The legendary vertical shoot-’em-up (shmup) Flying Shark has officially made its way to modern FPGA hardware. Developed by the Coin-Op Collection, the game is now available as a core for both the MiSTer FPGA and the Analogue Pocket.
For enthusiasts of the genre, this release brings one of Toaplan’s most influential and punishing titles to modern setups via simple update tools.
A Legacy of Challenge
Released in arcades in 1987, Flying Shark was developed by Toaplan, a developer renowned for defining the “bullet hell” precursor style. The game puts players in the cockpit of a biplane, navigating through dense enemy formations and relentless ground fire. It is famously described by retro gaming communities as one of the most punishing vertical shooters of the era due to its unforgiving difficulty.
Unlike many other shooters, the player’s “bomb” mechanic in Flying Shark does not grant invincibility. While the bomb clears enemies and structures in a blast radius, it does not negate incoming bullets, meaning players must still dodge with precision even after deploying their most powerful weapon.
Regional Differences
Depending on where you encountered this cabinet in the late 80s, the experience varied significantly in name and publisher:
- Japan: Known as Hi Sho Zame (Flying Shark), published by Taito. This is the original version of the game.
- North America: Titled Sky Shark, published by Romstar.
- Europe: Retained the title Flying Shark, published by Electrocoin.
Beyond the name changes, there are subtle differences in gameplay balancing and “dip switch” settings between regions, affecting how quickly the difficulty ramps up and how enemies behave.
Historical Impact and Ports
Because of its massive popularity in arcades, Flying Shark saw a wide array of home conversions in the late 80s and early 90s. Notable ports included the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, Amiga, Atari ST, and the NES. While these ports were popular, they often struggled to capture the exact speed and sprite density of the arcade original.
Whether you are a veteran seeking to “one-credit clear” this classic or a newcomer looking to test your reflexes, the arrival of Flying Shark on MiSTer and Analogue Pocket provides a good way to experience this 1987 classic today.
You can grab this game via updaters, or manually from here.