Zero Wing

"The excellent intro aside, this game plays decently..."

Zero Wing is a shoot 'em up like any other, and it is, in my opinion, a decent one at that. When you first play the game, you can watch the introduction, which is nicely rendered and if you are playing the mistranslated version, hilarious and hypnotic at times. Hehe.

Then you see the title screen which is also very good looking. Then you can start the game...

Graphics: 8/10
Pretty good graphics actually. The intro scene is very well drawn and plays smoothly. The enemies in the game are interesting looking. Nothing to spectacular, but is isn't bad at all. The graphics can get dull at times, but thanks to this game's rapidily passing levels this is remedied. All the levels are different from each other and the backrounds and settings are futuristic looking and really make you feel like it is 2101.

Sound and Music: 9/10
This game features many more levels that most shoot 'em ups, albeit they are sometimes short, and each of them features their own musical score. I like them all. From the intro to the final level the music compliments the game very good and is appropriate for the backrounds and settings. The only thing that is kind of a downer is that the game has no special music for the bosses. The regular level music just continues to play.

Gameplay: 8/10
You move from left to right firing at enemies in your space ship. Fairly standard horizontal shoot 'em up gameplay. Along they way you can pick up and power up three different weapons each with their pros and cons and some specialty weapons. This game also allows you to use a tractor beam to drag enemy ships in front of yours. Where they can act as a sheild. Be careful hauling the large ships though, they drag you down.

You fight off the minions of enemy ships, sub bosses, and bosses. Once the level is finished you are greeted with the name of the next and you get right back in there.

The ship appears to move slow though, and I think the levels do scroll by slower that most, but this gives you time to blow up everything so enjoy it!

Controls: 10/10
I don't really know why I'm bothering to tell you about the controls. shoot 'em ups usually don't have control issues since the games are so simple, but I guess it is worth mentioning at times. The Sega Genesis gamepads are comfortable controllers and play this game good. The game doesn't makes the most out of its three mains buttons or six if you are using the second controller. Move with the D-Pad and fire with the buttons. It all works.

Overall: 9/10
I just plain enjoyed this game! A lot of people don't like it but they probably just think the game is too slow. I like all the shoot 'em ups I play usually and this was no exception. This is a game no shoot 'em fan should disregard! I challenge you to find this game and play it! I hope you like the game as much as I did!

Reviewer's Score: 9/10, Originally Posted: 06/08/05