Choujikuu Yousai Macross: Scrambled Valkyrie (SNES, 1993)
Graphics-8 Sound-8 Control-8 Challenge-8.5 Story-4
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-9 Fun-7.5 Originality-5.5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Manipulate various enemies to use them like options/gun drones
Three different ships with 3 different weapons each (some are pretty similar though)
Good weapon system (you can take a few hits but lose an upgrade each time)
Does quite a good job of retaining the atmosphere of the anime with the ship designs and music
Some funny engrish
Some nice special effects
Difficulty options
Good bosses
+/-
Quite similar to R-Type (including the slower pace)
-
Very unforgiving checkpoint system (none at final level)
Most enemies can't be manipulated (and you'll often lose the enemy you're controlling if you try to to manipulate something else and it fails)
Some manipulated enemies make things much easier
Minor slowdown
Trial & error (cannons popping out of the ground and shooting, enemies attacking quickly from behind, stage 4, final stage (spears), white screen on final boss)
Somewhat weak sound effects
Final boss is much harder than the rest of the game
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-9 Fun-7.5 Originality-5.5
Overall Score-7.5
+
Manipulate various enemies to use them like options/gun drones
Three different ships with 3 different weapons each (some are pretty similar though)
Good weapon system (you can take a few hits but lose an upgrade each time)
Does quite a good job of retaining the atmosphere of the anime with the ship designs and music
Some funny engrish
Some nice special effects
Difficulty options
Good bosses
+/-
Quite similar to R-Type (including the slower pace)
-
Very unforgiving checkpoint system (none at final level)
Most enemies can't be manipulated (and you'll often lose the enemy you're controlling if you try to to manipulate something else and it fails)
Some manipulated enemies make things much easier
Minor slowdown
Trial & error (cannons popping out of the ground and shooting, enemies attacking quickly from behind, stage 4, final stage (spears), white screen on final boss)
Somewhat weak sound effects
Final boss is much harder than the rest of the game