Gain Ground

Gain Ground is an action-strategy shooter set across forty single-screen levels inspired by classics like Gauntlet . You command a party of up to twenty unique characters, each wielding different weapons such as spears, rifles, rocket launchers, or elemental magic, with varying movement speeds and attack ranges . To clear a level, you must either destroy all enemies or reach the exit point with at least one character before time expires . Scattered across each stage are captive characters, who join your party if rescued and escorted safely to the exit . If a controlled character is defeated, they revert to a captive state and can be rescued again, but will be lost permanently if you exit or die before retrieving them . The arcade original, developed by Sega in 1988, featured forty levels spanning historical, fantasy, and futuristic settings .

PC Engine

Released exclusively in Japan on December 25, 1992, by NEC Avenue for the Super CD-ROM², Gain Ground SX (where "SX" stands for "Scroll Extra") is considered one of the best home conversions . Unlike the static screens of other versions, the PC Engine port scrolls vertically to faithfully recreate the arcade levels, keeping the action zoomed in for better visibility . The standout feature is the redbook audio soundtrack by T's Music, delivering dramatic, orchestral CD-quality music that far surpasses other versions . Characters move slightly faster than the arcade original, making the game more accessible, though the three-player mode is reduced to two . The port lacks the extra levels found in the Genesis version, but includes an option to disable a notorious stage 4-8 bug . While the in-game visuals remain basic, the large sprites and high projectile counts provide exciting action .