Wolfchild

"A basic platformer with some great new concepts."

The first time I heard about this game was a review for the Mega Drive/Genesis version in Gamepro. I remember what really grabbed me was the storyline; genetic alterations allowing for our hero to become a wolfman in his quest for revenge. It got a pretty good review, but less-than-desirable factors meant I waited for the Sega CD version. And it lives up to all of the expectations.

GAMEPLAY
This game's controls are nice and smooth, and the game is challenging in places but not so hard that it turns you off. The fun-factor is something you would expect from the average platformer, but the concept of morphing into a wolf for better weapons and back again is pretty good; get your life bar high enough and the howling begins. Human Saul has only his bare hands, but as a wolf he can use his enhanced psychic powers to fling projectile weapons. These weapons can be upgraded to things such as seekers, returning boomerangs, three-way blasts and zig-zaggers (which are hard to aim but take out whole monsters in a single shot). Throughout the levels are many hidden powerups, enough to rival even the Super Star Wars trilogy for the Super Nintendo, which adds to the enjoyment of the game.

STORY
The game is a plot about simple revenge; Saul's family is murdered by terrorists during their rade to reach the genetic research of Saul's father, who has found a way to make humans half-animal to enhance their physical and psychic abilities. After the raid the mutation chambers are destroyed, save the one used to transform a man into a werewolf. Bent on revenge, Saul transforms himself into a half-human wolf and sets on his quest.
The story is a very good one, and the introductory cartoon during the game is a very well-shot one. The story is worthy inspiration of a novel with a bit more character development.
Just a couple of inconsistencies, though: the story describes Saul's transformation into the Wolfchild as the most powerful project of his father, even though Saul and one of the bosses are the only two characters who have become Wolfchildren. Furthermore, if the mutation changed Saul's genes, then according to science he wouldn't be able to transform between his human and wolf forms during the adventure.

AUDIO AND VISUALS
The graphics of this game are of a fine standard, but the sound is what really blows you away. Saul's howl when he transforms into Wolfchild is like something they nicked from a TV documentary, and the game's introduction sequence is second-to-none. All the other audio and visuals are well done, but they are too average to be remarked upon.

REPLAYABILITY
This game has some fine moments, but the ending is annoyingly short. You'll play through the game once in an effort to see how everything goes, but your given almost nothing in reward. Though I think the game is one of the best titles for the Sega CD, it doesn't give you a rewarding enough experience to make the game worth playing again.

SUM UP
It's an average platformer with the usual additions to make it different from the rest of the pack. Rent it until you finish it, and then that's the end.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99