High Seas Havoc

"It's good. Just too many similiar games at the time. Timeless game."

There is nothing wrong with the game Havoc. (It says High Seas Havoc here but I've never seen the High Seas bit. Also known as 'Capn Havoc) The only reason I can imagine it's not on people's top Genesis (referred to as Megadrive from now on) game lists, is that it's just a platformer. 2D Platformer's are quite possibly the easiest genre to create (I know from experience) and don't really need a sticking story. The Megadrive (and SNES for that matter) had a whole lot of platformers. To make a platformer stand out it needed a gimmick. Pirates.

Graphics - 8/10
The visuals in this game are impressive. I haven't played many of the so-called classic Megadrive games, but I am impressed by this. It's pretty looking and the sprites are all done well for Havoc's animations. The backgrounds are interesting and I'd have them as my Desktop wallpaper. The foreground level design is pretty good and better than some of the more bland ones you see in other games. A few of the enemies look a bit dodgy, but this doesn't really detract too much.

Audio - 8/10
The audio makes this game in my opinion. Beautiful orchestral tracks accompany the game, and this has what every game needs. Sound test! If I could find MIDIs of the songs in this game I would download them. The sound effects are up to par like when Havoc jumps on things.

Storyline - 6/10
The storyline is presented well. At the beginning you see a clip explaining the story. This big pirate looking thing (more animal than human) called Bernardo is after the gem 'Emeralda'. While sailing the seas (or whatever pirate looking squirrel things do) our hero Havoc and his little sidekick buddy find a girl called Bridget asleep or unconcious (one of the two) on a shore. Being the heroes they are, Havoc and his little sidekick buddy nurse her back to recovery and turns out she is holding a map. Bernardo comes and nicks the girl leaving ole Cap'n Havoc to save the day. This is all in the opening sequence. Since the game is only a platformer the story is just explaining why the levels look like they do and why you're fighting bosses.

Gameplay - 7/10
The gameplay is smooth. Havoc is sensitive and will respond to the controls well. There are 3 buttons. Jump, Jump and Jump. Classic consoles, I tell ya. The only problem I see with the gameplay is you don't have as much control while in mid-air as you'd like to. Oh, and why does a pirate not carry a sword. You kill enemies by jumping on them, like other blue platform characters.

I got the game for my 8th birthday and it hasn't dated yet. It's worth a play, so buy it if you find it.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 12/05/05