Post by zavias on Nov 6, 2011 22:32:13 GMT
For my first entry in the SMS Game Club, I thought I would review one of my favorite games:
Cyborg Hunter
Box Art
First thing I wanted to comment on is the box art for both the US and PAL releases of the game. The US version of the game has a full cover picture that has an awesome 80's sci-fi style to it. Also, the background has a black and grey grid as opposed to the PAL version that has the regular white and grey grid.
The US version of the box looks really nice and the back even has some nice pictures with descriptions of the on screen items, etc.
Description on the back of the US cover:
The Year: 2242. You're the toughest bounty hunter in the galaxy. You've amassed a fortune by defeating the most vicious creatures known to man. And now, deep inside the enemy Cyborg Fortress, you can almost taste your next paycheck. But there's a little work to be done before you cash in. Like blasting swarms of deadly Cyborgs with your powerful psycho gun. And a battle-to-the-death showdown with Vipron, the vile Cyborg leader. Prepare yourself for one explosive payday!
Description on the back of the PAL cover:
You are the toughest bounty hunter in the galaxy. Deep inside the enemy fortress, you can almost taste your next paycheck. Blast Cyborgs with your psycho gun. Win the battle with Vipron, the vile Cyborg leader. Prepare yourself for one explosive payday!
The PAL version obviously has a shorter description due to the need to fit 5 different languages on the back.
The one thing they should have kept in though is the very first statement. "The Year: 2242". I'm not sure why they would have not had this as it is likely the most important piece of information in the description.
Game play
The game play on in this game is pretty straightforward. You have to sequentially make it through sections A-F before facing the boss in section G. One thing to note is you have to connect controller 2 to the system in order to access the menu to change weapons and armor. You won't be able to progress in section B without doing so. All of the enemies in the game have a pattern that you can learn and use to your advantage to progress without getting hit. There are certain parts in the game where you HAVE to take damage to progress, so being careful and learning the enemy patterns is crucial to being able to progress in the game. A trick to note is all of the power-ups and enemies re spawn when you enter an elevator, so use this to your advantage.
When you see a power-up or life near an elevator, go in and out of the elevator collecting the power-up until your meter is at max. Do the same with bombs, etc. There are various points in the game where a blonde haired woman named Adina will cut in and tell you some information about your next steps in the game. This is a nice break from the action and gives the game a little bit of a Phantasy Star feel. Another thing to note is that you have infinite continues, so if you die on a level, you can always continue and try it again. With this in mind, you should have no troubles grinding through this game to the end.
Graphics
The graphics in the game are nice and do not suffer from flickering or slow down at all. For a 1988 game, this is pretty impressive. The color palette is well utilized and the character sprites and detailed and well designed.
Controls
The controls in this game are really responsive and once you figure out the patterns of the enemies, the game is really enjoyable to play.
Sound
The sound is typical master system quality and I thought it is some of the best sound of any game on the system, up there with Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.
Walkthrough
Below is a walkthrough that I created while playing through the game. Hopefully it is of some use to you as you make your way through.
Section A is an easy stage where you have to get the shield at the very top of the level. Be sure to max out your life and psycho power before exiting this section and progressing to section B.
Section B is even easier than Section A. Be sure to equip your shield and psycho punch and you will have no problem with the enemies in this area. You will collect the Ray Gun and the Jet Engine in this section. You will need to use the Jet Engine to get the Ray Gun in the top left because there is an area that you cannot jump over without taking damage.
In Section C, you will need the psycho punch to defeat the enemies, as the Ray Gun will not do damage to one of the enemies. Save your psycho power for defeating the tougher enemies, and the red enemies that fall down can easily be defeated with your regular punch in one hit. At the end of this section, there will be a cut scene telling you to use your Ray Gun to defeat the boss, so before entering the door, be sure to equip the Ray Gun and the shield. The best place to stand to defeat him is right at the entrance, as you can repeatedly shoot the Ray Gun and he will keep jumping, hitting the wall and then landing in the same spot. You may take some hits, but you should be able to easily defeat him with this method. After defeating him, you will get ID Card 1, and you will also get an increase in your life meter and psycho power meter. Exit section C and then use the ID card to progress to section D.
