Heavy Unit (ヘビーユニット, Hebii Yunitto) is a horizontally scrolling shooter arcade video game developed by Kaneko and published by Taito in 1988.
The player takes control of a star ship that can transform into a mecha by obtaining a specific type of power up.
Set in 2013, humankind's first artificial star and planet, "Le Tau", is under attack from genetically modified alien monsters.
The player must navigate a "Heavy Unit", a heavily armed, transforming mecha, in order to defeat the onslaught and protect the human colony.
Hidden bonuses (usually 1UPs) can be revealed by shooting certain parts of the scenario or by continuously hitting certain indestructible enemies.