Armed Police Batrider (Europe) (Fri Feb 13 1998)

Armed Police Batrider rewards intentional play and knowledge of its hidden systems far more than fast reflexes alone, so follow these tips to clear even the hardest difficulty runs. First, prioritize character selection based on your skill level: if you’re new to the game, pick Miyamoto, whose wide spread shot and fast charging special attack clear enemy waves easily without requiring precise positioning. For veteran players, the hidden character Black Heart (unlocked by holding the start button while selecting any character 5 times in a row) offers the highest damage output in the game, perfect for speedrunning or one-credit clears. Always collect as many “Batrider Coins” scattered across levels as possible: every 100 coins you collect grants you an extra life, and collecting 500 coins in a single run unlocks the secret final boss fight for the true ending. When facing bosses, focus fire on their weak points (marked by flashing red lights on their chassis) instead of spraying shots randomly: you’ll deal 3x more damage, cutting fight times in half and reducing the number of attack patterns you have to dodge. Never waste your special attack on small enemy waves: save it for moments when you’re surrounded by projectiles with no escape route, or for the final phase of boss fights where attack density spikes drastically. The European version’s unique “rank adjustment” system means your difficulty increases as you collect more power-ups, so if you’re struggling with too many on-screen enemies, avoid picking up extra shot power upgrades until you’ve mastered the current level’s patterns. Finally, keep an eye out for hidden level warps: shooting the large neon “Z” signs scattered in the background of the first three levels will teleport you past two full levels, giving you a huge advantage for late-game runs.