Abadox: The Deadly Inner War

"I'd have more fun watching someone play it..."

First and foremost it's probably best to let everyone know that I never truly enjoyed shooter games unless they had a kind of RPG element to them (i.e. Forgotten Realms) but I was bored, so whatever...

Plot - 1/10
I have um...no clue? Due to the fact that this game was downloaded (do NOT e-mail me about where to find it or any other ROMs, got that? Good.) I do not have the manual to the game and the little beginning intro didn't do much to hint as to the whole point of the game except that you're a little tiny itty bitty floating man thingy with a gun. Yay.

Control - 3/10
The controls are very hard to grasp in this game, especially since you start off moving at an incredibly sluggish pace until you get yourself a speedy power-up and even with that sometimes the control is down right unresponsive. It also seems as if the enemies have a sort of homing device going, being that if something isn't moving in your exact direction then something else is heading there. All in all, this could just make for a challenge for those deep into this genre of gaming; IMHO however, a game that requires quick thinking and second-ahead strategy should provide one with smooth and pliable control to actually carry out non-stop dodging and shooting required. Am I wrong?

Graphics - 7/10
I have to admit, for a Nintendo game these graphics are very, very nice to look at. In fact, I've seen graphics worse than this game on SNES and SEGA (which is very sad, to say the least). The monsters are detailed as is your character, with lots of pretty colors making up the terrain. It's a good thing I did not see this game for sell when I actually owned a Nintendo, a dummy like me would have bought the game just for it's graphics and ended up VERY disappointed. Oh wait....I DID buy this game...*sigh*

Sound - 6/10
The SFX and BG Music to this game are nothing to earn a reward, but unlike most other Nintendo games the music doesn't sound like a nail dragging against a fresh chalkboard. I even found myself bopping my head to the music a few times (scary...I know.) In fact, the music reminded me somewhat of Contra (which is a good thing) and has an actual beat that stays in your head for a LONG time. That little noise when you die is adorable too, I found myself going kamikaze plenty of times just to hear it again and again...

Replay Value - 4/10
Like I stated before, I found it hard to master the controls, which lead to me dying. A lot. All the time in fact. I usually don't give up on games too easily, but there are times when Abadox is completely unplayable...but damn if you don't find yourself wanting to keep trying!! Just the same, there are probably other games you would have much more fun dying on, like Contra or LoLo...

Overall - 5/10
It's a shame the control is so bad in this game. In fact, even if the control was left as if, but less enemies were thrown at you until you could get at least a decent power-up, it might make this game more playable. If you're actually looking for a side-scroller (what would possess you to do this is beyond me) then check this out. All in all, I would have to say that this isn't necessarily a bad game. It has it's faults, but even with it there's still a certain charm to Abadox that makes you want to try again just as you're about to give up.

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 08/29/02, Updated 08/29/02