Power Gate (PC Engine HuCard) [Retro]

Power Gate is a 2D side-scrolling shooter with gameplay similar to U.N. Squadron / Area 88. You pilot a realistic jet against other realistic enemies, jets, tanks and so on.

For the power-up system you collect items dropped by certain enemies (the red ones like in Area 88) that consist of speed up or down or a regular power-up for the main shot. You can also collect several special weapons more powerful than the regular straight-forward bullets or ground-bombing shots. Special weapons include smart bombs, a time limited invulnerability, a sort of after-image effect, homing missiles and other kinds of attacks. When you use them your jet also backfires, attacking enemies coming from behind. You cannot cycle between the special weapons and you can only use them in the order you picked them.