Metal Storm
By: Manuel
System: Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Irem

Introduction

It has been 16 years. No! Not 16 years since you were born, I’m talking about the release of one of the greatest NES games of all time. That game is Metal Storm developed by Irem America Corp, the creators of the highly acclaimed shooter R-Type. Even though this game has been out for so long it is likely that you haven’t played it or seen it before. The main reason for this is that Nintendo released the SNES that same year while Metal Storm was being left behind with the 8-bit generation. C’mon don’t start crying yet, we are here to bring these jewels back to the surface where they belong.

Before starting lets make sure you guys get into the NES era by showing the complexity of this game’s story. Below is the story as told by the game designers in the Game Manual:

“The year is 2501, and the dawning of a new century has brought mankind to the brink of disaster. The powerful LaserGun on the planet Pluto's battle station "Cyberg" is wreaking havoc. It was originally designed to protect Earth from hostile aliens, but, due to a computer malfunction, is systematically destroying all the planets in the Solar System! Most recently the Earth Nation watched helplessly as Neptune exploded.

The system's self-destruct device could stop the LaserGun, but it has mysteriously jammed and is aimed at Earth. Even if the device can be manually activated, there is still only a slim chance that Earth can be saved. Your mission is to enter Cyberg using the most sophisticated weaponry available, the M-308 Gunner, and unlock that self-destruct device!”

Review

Metal Storm is a classic shoot-em-up/ action platformer that delivers solid gameplay to the hardcore fan and novice alike. The whole purpose of your existence in this game is to shoot everything that moves while maneuvering through various obstacles. There are different types of enemies who at first seem very easy but progressively get tougher and tougher. Most of them will either shoot at you, try to hit you, or just stand in your way while you are trying to move through the levels.

The levels are varied in both difficulty and looks. Some levels don’t require much effort to beat while others conjure up all your powers as a gamer (including the power to smash your controller thru a window when frustrated!). At the end of each level you’ll encounter a boss who will test your abilities with the M-308 Gunner. These bosses are awfully easy at first but after you reach level 4 they become tremendously tough to beat. You will see the classic spikes of death that appear in every game on earth, moving platforms, and reverse gravity.

What? Reverse gravity? Yes, this is the single aspect of the game that brings it up from an average shooter to an exceptional game. You have full control of the gravity that affects you M-308 Gunner which is a skill that must be mastered in the first level in order to beat the game. All you have to do is hit the A button simultaneously with the direction of gravity you want. This movement creates various tactics that can be employed to move around, especially when you want to get away from those spikes of death. At first this move might appear slightly awkward but with some practice it becomes natural. There are various power ups and weapons at your disposal throughout the game. It is important to note that all it takes to die in this game is one hit, which makes power ups massively important. Some of the items included are a Shield Force, Power Beam, Armor, Extra Time, and a few more. The items are easy to spot since they are just big red letters in the backgrounds.

The graphics in the game are not spectacular but not overly ugly either. There is a good variety of colors and different backgrounds. The best thing about this game in the visual department is that every level is unique. Just keep in mind that this game was released for an 8-bit system 16 years ago. This also applies for the sound department which employs some catchy tunes that will make you sick after playing it a couple of times. The weapon sounds are just different beeps from the 8-bit era that continue to do an excellent job. The game utilizes the password system to save your progress.

Conclusion

Overall this is a great game that every classic gamer should have in his or her library. This game will test your basic gaming skills like timing, jumping, dodging, running, and screaming at the TV. Although the game seems short it still brings the thrills from an era long gone when games were just about gameplay.

Manuel