Tengai (World)

Pilots take to the skies in Tengai (World), a fast-paced horizontal scrolling shooter from Psikyo released in 1996. Players choose from five distinct characters, each possessing their own unique storyline and ultimately leading to different ending sequences. As a pilot, you’ll navigate through vibrant enemy formations and challenging level designs, utilizing standard fire attacks and special abilities to overcome the opposition. The game's Japanese title, Sengoku Blade, translates roughly as "Civil War Blade," hinting at its historical setting. Two players can cooperate in Tengai, battling their way through increasingly difficult encounters while earning high scores. A quirky programming quirk prevents players from entering “SEX” on the scoreboard; attempts to do so are met with a humorous message and smiley faces. The game’s soundtrack, composed by Masaki Izutani, was released separately as a limited edition album shortly after its initial arcade debut. Tengai is part of Psikyo's Samurai Aces series, which includes earlier titles like Samurai Aces (1993) and later installments such as Sengoku Cannon. The game rewards dedicated players with hidden features accessible through a test menu – including level skips – achievable by pressing specific buttons during startup.