Combat School (joystick)
ARCADE

Combat School (joystick)

Released in 1987 by legendary Japanese game developer Konami, Combat School (also marketed as Boot Camp in some regional markets) is a classic arcade action title designed exclusively for joystick controls for arcade halls worldwide. The game puts players in the boots of a new military recruit attempting to pass 7 grueling training courses to earn a spot in an elite special operations unit. Each stage tests a distinct skill set: the obstacle course challenges speed and timing, the shooting range tests precision aim, the grenade throwing course demands control over force and angle, the weightlifting event rewards rapid input skill, the iron man race combines running and swimming mechanics, the armed obstacle course mixes movement and target practice, and the final hand-to-hand combat drill pits you against a skilled drill instructor. Combat School supports 2-player competitive play, where two recruits go head-to-head across the same courses to see who earns the highest performance rank

No download required
Save states supported
Works on mobile & desktop

The emulator loads after you press Start Game.

How to Play Combat School (joystick)

Move
WASD
ABAction
JK
XYShoulder
L;
STStart/Select
21

Save & Load States

  • F2Press F2 to save your current game state at any time.
  • F4Press F4 to load your last saved state.
  • F3Use F3 to switch between save slots.

Save states are stored locally in your browser. They persist across sessions but are cleared if you clear browser data.

Customize Controls

Click the gear icon on the emulator toolbar → "Controls" to remap keys.

Move
WASD
Action
JK|L;
System
2 Start1 Select
Save
F2SaveF4LoadF3Slot

Default layout for ARCADE. Remap in emulator settings.

About Combat School (joystick)

Combat School (joystick) is a classic ARCADE game you can play online for free in your browser. No download or installation is required — click "Play Now" to start instantly. Relive the experience of vintage console gaming with authentic gameplay, right in your browser on any device.

This title is part of the PLAYERETRO game collection, which features over 1000 classic titles across multiple systems. Use the keyboard controls shown above to move and interact. Save your progress with save states and enjoy Combat School (joystick) anytime, anywhere.

Play the original 1987 Konami Combat School (joystick) arcade game for free on PLAYERETRO. Complete grueling military training courses, compete in 2-player mode, and unlock the secret hostage rescue m

Game Guide

Mastering Combat School (joystick) is all about learning the unique rhythm of each training course and making the most of your joystick’s full range of motion. For the opening obstacle course: wiggle your joystick left and right as rapidly as possible to build top running speed, and time your jump button presses exactly when you reach the front of each hurdle to clear them without losing momentum. When you reach the barbed wire section, hold the joystick down to crawl underneath, and switch back to rapid wiggling immediately after to regain speed as fast as possible. For the shooting range stage: use your joystick to aim steadily, and prioritize moving enemy target dummies over stationary ones to earn 2x more points per hit. Avoid hitting the red friendly target dummies at all costs, as each friendly hit will deduct 20% of your total stage score and may cause you to fail even if you hit most enemy targets. For the grenade throwing stage: tilt your joystick up to raise your throwing angle, and hold the action button to build throwing force. For targets 20 to 30 meters away, hold the button for 1.5 seconds and keep the joystick at a 45-degree angle for the most consistent hits. For the weightlifting stage: wiggle the joystick left and right as fast as you can without pausing to fill the power bar before the timer runs out—even a half-second pause will reset your progress, so maintain a steady, rapid rhythm. For the final drill instructor combat stage: hold the joystick left to dodge his heavy punches, and tap the action button when he pauses after an attack to land clean hits without taking damage. If you earn an A rank in every standard course, the secret hostage rescue mission will unlock: move slowly through the base corridors, and aim for enemy heads to take them down in one hit before they can fire at you.