If you played arcade games through the 90’s, you’ll undoubtedly have tackled one of the seemingly million or so light-gun games that gained widespread popularity in the genre’s arcade golden age after the release of Mad Dog McCree in 1990. None quite so epitomised 90’s radittude quite so much as Midway’s Aerosmith Vehicle, Revolution X though.
Conceived, originally, as a Jurassic Park game before SEGA nabbed the licence, Midway instead re-appropriated the assets, captured the voices and likenesses of Aerosmith’s band members, and bolted on a ludicrous narrative that had you shooting at things, and launching high-speed spinning CDs as deadly projectiles. Rebranded as a spiritual successor instead to its incredibly Successful Terminator 2: Judgement Day.
It was released in 2 and 3 players variants in 1994, as well as as an upgrade kit for existing Terminator 2 machines.
What was it all about?
Aerosmith has been kidnapped by the New Order Nation (NON), an organization whose goal is to enslave all of the world’s youth population by suppressing all forms of entertainment. As one of few remaining free youth, you are equipped with a machine gun and the strongest weapon available: music, to free all of the youth (and Aerosmith, too!) and put an end to the NON menace.
Yes, you not only had to rescue civilians, but if you wanted to unlock the true ending, the members of Aerosmith as well. The game also featured four of Aerosmith’s songs in the game: Eat the Rich,” “Sweet Emotion,” “Toys in the Attic,” and the ending song, “Walk This Way.”
The game itself was a typical rail-shooter with just a few oddities to make it really stand out; it had strippers, dinosaurs, giant jellified skulls, ninjas, identical bad guys in hazmat suits and an impassioned plea from Aerosmith frontman Steven Tyler that you help save the world.
Midway actually had plans of releasing sequels, with one featuring hip-hop bad guys Public Enemy, and another featuring Guns ‘n Roses. The whole thing was scrapped when the home versions of the game – terrible ports with not a single one them using lightguns – failed miserably. As bit of other trivia; Sal Divita, the actor who was digitised as Nightwolf, Cyrax, Sektor, and Smoke in Mortal Kombat 3 played the NON Natives, while Kerri Hoskins – yes, Sonya Blade – was Helga.
Remember, MUSIC IS THE WEAPON!
Last Updated: January 14, 2015
Blood Emperor Trevor
January 14, 2015 at 15:06
That looks totally Xtreme!
Raptor Rants A Lot
January 14, 2015 at 15:14
Xtra cool!
Captain JJ Saga
January 14, 2015 at 15:25
Xhilirating
Mandom (Umar)
January 14, 2015 at 15:16
I had this on PS1 along with Elemental Gearbolt, Time Crisis and Crypt Killer. I was massive into on-rail shooters…..with no light gun lololol I was poor
Hammersteyn
January 14, 2015 at 15:19
Time Crisis and Crypt Killer has a lower pace than this. And you could at least hide behind cover for a while. But this had shit flying of the walls everywhere. Plus if you missed a band member you’d get a bad ending. So you needed a light gun for aiming to easily blow everything up just to make sure you didn’t miss any. Either that or use a FAQ. But back then we only had magazines as guides.
Mandom (Umar)
January 14, 2015 at 15:20
Yup, there was way too much going on. Granted I never put that much time into this game as it was just way too frustrating and bad
Hammersteyn
January 14, 2015 at 15:16
This game was made to suck coins. The 16bit versions were a sin against nature. Even The PS version played like crap with the controller.
Mandom (Umar)
January 14, 2015 at 15:18
Yup, I could manage with light gun games on PS1 with a controller, but this was just…ergh
Hammersteyn
January 14, 2015 at 15:20
Imagine they made a game where they kidnapped Bieber and you have to rescue her?
*Snickers*
Majik
January 15, 2015 at 08:24
One of the few games to never be finished or started.
The D
January 14, 2015 at 15:33
I still have a crush on Helga.