In an alternate timeline, the Age of Steel is in full swing and the Motorhead Empire rules the skies with massive battleships and squadrons of fighters. Motorhead makes a mistake when they tread upon the Republic of Silverhead and attempt to take the mining city of Rahl. A clarion call goes out and two mighty vehicles are sent on a mission to topple the Empire - a Striker biplane which flies fast but has lower vitality and the Zep-01 Zeppelin which is slow but starts with higher vitality. Each plane is capable of firing forward, backwards and throwing out mighty lightning bombs which clear the screen of enemy armor. As the game begins, the player shoots out from a large flying fortress and immediately enters the war zone...

   Koutetsu Teikoku from Hot-B was originally released in 1992 for the MegaDrive and Genesis. We were impressed with the solid play mechanics back then and Koutetsu Teikoku (Steel Empire) has enjoyed cult status among shmuppers in the years since. The remake features much improved graphics, a higher color palette and newly stylized lightning bombs which clear the screen of opposing steel. Controls are tight and the game should prove to be a welcome inductee in the libraries of portable shooting fans.