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AtomVC Monday: It’s sci-fi week on the Virtual Console
This week's Virtual Console update is all about the science fiction. First up is Cybernator for the SNES. A fast paced run-and-gun game set in the future, Cybernator is actually part of the Assault Suits series. You'll pilot a robotic suit throughout seven stages of ever increasing difficulty. Next up is Alien Storm for the Sega Genesis. Yet another one of the Golden Axe/Streets of Rage clones that seemed to be commonplace in the early 90's, Alien Storm has three characters to choose from and eight stages of side-scrolling alien blasting action. Finally, we have Monster Lair for the Turbografx-CD. For those of you who don't know, Monster Lair is yet ANOTHER renamed Wonder Boy title. This time, it's a version of Wonder Boy III. Cybernator is probably the most worthwhile title this week, if you ask me. Alien Storm isn't really all that good, and Monster Lair is actually fairly interesting for how it combines side-scrolling and shmup gameplay.
Cybernator (SNES®, 1 player, rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): It is the near future. Resources are dwindling, and the major powers of the world are in dispute over territory. Pilot the Cybernator G5-E for the 95th brigade of the mechanized marines and throw yourself into the war. Get briefed before each mission to confirm your targets, and then do your best to clear each of the seven stages, freely using the suit's equipped tools and four types of weaponry. By collecting the "power chips" left by defeated enemies, it is also possible to reinforce each weapon up to a maximum of three levels. It is left to your judgment as to whether to reinforce a specific weapon or to power up all weapons simultaneously, adding a bit of strategy to the nonstop action. The powerful background music, military-like atmosphere (look for bullet marks on the walls and the strained communication during combat) and intense story development combine to give the world of Cybernator a gritty, sci-fi feel that you won't soon forget.
Alien Storm™ (Sega Genesis, 1-2 players, rated E 10+ for Everyone 10 and Older - Mild Fantasy Violence, 800 Wii Points): Shape-shifting aliens have infiltrated the city, creating chaos and panic! Fortunately, a trio of heroes called the Alien Busters has agreed to wipe out the invading creatures. The members of the team wield their own special attacks, and they unload a world of hurt on the Martian menaces from the city streets to the mother ship. Gordon, a tough guy with a bazooka, has a special gunship attack, while Karla has a flamethrower for alien crisping, though she prefers to use her special ballistic-missile attack. Finally, Slammer the robot can self-destruct at will and attacks the intruders with an electric whip and other devices. Take the aliens by storm and save your city.
Monster Lair (TurboGrafx16 CD-ROM, 1-2 players, rated E for Everyone - Mild Cartoon Violence, 800 Wii Points): Join young Adam and Laura as they embark on a fantastic adventure in this comical action/shooting game. Featuring beautiful music brought to life by the power of the CD-ROM, the game consists of 14 rounds packed with cute monster enemies. Players can either play alone as Adam (or play with a friend controlling Laura) as they battle their way through round after round. The first half of each round is the action scene, where players must avoid obstacles and pits. Use your Power Boost weapons against enemies and restore your Life Force with food as you head for the gate at the end. The second half is the exhilarating shooting scene, where players must shoot down flying enemies. Take out the boss at the end to clear the round and move to the next one.
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2 Responses to “VC Monday: It’s sci-fi week on the Virtual Console”
December 19th, 2007 at 1:30 pm
Alien Storm’s futuristic premise involving battling aliens really set it apart from the likes of beat-em-up series such as Streets of Rage I think, despite its similarities to these side-scrollers of yore. I really enjoyed the change in environment and enemies most importantly, unlike Final Fight for instance, which pitted players with the requirement of thrashing goons and thugs, as either Karen, Garth, or Scooter the main objective at hand in this situation was wiping out the invading aliens and ultimately saving the world from their vicious attacks.
Better yet, what I really loved about Alien Storm especially was its refreshing change of pace after completing a side-scrolling mission, where you end up in a building as the game switches from a 3rd-person perspective to a 1st-person perspective with the goal in mind changing to blasting aliens in a shooting gallery type mode with the main objective involving taking out the alien invaders by firing at each one that pops out from the building.
Alien Storm will even change up this objective on gamers by including a running section at the end of missions, which in all honesty is quite similar to the side-scrolling levels featured prominently as the bulk or meat and potatoes of this game. However, this title’s game mechanics once again switches it up on you by instead playing like a horizontal shooter with projectile weapons over your typical, run of the mill beat-em-up using melee weapons.
Alien Storm’s unique and varied objectives kept the game fresh by presenting gamers with different missions every step of the way without letting up in even for a second in all 6 stages for the coin-op classic, including an additional 8 in the Genesis port by Sega as well. Best of all, and what I truly appreciate, is how these different playing styles didn’t feel tacked on in the slightest as if a afterthought on Sega’s part or to present a false depth to the action presented in Alien Storm. On the contrary, it stands as one of the greatest aspects of Alien Storm, which is how it flawlessly combines all the best features of a beat-em-up, a shooting gallery, and a horizontal shooter and rolls it up into one grand, magnificent gaming experience.
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December 17th, 2007 at 2:16 pm
Cybernator is so hardcore, but I hate the way the English version takes out the character portraits and crap. Still, a great game. I just prefer Valken (the original version) over it.
The music is great!