hardware!!” back in 1995. The System Super 22 was a 32-bit unit which hosted various Namco 3D arcade games between 1992 and 1996.
Filled 3D polygon graphics in the arcades that they were replicated on some 16-bit systems (like the Amiga) and anything that delivered a Top Gun-style experience was considered worth playing.
Here’s the trailer:
Air Combat 22 in action
Dropping you into white-knuckle missions with various air and ground targets, Air Combat 22 is an Arcade Archives and Arcade Archives 2 release. This means that along with faithful reproduction of the game, you get to adjust the difficulty level, tweak the display (perhaps recreating the CRT look), and compete on a global online high score table.
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You’ve also got additional game modes: Original Mode, High Score Mode, and Caravan Mode, while the Arcade Archives 2 adds Time Attack Mode and Network Mode. There are also save states, while the Arcade Archives 2 release adds rewind function.
Air Combat 22 is now available on Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5, and with the Arcade Archives 2, on the Xbox Series X|S. Learn more on the Arcade Archives listing for Air Combat 22.
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