In Section D, you will have to go to the middle section of the third floor in order to get the light gun. This is needed in order to see anything on floors 2 and 5. Floor 2 has nothing on it, so progress directly to floor 5. At the end of floor 5, you will find a room that contains the psycho gun. Exit Section D and progress to Section E.
In Section E, you will again need the light gun in order to see anything. Save all of your psycho power in this level for the boss as you will need it. Make your way up to the very top right section and be sure to equip the psycho gun before entering the boss's room. Rapidly fire the psycho gun on the boss until he has been defeated and you will receive ID card 2. You will again receive an increase to your life meter and your psycho power meter. Exit the Section and then use ID card 2 to open the door and proceed to section F.
In Section F, you will have to equip your light gun to see in some of the floors. One thing to note with this level is that you MUST defeat all of the green enemies in the level or you will not be able to exit after defeating the boss. Make your way up to the top right of the level with the center elevator and be sure to equip your psycho gun before entering the boss's room. To defeat him, repeatedly hit him with the psycho gun and jump and dodge his projectiles. After he is defeated, you will receive ID card 3. Exit the section and use ID card 3 to open the door and proceed to section G.
In Section G, save all of your psycho power for the final boss. Some of the enemies will take some life off, but it is important to ration your psycho power for the boss. On the 3rd floor, there is also a life up that you can use to refill your life before fighting the final boss. Before entering the final boss's room, equip the jet engine and the psycho gun. When the boss is charging up, do not shoot him as it will not damage him. Fly over him and then shoot him again when he stops charging. The middle of the screen is probably the best place to be located when firing on him.
The ending of this game is fairly lackluster. When you defeat the boss, here is Adina says: "Paladin, You've done a great job! Everybody in the base station is very pleased. The last step is to return to the base station where you will be welcomed and applauded for your accomplishment. This will be our last communication. See you next at the base station. It then shows some wire frame figures with Paladin, Catherine and Trevor before saying The End. I have no idea who Catherine or Trevor are. Looking through both the US and PAL manuals, I found no mention of Catherine or Trevor, so I am at a loss as to who they are....
Conclusion
Overall, it is a fun platform game and well worth the play through. I am still confused as to who Trevor or Catherine are, but I'm sure someone here on the forum should be able to enlighten me as to who they are.
Cyborg Hunter
Box Art
First thing I wanted to comment on is the box art for both the US and PAL releases of the game. The US version of the game has a full cover picture that has an awesome 80's sci-fi style to it. Also, the background has a black and grey grid as opposed to the PAL version that has the regular white and grey grid.
The US version of the box looks really nice and the back even has some nice pictures with descriptions of the on screen items, etc.
Description on the back of the US cover:
The Year: 2242. You're the toughest bounty hunter in the galaxy. You've amassed a fortune by defeating the most vicious creatures known to man. And now, deep inside the enemy Cyborg Fortress, you can almost taste your next paycheck. But there's a little work to be done before you cash in. Like blasting swarms of deadly Cyborgs with your powerful psycho gun. And a battle-to-the-death showdown with Vipron, the vile Cyborg leader. Prepare yourself for one explosive payday!
Description on the back of the PAL cover:
You are the toughest bounty hunter in the galaxy. Deep inside the enemy fortress, you can almost taste your next paycheck. Blast Cyborgs with your psycho gun. Win the battle with Vipron, the vile Cyborg leader. Prepare yourself for one explosive payday!
The PAL version obviously has a shorter description due to the need to fit 5 different languages on the back.
The one thing they should have kept in though is the very first statement. "The Year: 2242". I'm not sure why they would have not had this as it is likely the most important piece of information in the description.
Game play
The game play on in this game is pretty straightforward. You have to sequentially make it through sections A-F before facing the boss in section G. One thing to note is you have to connect controller 2 to the system in order to access the menu to change weapons and armor. You won't be able to progress in section B without doing so. All of the enemies in the game have a pattern that you can learn and use to your advantage to progress without getting hit. There are certain parts in the game where you HAVE to take damage to progress, so being careful and learning the enemy patterns is crucial to being able to progress in the game. A trick to note is all of the power-ups and enemies re spawn when you enter an elevator, so use this to your advantage.
