Solar Striker Game by Nintendo Reviewed by BoomerIB Robotica19@aol.com Size: 512 kilobits Save: Nope. Released: 1989 Works with: All Game Boys **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: Hard? Oh hell yeah. Fun? Definetly, one of those games that you pick up and play for a few minutes, get frustrated, keep playing until you can get past the first 2 levels without getting hit once, then strut around telling people "I made it past level 2 without dying once!" then realize that this game is very old, possibly older than you, and watch these people look at you as if you've grown another head... **************************************************************************** Gameplay Descripion: Yes, it's fun. It can be very fun too if you get good at it, although you'll have a hard time beating this one... even if you do, you'll most likely go back to it for another round. You get the usual power up the lasers deal, the usual point systems, high score stuff, big bad bosses, a few cheap bosses ( especially that 4th level boss! ARRRGGHHH!!!! ) and of course the usual surprise here and there. Controls are very responsive as well, and collision detection is perfect. Liked: Control, bosses, some strategy involved. Hated: Cheap-o bosses sometimes. Not always, but there's always that one guy... lack of a save feature makes it worse too. There could've been more than 4 levels of lasers too... **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: Not bad actually, even with the fact that this was made 11 years ago. Title and game over screens are especially purty... but of course, the main screen ain't bad either. Backgrouns vary very nicely throughout each stage, weapon effects look alright, explosions look okay, the ship looks nice, and the enemies look pretty good, although very few of them are animated. The best part is easily the bosses... they can get pretty damned big, and are very detailed. Liked: Backgrounds, the main ship, weapon effects, big detailed bosses. Hated: Enemies aren't very interesting, but still look okay. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: Ahhhh... the audio. Definetly a treat, especially the first level's music. Boss music is good too, if not a little repetitive. Sounds are your average deal, except when fighting a boss, your lasers make a sound of this weird clanging thing. I guess it's supposed to be the armor chipping away of the boss. But anyways it's pretty good nonetheless. One more note: the game over music is rather depressing... mix that with the screen you're shown, and it actually made me cry once. I failed my mission... I won't let it happen again! Liked: Great, memorable music. Hated: Average sound effects, and thegame over screen may truthfully depress some for failing their mission... but it sure made me wanna go back and try again. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: Very nice! Your ship moves around at a perfect speed, the enemies perform reasonably smart ( some weave all over the place ) and everything is spot-on. Liked: Spot-on controls and feel. Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Improve: Definetly color support, and possibly a deeper power-up system and password save. Ship selection wouldn't be bad either... is that asking too much? RIYL: R-Type style games, and any other traditional space shooter. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Hard as hell to find ( try funcoland.com ) but definetly worth picking up. It's one of those games you'll just keep going back to, and it ALMOST always feels like it's your fault for dying, not the game's. ( Stupid @#(%^*@^% 4th boss!! ) **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: **** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: **** Play Control/Game Design: **** Personal Opinion: ***** Total: 21 Final Score: 84% **************************************************************************** Currently Known Codes: Interesting little thing way to beat the first boss: When you get to the first boss, just keep dodging it's shots. If you dodge them long enough ( it shouldn't take long ) the ship will get tired of you and fly on to where it was going. A little odd, but it works. And it'll count as beating him, too.