Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm - Sega CD

Android Assault: The Revenge of Bari-Arm for the Sega CD is a horizontal side-scrolling shoot-'em-up developed by Human Entertainment — widely regarded as one of the finest shmups on the platform alongside Keio Flying Squadron and Gates of Thunder. When colonists on Jupiter's moons come under attack from the rogue nation of Zias, humanity's last hope is Bari-Arm: a prototype ship capable of transforming into a humanoid mech and armed with devastating special weapons. Players pilot Bari-Arm through seven stages of relentless combat — from asteroid belts and planet surfaces to underwater environments and the alien mothership itself.

The ship's transforming mechanic is the game's defining feature: Bari-Arm shifts between space fighter and cyborg form automatically in certain stages, fundamentally changing how it handles and attacks. Holding and releasing the attack button charges a powerful special move. Three distinct weapon types can be powered up from enemy drops — the Thundercracker, Burning Wave, and Chase Cannon — each with different coverage and damage characteristics. Enormous multi-phase bosses cap each stage.

What sets Android Assault apart from the genre's competition is its CD audio soundtrack — HonestGamers called it "all-time great video game tracks" and declared the game "far and away the best shmup on the Sega CD." The fully voiced animated intro cutscene makes excellent use of the CD format, and the multi-layer parallax scrolling gives the game a visual depth that holds up well. At around 40 minutes for a full clear, it is short but intensely replayable.

Developed by Human Entertainment and published by Human Entertainment in Japan as Bari-Arm, the game was localized for North America by Sega in 1994. Hardcore Gaming 101 called it "pulled off with such class and attention to detail that it rises above many of its peers." A strong pick for collectors of Sega CD shooters and fans of early 90s mecha-themed shmups.

Japanese Title: バリアーム (Bari-Arm)
Language: English
Rating: N/A (pre-ESRB release)
Platform: Sega CD
Genre: Horizontal Shoot-'em-Up
Players: 1 player
Developer: Human Entertainment
Publisher: Sega
Release Year: 1994 (North American release: 1994)