Hammer Away (Japan, prototype)

Hammer Away is a two-player vertical scrolling shooter created by Santos and released by Sega in 1991. Running on Sega’s System 18 hardware, this prototype game places players in control of flying machines battling through waves of enemies. As the player navigates upwards through the stages, they must defeat opponents while avoiding projectiles and obstacles using their ship's weaponry. The game was showcased at the AM Show in 1991 but ultimately remained unreleased to arcades outside of Japan. Little is known about the reasons behind its cancellation. Despite its brief public appearance, Hammer Away represents a unique glimpse into Sega’s development process during that era, offering a fast-paced shooter experience for two players simultaneously.