Vortex

"Slow and boring but has a few good points..."

Vortex, programmed by Argonaught Software, was published by Electrobrain for the Super Nintendo in 1994. The booklet hypes this game as the ''definitive FX chip sci-fi thriller'' , which makes you wonder how many other ''FX chip sci-fi thrillers'' were made. Look at some screen shots of this game and you will notice many similarities with Star Fox, the most famous FX chip game. Unlike the superior Star Fox, Vortex has tremendous slow down and uninspired graphics. Even with all the bad points, this game is worth getting if you can find it really cheap.

Story 6/10

You pilot a giant robot or ''Battle Morphing System'' as the game likes to put it. Your main form is the Walker, a large robot designed for exploration and defense. You can then morph into three other forms, each with their own attributes. The Land Burner is a low wheeled car that can go very fast but difficult to control. It fires lasers and the weapons carried on the Walker's right arm. The Sonic Jet is a jet aircraft that allows flight to areas that are otherwise inaccessible. Its weapon system is identical to the Land Burner. The final form is the Hard Shell. When using this form damage is not taken from the shields, but the fuel meter instead. It can only move forward and back and is very slow. Its only offense is the ablity to launch Electro Bombs. It can also refuel your MBS by using solar panels.
In the game you pilot this morphing system and must enter the Aki-Do system. It seems alien barbarians have captured the sacred Core segments. Its your job to find them all and bring them back to Trantor. After you find them all, you will have to find the A.I. Core and reassemble them to finally thwart the Aki-Do hordes.

Graphics 7/10

The graphics are very colorful and bright. The game reminds me alot of Star Fox; very simple polygon designs. The Battle Morphing System looks good through all the different forms, but the enemies look very unoriginal. They are basically just different geometric shapes shooting smaller geometric shapes. The backrounds are very simple as well, but at least you can tell when you're on a different planet. The major problem, besides lack of creativity, with the graphics is the ''object pop in.'' You will be walking just a few steps and things such as buildings and enemies will just pop up in front of you. So basically, its like walking in very thick fog.

Music/Sound 8/10

One of the better aspects of the game; I really enjoyed the music. Its very upbeat and bouncy. Theres a sound test in the option screen so you can preview all the tunes without having to actually play to that level. The sound effects are nothing spectacular, just your basic explosions and lasers. Alot of the sound seems ripped right from Star Fox.

Gameplay 4/10

And this is where the game falls way short. To see the potentional of the game just try the training mode. Watch your character shoot and jump and morph at the touch of a button or two. After the training, enter an actual level. Watch your character as he gets submerged in slow motion. Too many...characters...on screen...can't keep this up...much longer. Push the jump button and watch as one second or so later your robot actually jumps. Watch enemies and other objects appear out of nowhere. Be confused about where it is you're supposed to be going because you can't see anything two feet in front of your face. The gameplay kills this game. However, if you can get over these things the game has a password system to save your progress. There are also some secret passwords for infinite lives and invincibility.

Control 6/10

The control is actually very good. Different button combinations morph, switch weapons, jump, and other things. In the training it is very responsive. In the actual game though, everything is so slow the control is very sluggish.

Options 7/10

Sound test, English or Spanish language, three difficulty settings but no controller set up. Probably because morphing depends on so many different button combinations.

Final Grade 5/10

This game is only worth getting if you want to collect all the FX chip games made for the Snes. Otherwise, it is really no fun because of the insane slow down and ''object pop-in.''

Reviewer's Score: 5/10, Originally Posted: 08/29/01, Updated 08/29/01