Assault Suits Valken/Cybernator (SNES, 1992)
Graphics-8 Sound-8.5 Control-6.5 Challenge-7 Story-6.5
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-7 Originality-6
Overall Score-7
+
Hidden weapons and power ups
Good variation
Good art direction
Some cool weapons (laser, napalm, charged fist)
Upgradeable weapons (increases strength only, no graphical/range/coverage change)
Nice in-game cutscenes
You can block most projectiles (facing doesn't matter)
Mixes platforming and shooter levels
Good bosses overall
Pretty good dialogue overall
+/-
Limited continues
No life or ammo refill for three levels during the finale
Can't control alternate mechs or change weapons in-between levels (see Target Earth/Assault Suits Leynos)
-
Some control/interface issues (slow targeting controls (moving and firing angle combined during flight making these parts rather frustrating, can lock angle by pressing L button), can't use the shield during flight or speeding, can't jump down through platforms which you can jump up through, some dialogue is easy to miss as it happens during the action, need to stop sliding to be able to turn around, homing missiles rarely move directly towards the target, sometimes sloppy hit detection (explosions, facing when using the shield))
Some cheap stuff (robot snake in the tunnel area, shots from off screen, sudden flight turned on during fight below president's office)
No difficulty options
Some trial & error (bosses, speed tunnel, shots and enemies behind obstacles)
Safe spots vs the final boss
Pretty short (6 stages?)
Some extremely pixelated explosions
Mostly scratchy and weak explosion sounds
Level Design-7 Frustration-8 Fun-7 Originality-6
Overall Score-7
+
Hidden weapons and power ups
Good variation
Good art direction
Some cool weapons (laser, napalm, charged fist)
Upgradeable weapons (increases strength only, no graphical/range/coverage change)
Nice in-game cutscenes
You can block most projectiles (facing doesn't matter)
Mixes platforming and shooter levels
Good bosses overall
Pretty good dialogue overall
+/-
Limited continues
No life or ammo refill for three levels during the finale
Can't control alternate mechs or change weapons in-between levels (see Target Earth/Assault Suits Leynos)
-
Some control/interface issues (slow targeting controls (moving and firing angle combined during flight making these parts rather frustrating, can lock angle by pressing L button), can't use the shield during flight or speeding, can't jump down through platforms which you can jump up through, some dialogue is easy to miss as it happens during the action, need to stop sliding to be able to turn around, homing missiles rarely move directly towards the target, sometimes sloppy hit detection (explosions, facing when using the shield))
Some cheap stuff (robot snake in the tunnel area, shots from off screen, sudden flight turned on during fight below president's office)
No difficulty options
Some trial & error (bosses, speed tunnel, shots and enemies behind obstacles)
Safe spots vs the final boss
Pretty short (6 stages?)
Some extremely pixelated explosions
Mostly scratchy and weak explosion sounds