Total Eclipse Turbo

"A space shooter galaxies away from perfection."

Introduction:
Total Eclipse was a Crystal Dynamics 3DO game before the Playstation era. Crystal Dynamics tried to revive the game with a Playstation release in late 1995. Renamed Total Eclipse Turbo, the game was slightly upgraded on the technical side. Basically, it is a space combat game that tries to draw gamers into a world filled with aliens who want the human race destroyed. Total Eclipse Turbo is a first generation title for the Playstation. Keep in mind this review is based on other Playstation titles that came out around the same time. This game does have some potential, however it ultimately falls short.

Graphics:
Ok, this is a first generation Playstation game, and boy does it show it. Contending with games such as the original Ridge Racer, Air Combat, Twisted Metal, and even Wipeout, Total Eclipse Turbo looks pretty bland. The ship that you fly just screams out boredom. Unfortunately, so do the enemy vessels. The environments are very ugly, and extremely basic. The terrain is just that, terrain. Either you are outside flying over canyons, or inside a tunnel. With nothing much to look at, you'll be ignoring the graphics the entire time you play the game. On the other hand, they do not really take anything out of the experience, they just do not help it much. On a positive note, the CG sequences look ok. Also, the graphics are slightly improved over the 3DO game.
5/10

Sounds:
The sound department isn't that bad for a first generation Playstation game. The sound actually adds to the experience, what little sound there is. The sound effects are basic and range from the sound of your ship firing to the sound of your ship blowing up. The music track is pretty cool, with a rock tune playing in the background. It almost inspires you to save your planet from those aliens...almost. The voices for the CG sequences are usually silly, however. The sound does not change much from the 3DO version, which is a shame. The sound does better to help the game though, than it does to hurt it.
7/10

Control:
Compared to the 3DO version, the control rocks on the Playstation. Not that Crystal Dynamics did anything special, it is just that the Playstation controller is excellent. The default buttons are laid out just fine, and you often feel like your driving a car as there are brake and acceleration buttons. The shoulder buttons roll you, although it seems a bit awkward to roll in this game. For those who dislike the default setup, there are 3 other control setups. This is very nice for those who do not like the inverse control for pitch (up goes down, down goes up). The controls show their age, and are not really anything to get excited about though. Sometimes you will have trouble navigating in the tunnels too. Still, the controls show a decent attempt from the folks at Crystal Dynamics.
6/10

Story:
Pretty much non-existent, the story just stinks. You have an instruction manual and a few CG sequences to teach you about why you are fighting all of these aliens. The story, however, is very uninspiring. In fact, it may make you sick and you might wish you hadn't heard it. Your commander is very corny, and takes the joy out of each mission. There just are not that many plot details available to say this game has a story.
2/10

Gameplay:
Probably the best part of the game is the gameplay. While it was not the best seen, it was a new experience when compared to the other games that came out in 1995. Flying around and shooting aliens is pretty fun in this game. Its difficulty level increases as you progress, and you may find yourself dying quite often. The satisfaction of completing a mission is fairly high too, as it can be really challenging. This is the primary drawing point of this game.
7/10

Replay Value:
Well, considering you can beat all 5 missions, which include a total of 20 Rounds, in under 4 hours your first time through the game, the replay is pretty pathetic. You will not feel like playing through this one again unless you just do not have any other games to play or any friends to hang out with. Having no replay value is very damaging to the game's overall appeal.
2/10

Summary:
Why would you want to get this old space shooter? Well, you probably wont. However, if you see this game on sale for $5-$10, and you like space games, give it a try. It wont take you long to beat, and it is fairly entertaining as you make your way through the levels. Or, you could simply rent this sucker and give it a try. Total Eclipse Turbo is not a bad first generation Playstation title, just an average one. Unfortunately average 6 year old games are way below average by today's standards, and most people will not like Total Eclipse Turbo.

Reviewer's Score: 4/10, Originally Posted: 10/25/01, Updated 10/25/01