Artelius

Arterios is a futuristic overhead vehicular combat title published by Nihon Bussan for the Japanese Famicom console. Players pilot an armed combat craft across large scrolling alien terrain, completing mission objectives while engaging hostile tanks, gunships and stationary defence turrets. Featuring eight-direction free movement and upgradable weaponry, Arterios delivers accessible military sci-fi action distinct from the publisher’s better-known bomb-laying maze games such as Booby Kids.

The battlefield scrolls continuously in all directions. The craft fires primary forward projectiles and limited special explosive ordnance capable of clearing groups of threats simultaneously. Destroying designated enemy command posts completes stage goals and unlocks access to subsequent combat zones. Collectible power-ups temporarily boost movement speed, damage output and firing range.

Enemy forces combine fast scout vehicles, heavily armoured assault units and fixed anti-vehicle emplacements creating multi-layer combat pressure. Later battlefields feature tighter rock obstacles that restrict evasive movement space amid dense enemy spawn patterns.

Nihon Bussan’s visuals utilise barren alien warzone tile graphics and clearly distinguishable friendly and enemy unit sprites. Energetic tense combat looping background music sustains constant battlefield tension throughout each mission segment.

Strategically, effective mission completion prioritises targeting command objectives rather than endlessly hunting minor enemy units. Wasting ammunition on trivial foes can leave insufficient firepower to break through heavy defences surrounding critical mission targets.

For contemporary Famicom retro vehicular combat collectors, Arterios is an obscure Nihon Bussan domestic curio showcasing the company’s diverse output beyond bomb-based maze arcade titles on mid-era Famicom hardware.