Hyper Dyne Side Arms

Side Arms

Company type	Video game
Industry	Video games
Founded	1986
Founder	Capcom
Products	Side Arms (video game)
Parent	Capcom

is a 1986 side-scrolling shooter created and distributed by Capcom for arcade systems. Players take control of a flying mecha combat unit tasked with fighting an extraterrestrial force. Side Arms employs a dual-directional shooting mechanic reminiscent of Capcom's previous shooter Section Z.

Plot

The alien empire known as Bozon initiates a large-scale invasion of Earth. Gamers assume the role of either Lt. Henry or Sgt. Sanders, piloting a massive space mecha called a "Mobilsuit" to repel the attackers. The game accommodates up to two players playing simultaneously.

Gameplay

Movement of the Mobilsuit is managed with an eight-way joystick, while three buttons are used: two for firing left and right, and one for switching between weapons. The mecha can be enhanced with five types of power-ups: increased speed, an orbital bit adding extra firepower, a shotgun that fires in a fan pattern, a three-way shooter, and a mega bazooka emitting a laser beam. Players acquire these upgrades by repeatedly shooting their icons until the preferred power-up appears. Both weaponry and speed can be upgraded two to three times, with the possibility of speed reductions as well.

There are two "Auto" power-ups shaped like enemies from Vulgus that alter firing behavior: one allows continuous shooting when either fire button is held down; the other enables simultaneous shots upward, downward, and forward at a slower firing rate.

Special combination power-ups represented by Greek letters α and β allow the player’s Mobilsuit to merge with a partner’s unit, granting eight-directional attack capabilities alongside standard shooting. In cooperative mode, this fusion combines both mechas—one player controls movement and normal attacks, while the other manages eight-way firing. If the combined form takes damage, both units separate back into individual suits.

Ports

Side Arms was adapted for the PC Engine, launching on July 14, 1989 in Japan through NEC Avenue. Composer Takashi Tateishi revealed that Capcom developed this port but published it via NEC Avenue to avoid conflicts with Nintendo. This version differs from the arcade original by allowing weapon selection through a pause menu but omits the two-player cooperative mode. It also saw release in North America in 1989 under Radiance Software.

An upgraded edition titled Hyper Dyne Side Arms Special was issued for the PC Engine CD-ROM, introducing a new "Before Christ" mode featuring altered gameplay elements.

European home computer adaptations were made available for platforms including the ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC, Amiga, Commodore 64, and Atari ST, developed by Probe Software and published by Go!.

The arcade original Side Arms appears in compilations such as Capcom Classics Collection: Remixed (PlayStation Portable) and Capcom Classics Collection: Vol. 2 (PlayStation 2, Xbox).

In July 2022, Side Arms was added to Capcom Arcade 2nd Stadium, making it accessible on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Microsoft Windows via Steam.

Reception

In Japan, Game Machine listed Hyper Dyne Side Arms as the ninth top-performing table arcade game in February 1987.

The PC Engine edition received a 90% rating from Computer and Video Games magazine in 1989.

Appearances in other games

A miniature rendition of the player's Mobilsuit, known as "Mobichan," functions as a power-up that provides an additional life. During the early 1990s, Mobichan was prominently featured in Capcom console titles, serving as a mode selection cursor, notably in the SNES edition of Street Fighter II. The arcade title Warriors of Fate contains a secret ending where Mobichan characters, dressed as Ryu and Ken, engage in combat.

Mobichan also appears as a bonus item in games such as Super Buster Bros., U.N. Squadron, and Black Tiger. Additionally, it is used as the save icon in the PlayStation release of the Street Fighter Collection (which includes Super Street Fighter II and Street Fighter Alpha 2 Gold).

In Namco x Capcom, the Mobilsuits from Side Arms appear under the names Side Arm α and Side Arm β, supporting characters from Forgotten Worlds. Mobichan makes a brief cameo in Asura's Wrath and is summoned during solo attacks by Devilotte (from Cyberbots) in Project X Zone and Baby Bonnie Hood (from Darkstalkers) in Project X Zone 2.

Other appearances include the continue screen in Mighty Final Fight, a victory emblem in Street Fighter Alpha 2, and as a playable character during the credits sequence of Warzard.

External links

• Side Arms Strategy Guide (TurboGrafx-16) and Advertisement (circa 1990) at TurboPlay Magazine Archives