Archived from groups: rec.games.video.classic (More info?)
Does anybody else remember this NES game?
It was a futuristic, side-scrolling, platform jumper where you play a robot
who can invert gravity locally. It was a third generation release from Irem
in late 1990. I never played it when it was new, as it looked like just
another generic side-scrolling shooter. On a snowy weekend a few winters
ago, I was trying random ROM's for Nesticle and fired this one up. I was
hooked instantly.
This game has one of the few unique play mechanics on the NES. The major
feature is that you can "invert gravity" on yourself mid-jump, which will
cause you to fall up onto the ceiling instead of back down to the ground.
This simple mechanic is fully and elegantly exploited throughout the game.
It makes for some dramatic moments, like when you invert gravity at the last
possible moment before you land on a spike pit. It reminded me a bit of
Bionic Commando's grapple arm in the way it seemed restrictive and clunky at
first, but by the end of the first level, I felt pretty handy with it. By
the end of the game, it was completely second nature and felt just right.
I just did a quick Google and it appears that Metalstorm suffered from poor
distribution. It was featured on the cover of Nintendo Power 22, which was
about the only marketing it received. The only place I ever saw it back in
the day was a single copy at a video rental store, which I never rented.
Anyhow, just want to put the word out and see if anyone else thinks this
game is as awesome as I do. Shooters were my favourite NES genre, and this
is my third-favourite shooter on that platform (after Bionic Commando and
Contra).
--
Tweek
Does anybody else remember this NES game?
It was a futuristic, side-scrolling, platform jumper where you play a robot
who can invert gravity locally. It was a third generation release from Irem
in late 1990. I never played it when it was new, as it looked like just
another generic side-scrolling shooter. On a snowy weekend a few winters
ago, I was trying random ROM's for Nesticle and fired this one up. I was
hooked instantly.
This game has one of the few unique play mechanics on the NES. The major
feature is that you can "invert gravity" on yourself mid-jump, which will
cause you to fall up onto the ceiling instead of back down to the ground.
This simple mechanic is fully and elegantly exploited throughout the game.
It makes for some dramatic moments, like when you invert gravity at the last
possible moment before you land on a spike pit. It reminded me a bit of
Bionic Commando's grapple arm in the way it seemed restrictive and clunky at
first, but by the end of the first level, I felt pretty handy with it. By
the end of the game, it was completely second nature and felt just right.
I just did a quick Google and it appears that Metalstorm suffered from poor
distribution. It was featured on the cover of Nintendo Power 22, which was
about the only marketing it received. The only place I ever saw it back in
the day was a single copy at a video rental store, which I never rented.
Anyhow, just want to put the word out and see if anyone else thinks this
game is as awesome as I do. Shooters were my favourite NES genre, and this
is my third-favourite shooter on that platform (after Bionic Commando and
Contra).
--
Tweek
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