Jet Force Gemini

"Unique, original and fun - a rare find."

Rare's biggest game of 1999 with the exception of Donkey Kong 64 (depending on your taste in games). Jet Force Gemini is a truly one-of-a-kind game with massive 3D levels, big guns, plenty of characters as well as enemies, original story line, advanced music and sound FX, a multiplayer mode and plenty of sub game. Phew!

From the start we are introduced to the three main characters: Juno, Vela and Lupus, cruising in their space ship across the galaxy, then the attack. Mizars troops storm the ship and the three are separated. You take control of Juno as he enters the once peaceful land of Goldwood. From there you are in control. You meet one of the Tribals and acquire weapons and more of the story as you move from planet to planet. Once you find and save Vela and Lupus they become available to play with as well. As you get deeper and deeper into the game you come across more worlds until the trio meet up again at Mizars palace. Then they have to find ship parts to restore their ship so they can fly back and save Earth. One of the ship parts requires you to go to every single world and saving every single Tribal, believe me, it gets tedious!

The graphics and lighting effects in the game are superb and make for a great gaming experience. The levels are simply outstanding, with plenty of wide open spaces where light comes in freely as well as tight enclosed spaces which are no so well lit and this effects the whole way you approach a level and the style of play. The characters are also look very good with detailed effects on the face and body kit as well as pretty awesome looking guns. In Jet Force Gemini there is plenty of visual candy!

The music in the game is simply some of the best the Nintendo 64 has seen. Plenty of Dramatic slow tunes as well as racy up beat tunes. The music varies with factors such as difficulty of area, lighting and scenery of area and of course the presence of danger.

The in game sound FX are also right up there with the best. Gun fire and bullets hitting the wall are also pretty spectacular as well as that from the enemy as year hear sniper bullets whiz past your ear. Obviously background sounds are also present. Note: The jungle music from Goldeneye can be found on the first level (Goldwood). I'm not sure if that is it exactly but it is very similar. There is very little character speech and it is much like Banjo Kazooie with the grunts and groan while the dialogue appears on screen.

As I have said before, solo adventure games just can't do multiplayer. Like in Donkey Kong 64 Rare have tried very hard to add to the replay value of the game by just chucking it in. Because of the third person view it is hard to play multiplayer and there isn't the depth and variety of a game like Goldeneye. The target range and car racing are neat, but really don't have much replay value at all, nice try Rare, you did your best with multiplayer, but it is almost impossible for anyone to make it good. Even you Rare!

Single player is where the game is at. Amazingly enough it is also very simple, get into the level, kill some bugs, save the Tribals and get out. Of course there are a few things (like finding ship parts) that make it a bit more complex, but otherwise that's it. Boring you say, far from it. There are over 15 weapons with there own unique use and all of them are designed for one main purpose, killing bugs! Nothing feels better than walking into a room full of those oversized, under paid bugs and blasting them to hell with your Tri-Rocket-Launcher and hearing the green goo land on the walls and floor - terrific. Within the worlds there can be up to four different levels to explore and rescue Tribals. Once the trio meet at Mizars palace they are free to go to any world of their choice, there are also a total of 4 hidden worlds which must be explored to finish the game.

Another cool thing about the single player game is the co-op mode. Once you earn Floyd (a robot which follows you around and helps you), press start on player 2's controller and viola another target. Floyd can how shoot using this target and by pressing Z. This is all he can do but he does not run out of ammo, which is handy, especially when player 1 runs out.

The solo game is a long adventure, not as long as Zelda: Ocarina of time and you have to revisit old worlds once you have met at Mizars Place so the game lacks the extra exploration, but on the other hand new levels open up within worlds and can/must be explored for the conquest of the game. The game can get tedious when you have all but one of the ship pieces and must find all of those damn Tribals, but once you get them all and defeat the final boss it is all very rewarding. There is a huge twist at the end which I won't tell as it is well worth finding it yourself.

Overall the game lacks nowhere. Once again the masters at Rare have made a simple concept a reality and blown us away. With big guns and big bad monsters the game is truly for those who like to mix adventure with the shoot 'em up style - sort of like Body Harvest. Almost all will enjoy this except the impatient, but then again they have something to do to with their big gun.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 10/15/02, Updated 10/15/02