Equites

Equites is a two-player vertically scrolling shooter released in 1984 by Alpha Denshi Co. Players control spacecraft as they navigate upwards through increasingly challenging environments, battling waves of enemies and dodging projectiles. The game utilizes an 8-way joystick for precise movement and three buttons to manage weaponry or defensive maneuvers. This early example of the shoot 'em up genre features a complex sound system incorporating multiple chips, contributing to its distinctive audio experience. Though published by Alpha Denshi, it was also licensed for distribution by Sega. The game demands coordination between players as they work together to overcome obstacles and achieve high scores – one player currently holds the record at nearly ten million points.