Aurail

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Aurail is a 1990 arcade shooter by Westone and Sega. You pilot a tank mecha that can shoot in eight directions and fight bosses to move to the next level. Collect energy from defeated enemies as power orbs to power shields (up to three) and to fuel a robotic orb that accompanies you and can attack enemies when you have energy. Some stages switch to a top-down view where you can aim in eight directions; auto-fire is available, but you can’t move while firing. The tank dies in one hit unless you have shields. Other stages are first-person tunnel levels where you fend off waves of enemies and dodge mines; you can move while auto-firing, but the robotic orb isn’t present there. Power orbs can still be collected, and the orb’s attack is controlled in the top-down stages, while in the first-person stages the same control is used to turn the tank around. In North America, Aurail was released as an arcade conversion kit. Blood Gear (1994) credits itself as "Aurail Scenario 2," but Westone says Blood Gear is not a sequel. The game also references a lost civilization, though that isn’t established as a continuation.