The arcade version uses a first-person perspective and features full 3D movement throughout its environment, represented with large numbers of scaled sprites.

The Master System features completely different levels and a less overtly military theme from its arcade counterpart and should not be considered a port or a conversion as much as a tie-in game.

In Japan, Game Machine listed Air Rescue on their May 15, 1992 issue as being the third most-successful upright arcade unit of the month.

[4] In Play Meter magazine, Jim Overman gave the arcade game a rating of 92% and a "gut feeling" score of 8 out of 10.

They said "Sega are the tops" in technology, with praise for the "stunning visuals, playability" and "an interesting co-operative two player option."