★ CAPCOM PRESENTS ★
AREA 88
WELCOME TO AREA 88. A year ago, a ruthless army of
mercenaries swept across the kingdom of Aslan and
destroyed everything in their path. Guided by the
arms dealers of Project 4, the mercenaries now
control every area of the country—except one...
— INSERT COIN TO CONTINUE —
U.N. Squadron, known in Japan as Area 88, is a legendary horizontal-scrolling shoot 'em up developed and published by Capcom for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System.
Based on the classic manga series by Kaoru Shintani, the game follows ace mercenary pilots fighting against the terrorist organization known as Project 4 across 16 intense combat missions.
What set U.N. Squadron apart was its revolutionary upgrade shop system — earn credits from downed enemies and use them to purchase new aircraft, weapons, and special equipment between missions.
The game is celebrated for its tight controls, stunning Mode 7 graphics, pulse-pounding music, and intense boss battles that challenged even the most hardened veterans.
GAME FEATURES
A Japanese pilot tricked into signing a contract at Area 88. Exceptional reflexes and combat intuition make him the deadliest pilot in the squadron. His only goal: earn enough to go home.
An American mercenary who fights purely for the thrill and the credits. With nerves of steel and unmatched aggression, Mickey excels in head-on engagements and sheer destructive firepower.
A cool-headed tactician who maximizes efficiency over brute force. Greg's superior situational awareness and speed-focused style allow him to complete missions with minimal damage and maximum credits.
Engage enemy forces across the open desert. Clear the airspace and destroy the Mega Tank at the forward base.
Intercept the enemy's advanced stealth fleet high above the clouds. Engage highly agile fighters and dismantle their massive aerial bomber.
Skim the canopy of a heavily fortified woodland valley. Dodge rising surface-to-air missiles and level the massive Forest Fortress.
Intercept a massive, treaded land-battleship moving across the desert dunes. Evade heavy artillery fire and destroy its command bridge.
Engage hostile mercenary aircraft high above the clouds. Evade hyper-agile dogfighters and shoot down the trio of elusive Stealth Fighters.
Assault an enemy fleet over open waters. Evade depth-charge hazards and anti-air fire to sink the massive nuclear submarine, Seavet.
Launch a low-altitude strike against a heavily armed naval armada. Avoid devastating broadside artillery and dismantle the armor-clad battleship, Minks.
Navigate the narrow gorges of a jagged rocky canyon. Evade falling rock columns and high-speed ambushes to intercept a rogue SR-71 Blackbird.
Navigate a claustrophobic subterranean labyrinth. Evade kamikaze fighters and deploy ceiling-aimed munitions to breach the fortified Ceiling Machine.
Breach the enemy headquarters and execute a multi-phase assault to obliterate the reactor core of the massive Project 4 Airborne Fortress.
| RANK | PILOT NAME | SCORE | AIRCRAFT | STAGE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | SHIN___K | 9,999,990 | X-29 ADVANCED | 16 |
| 2 | MICK_ACE | 8,450,200 | F-15 EAGLE | 16 |
| 3 | GREG__GG | 7,230,600 | F-14 TOMCAT | 16 |
| 4 | ACE_0088 | 6,100,000 | F-15 EAGLE | 15 |
| 5 | SFC_HAWK | 5,880,400 | A-10 TBOLT | 14 |
| 6 | PLR_ZERO | 4,450,200 | F-14 TOMCAT | 12 |
| 7 | AREA_088 | 3,200,900 | F-8E CRSD | 10 |
| 8 | CAPCOM88 | 2,100,000 | F-20 TGRSK | 8 |
Don't spend everything at the first shop. Save up for the F-20 or F-14D early — they make mid-game stages far more survivable.
Ground units provide more credits per kill than airborne enemies. Prioritize them to rack up your score and purchase upgrades faster.
Always stock at least 2 Laser Cannons before attempting a boss stage. Their penetrating shots shred armor fast and safely.
The Extra Armor upgrade in the shop is underrated. Taking one extra hit can be the difference between mission success and game over.
Every destroyed enemy adds credits. On each stage, try for 100% destruction to maximize your upgrade budget for the next mission.
Shin Kazama is the premier choice for speedruns because his main vulcan cannon levels up the fastest. He reaches maximum weapon power with fewer POW gems.