Star Jacker (Sega)

Star Jacker is a two-player vertical scrolling shooter released by Sega in 1983. Players pilot one of three linked fighters simultaneously as they navigate through enemy territory. The unique gameplay involves managing all three ships at once; the lead fighter moves and fires, while the trailing ships follow suit, creating a coordinated attack against airborne and ground-based targets. Bombs are also deployed to eliminate obstacles on the lower level. When a player’s fighter is destroyed, the game briefly pauses to re-center the remaining ships before resuming play at the exact point of loss. The challenge lies in maintaining control of all three vessels while dodging enemy fire and strategically utilizing bombs. Star Jacker offers a demanding experience as there are no continues available; once all fighters are lost, the game ends. Running on Sega’s System 1 hardware, this shooter shares some design elements with titles like Xevious. A closer look at the high score screen reveals a hidden detail – the initials displayed spell out the game's title itself.