IMDb RATING
6.7/10
6
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Featured review
Underground Adventure Novel
This is another entry for the under the radar series. This is a really unique game as there really aren't that many like it for the NES, it's similar in nature with mainly the "Golgo 13" Nes games "Top Secret Episode and "The Mafat Conspiracy" (both also under the radar gems and stories for another time). All those games are what you would call visual novel games where the story constantly develops as you play more and more. The visual novel genre is commonplace now but you have to understand, this was for the NES it wasn't a genre touched upon on video game consoles except on the PC at the time; having a game like this for the NES system really showed what more the system was capable of and what more it could do.
The music is decent, it doesn't really have the most memorable NES tunes but it's serviceable. Graphical presentation is solid, from the backgrounds which really capture the underground but also just bring in that pulpy sci-fi feel to the game. I like the design of the ship you control which is kind of cool as it looks like it could be one of the vehicles for the "M. A. S. K." toy line. The vehicle is two in one as it doubles as both a tank that can roll on the ground and shoot, but it's also a mobile electric drill as there are two giant sized drill bit which let you tunnel through rocky structures. Which I thought was cool being able to make your own way though the impassable. But also the vehicle can fly as it has a hover function where you can go as high and low as you want. Enemies on the game also look good/decent as you have a decent variety of them, one of them sort of looks like "The Beyonder" from "Dungenons and Dragons", probably was an homage to it.
But I really like the anime cut scenes which look really good, almost feel like the game could have been based on an anime series, it isn't as this game is it's own story, which is too bad as it really could of made a really cool anime series. Anyway, really like the animation of the main protagonist you play whom suspiciously looks like a rip on Samus Aran from the first Metroid game if you remember the reveal in the end. Though personally I though she looked like Milia from my favorite anime series "Macross" with the green hair and all. It's funny how this character is in what looks like an 80's aerobic suit throughout the game, why the heck she's in this outfit and how it can provide protection in combat is anyone's guess but it's a video game and an anime like story you just roll with it.
The gameplay is soild, it's broken up as three kinds of games in one much like with the "Golgo 13" NES games. All three sequences are good/decent, the first one you kind of have your typical shooter sequence going from point A to B. But one of the things that are different are that in different chapter you go different directions and also there are some rock formations to get though which is where your drills come into play. But there is a catch as you have a limited amount of fuel, there are some fuel canisters to keep you tank full but their spread out in parts of the levels so don't waste in finding them and clearing the level.
Another is this first person shooter perspective stage where it's similar to the arcade game "Battlezone" as you have to search out the targets and nail them before they nail you. But one thing I like is that there are boss battles and there is a strategy/simulation element where you have to talk to each of your crewmates to perform their duties so your systems are all go and you can take out the boss in your way.
And there are the platform action sections which play out like your Metroidvania, well almost it's actually linear as you go from point A to B but there are some nonlinear elements as you have to search around for certain items to get from point A to B. Or even uncover some secrets and items which will increase your status but also get you to the next part of the story.
The only pieces of fools gold are the game is a little repetitive in places, like some sections of the Metroidvaina parts of the game are the same thing but in a different dress, which they probably are, those were probably just time filler by their nature. I also wish there was more variation in the cut scenes, the constant developing text did keep me intrigued but more visual aids always help and can increase interest and the memorability of the game.
Overall, I like this game it's another game on the B list but nothing wrong with that, as this was no doubt an ambitious game that really was being something different and more, and I felt it did alright. It's also a short and slightly easy game which makes this sort of a flash game if you feel like a light breezy play. This is an under the radar gem worth digging out.
Rating: 3 stars.
The music is decent, it doesn't really have the most memorable NES tunes but it's serviceable. Graphical presentation is solid, from the backgrounds which really capture the underground but also just bring in that pulpy sci-fi feel to the game. I like the design of the ship you control which is kind of cool as it looks like it could be one of the vehicles for the "M. A. S. K." toy line. The vehicle is two in one as it doubles as both a tank that can roll on the ground and shoot, but it's also a mobile electric drill as there are two giant sized drill bit which let you tunnel through rocky structures. Which I thought was cool being able to make your own way though the impassable. But also the vehicle can fly as it has a hover function where you can go as high and low as you want. Enemies on the game also look good/decent as you have a decent variety of them, one of them sort of looks like "The Beyonder" from "Dungenons and Dragons", probably was an homage to it.
But I really like the anime cut scenes which look really good, almost feel like the game could have been based on an anime series, it isn't as this game is it's own story, which is too bad as it really could of made a really cool anime series. Anyway, really like the animation of the main protagonist you play whom suspiciously looks like a rip on Samus Aran from the first Metroid game if you remember the reveal in the end. Though personally I though she looked like Milia from my favorite anime series "Macross" with the green hair and all. It's funny how this character is in what looks like an 80's aerobic suit throughout the game, why the heck she's in this outfit and how it can provide protection in combat is anyone's guess but it's a video game and an anime like story you just roll with it.
The gameplay is soild, it's broken up as three kinds of games in one much like with the "Golgo 13" NES games. All three sequences are good/decent, the first one you kind of have your typical shooter sequence going from point A to B. But one of the things that are different are that in different chapter you go different directions and also there are some rock formations to get though which is where your drills come into play. But there is a catch as you have a limited amount of fuel, there are some fuel canisters to keep you tank full but their spread out in parts of the levels so don't waste in finding them and clearing the level.
Another is this first person shooter perspective stage where it's similar to the arcade game "Battlezone" as you have to search out the targets and nail them before they nail you. But one thing I like is that there are boss battles and there is a strategy/simulation element where you have to talk to each of your crewmates to perform their duties so your systems are all go and you can take out the boss in your way.
And there are the platform action sections which play out like your Metroidvania, well almost it's actually linear as you go from point A to B but there are some nonlinear elements as you have to search around for certain items to get from point A to B. Or even uncover some secrets and items which will increase your status but also get you to the next part of the story.
The only pieces of fools gold are the game is a little repetitive in places, like some sections of the Metroidvaina parts of the game are the same thing but in a different dress, which they probably are, those were probably just time filler by their nature. I also wish there was more variation in the cut scenes, the constant developing text did keep me intrigued but more visual aids always help and can increase interest and the memorability of the game.
Overall, I like this game it's another game on the B list but nothing wrong with that, as this was no doubt an ambitious game that really was being something different and more, and I felt it did alright. It's also a short and slightly easy game which makes this sort of a flash game if you feel like a light breezy play. This is an under the radar gem worth digging out.
Rating: 3 stars.
helpful•10
- hellraiser7
- Feb 6, 2023
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- Also known as
- Vazolder: The Underground Battle Space
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