Hyper Force
This one has hyperactive drive
By David SherwinMarch 28, 2005
Quick: how many side-scrolling platform
blasters did Atari release during the commercial life of the Jaguar? If
you’ve just found out the answer to be "none", give yourself a pat on
the back for discovering one of the primary causes of the failure of
Atari’s powerful console, as this genre, populated by Rolling Thunder,
Duke Nukem, and the like, was one of the most popular in the ten
year period after 1985.
Atari did, of course, plan to release its own blasters for the genre’s
numerous fans, but didn’t quite get around to it while churning out such
memorable gems as Checkered Flag and Kasumi Ninja. Atari’s
loss was ultimately Songbird’s game, as Carl Forhan acquired rights to
Hyperforce from its third-party developer after the Jaguar market
collapsed, and gave it a belated release in 1999.
Platform fanatics will probably enjoy Hyperforce‘s varied
challenges and will be pleased to discover that it offers exactly what
they will expect in a typical ‘90s blaster. Hyperforce is not,
however, a title that either pushes the Jaguar’s hardware -- or players’
abilities -- to the ultimate limit, and is consequently not a game for
all tastes.
Gameplay
Platformers are the comfort-food of video gaming: you know what you’re
going to get, so throw away that manual, plug in a joypad, and just
shoot everything in sight. Fortunately, Hyperforce doesn’t mess
around with that cherished formula, with results that are enjoyable --
if just a bit too predictable.
Plot really doesn’t matter beyond the fact that you’re shooting for
profit, not revenge, and that any money collected during gameplay can be
used to purchase powerups and bonuses during gaming intervals. Weapons
powerups are useful, but I found them to be only minimally
differentiated, and the most expensive gun isn’t necessarily the most
useful item to have on hand. Weapons generally last only for the span of
each of the gamer’s initial three lives, and must all be repurchased
when a new life is started.
I noted only a few minor bugs and graphical glitches during my own
playtesting sessions, and these generally don’t effect gameplay to any
significant degree, but can be annoying. On "Rocket 3," for instance,
the upper right corner of the top level contains a hidden area that
contains neither prizes nor exit and is therefore not much of a bonus.
Controls are adequate, but the game’s save feature is rather awkward and
prone to user error. Game restoration functions are also fairly buggy
and may cause the game to crash.
Graphics
If Hyperforce looks like Duke Nukem or any of the
countless imitations of that popular mid-’90s blaster, it’s probably not
much of a coincidence. You’ve seen it all before, and although gaming
environments are rendered quite well here (and better than in dozens of
other Jaguar games), Hyperforce doesn’t win any prizes for
graphic ingenuity.
Game characters are bright and colourful, but perhaps a little too large
for the playing field. Enemies are also plotted well, but they all have
a fairly generic look about them that is common to this type of game.
Hyperforce does boast a few nice touches that helps this game
stand out from the gaming pack. I was impressed with some of the game’s
traps, and liked the way in which some bonuses were displayed to act as
a level guide or map.
Sound and Music
In-game music and sound effects are, like most elements of this game,
pleasant but otherwise unremarkable. The gaming soundtrack is
complementary to the game’s generic futuristic look, but ultimately
repetitive and not particularly evocative of any particular mood or
theme. I’ve heard much better on the Jaguar, and like to compare
standard efforts like this one to efforts in which music is an integral
part of gameplay, such as in Tempest 2000 or the underappreciated
Wolfenstein 3D, which boasts soundtracks that are wonderfully
spooky and varied. Sound in Hyperforce isn’t bad, but it’s not up
to Raiden or Blue Lightning blaster standards, either.
Summary
Hyperforce doesn’t bring very many new things to modern console
gaming and, with its somewhat dated side-scrolling blaster action and
limited graphic environments, is definitely showing its age. That being
said, Hyperforce is a polished and professional effort that will
provide hours of entertainment for most Jaguar gamers.
Game Data |
Scores
|
| Title |
Hyper Force |
Graphics |
75% |
| Publisher |
Songbird |
Sound/Music |
70% |
| Genre |
Action |
Gameplay |
70% |
| System |
Jaguar |
Control |
75% |
|
|
Overall |
73% |
)
)
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