ZAS (GB, 1992)
Graphics-9 Sound-8.5 Control-8 Challenge-8 Story-5?
Level Design-8 Frustration-7.5 Fun-8 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-8
+
Gun drone formation toggle (focus fire or spread)
Very detailed and varied visuals, Large and detailed bosses, Pretty impressive music for the chip
Mini-bosses
Very good variety
Shield power up (3 more HP)
Some creative level design (paths that gradually build up in level 4, final boss splits in two and revives itself)
Good bosses overall (final one has two forms)
Level select (any penalty?)
Difficulty options (easy to hard, same ending on hard)
+/-
Lose weapon upgrades after dying (can be bad due to fairly frequent checkpoints and not being guaranteed to get any upgrades before a boss if you died at it - not overwhelming though)
Sound only indication that you're damaging a boss
Can't shoot down/backwards or to the sides
No ship speed options or upgrades?
Power up distribution is independent of how well you play?
Power up containers fly off screen fairly quickly if you don't destroy them
Minor slowdown
-
No alternate weapons
Trial & error (boss patterns, level hazards, some attacks from behind)
No invincibility time after taking a hit with the shield on
Some flicker
Fake transparency flicker effect is pretty noticeable (emulation issue?)
Weak explosion SFX overall
A bit short (25-30 mins if you don't die)
Level Design-8 Frustration-7.5 Fun-8 Originality-6.5
Overall Score-8
+
Gun drone formation toggle (focus fire or spread)
Very detailed and varied visuals, Large and detailed bosses, Pretty impressive music for the chip
Mini-bosses
Very good variety
Shield power up (3 more HP)
Some creative level design (paths that gradually build up in level 4, final boss splits in two and revives itself)
Good bosses overall (final one has two forms)
Level select (any penalty?)
Difficulty options (easy to hard, same ending on hard)
+/-
Lose weapon upgrades after dying (can be bad due to fairly frequent checkpoints and not being guaranteed to get any upgrades before a boss if you died at it - not overwhelming though)
Sound only indication that you're damaging a boss
Can't shoot down/backwards or to the sides
No ship speed options or upgrades?
Power up distribution is independent of how well you play?
Power up containers fly off screen fairly quickly if you don't destroy them
Minor slowdown
-
No alternate weapons
Trial & error (boss patterns, level hazards, some attacks from behind)
No invincibility time after taking a hit with the shield on
Some flicker
Fake transparency flicker effect is pretty noticeable (emulation issue?)
Weak explosion SFX overall
A bit short (25-30 mins if you don't die)