U.N. Squadron

The game is a typical side scrolling shooter, going against the trend of other Capcom shooters, such as 1942 and 1943: The Battle of Midway , which are vertically scrolling shooters. Like other Capcom shooters, the player has an energy bar that is consumed over the course of a single life as the player sustains damage. This trait is highly uncommon among other comparable arcade-style shooters which normally use a system of reserve lives, where one of which is lost upon a single enemy hit. Before entering a level, the player can purchase special weapons or added defenses in the shop.

The player earns money to buy weapons by destroying enemy planes and vehicles during levels and, when the level is finished, any unused weapons are converted back into money. The player can choose between three mercenary pilots: Shin Kazama, Mickey Simon, and Greg Gates . Each pilot flies a specific plane and has slightly different capabilities. In the Super NES version, each pilot can use a range of planes.

All pilots start out with $3000 and the basic F8 Crusader , and can buy other aircraft and weapons as they progress.