When you see a power-up or life near an elevator, go in and out of the elevator collecting the power-up until your meter is at max. Do the same with bombs, etc. There are various points in the game where a blonde haired woman named Adina will cut in and tell you some information about your next steps in the game. This is a nice break from the action and gives the game a little bit of a Phantasy Star feel. Another thing to note is that you have infinite continues, so if you die on a level, you can always continue and try it again. With this in mind, you should have no troubles grinding through this game to the end.
Graphics
The graphics in the game are nice and do not suffer from flickering or slow down at all. For a 1988 game, this is pretty impressive. The color palette is well utilized and the character sprites and detailed and well designed.
Controls
The controls in this game are really responsive and once you figure out the patterns of the enemies, the game is really enjoyable to play.
Sound
The sound is typical master system quality and I thought it is some of the best sound of any game on the system, up there with Alex Kidd in Shinobi World.
Walkthrough
Below is a walkthrough that I created while playing through the game. Hopefully it is of some use to you as you make your way through.
Section A is an easy stage where you have to get the shield at the very top of the level. Be sure to max out your life and psycho power before exiting this section and progressing to section B.
Section B is even easier than Section A. Be sure to equip your shield and psycho punch and you will have no problem with the enemies in this area. You will collect the Ray Gun and the Jet Engine in this section. You will need to use the Jet Engine to get the Ray Gun in the top left because there is an area that you cannot jump over without taking damage.
In Section C, you will need the psycho punch to defeat the enemies, as the Ray Gun will not do damage to one of the enemies. Save your psycho power for defeating the tougher enemies, and the red enemies that fall down can easily be defeated with your regular punch in one hit. At the end of this section, there will be a cut scene telling you to use your Ray Gun to defeat the boss, so before entering the door, be sure to equip the Ray Gun and the shield. The best place to stand to defeat him is right at the entrance, as you can repeatedly shoot the Ray Gun and he will keep jumping, hitting the wall and then landing in the same spot. You may take some hits, but you should be able to easily defeat him with this method. After defeating him, you will get ID Card 1, and you will also get an increase in your life meter and psycho power meter. Exit section C and then use the ID card to progress to section D.
In Section D, you will have to go to the middle section of the third floor in order to get the light gun. This is needed in order to see anything on floors 2 and 5. Floor 2 has nothing on it, so progress directly to floor 5. At the end of floor 5, you will find a room that contains the psycho gun. Exit Section D and progress to Section E.
In Section E, you will again need the light gun in order to see anything. Save all of your psycho power in this level for the boss as you will need it. Make your way up to the very top right section and be sure to equip the psycho gun before entering the boss's room. Rapidly fire the psycho gun on the boss until he has been defeated and you will receive ID card 2. You will again receive an increase to your life meter and your psycho power meter. Exit the Section and then use ID card 2 to open the door and proceed to section F.
In Section F, you will have to equip your light gun to see in some of the floors. One thing to note with this level is that you MUST defeat all of the green enemies in the level or you will not be able to exit after defeating the boss. Make your way up to the top right of the level with the center elevator and be sure to equip your psycho gun before entering the boss's room. To defeat him, repeatedly hit him with the psycho gun and jump and dodge his projectiles. After he is defeated, you will receive ID card 3. Exit the section and use ID card 3 to open the door and proceed to section G.
In Section G, save all of your psycho power for the final boss. Some of the enemies will take some life off, but it is important to ration your psycho power for the boss. On the 3rd floor, there is also a life up that you can use to refill your life before fighting the final boss. Before entering the final boss's room, equip the jet engine and the psycho gun. When the boss is charging up, do not shoot him as it will not damage him. Fly over him and then shoot him again when he stops charging. The middle of the screen is probably the best place to be located when firing on him.
The ending of this game is fairly lackluster. When you defeat the boss, here is Adina says: "Paladin, You've done a great job! Everybody in the base station is very pleased. The last step is to return to the base station where you will be welcomed and applauded for your accomplishment. This will be our last communication. See you next at the base station. It then shows some wire frame figures with Paladin, Catherine and Trevor before saying The End. I have no idea who Catherine or Trevor are. Looking through both the US and PAL manuals, I found no mention of Catherine or Trevor, so I am at a loss as to who they are....
Conclusion
Overall, it is a fun platform game and well worth the play through. I am still confused as to who Trevor or Catherine are, but I'm sure someone here on the forum should be able to enlighten me as to who they are.