D-Force

"An early SNES shooter, but worth a look"

The 6 I gave this game may look unimpressive, but that's partly due to the game's length, which is much too short. Otherwise, it's not really a terrible game. D Force is a pure shooter. You pilot a plane through several levels, most of them differently themed, and blow up everything in sight. At the end of each level resides a huge boss, often covering the entire screen. At your disposal are several guns and lasers which you acquire through powerups. One interesting thing in the game is the ability to switch between two altitudes with the use of the L and R buttons: close to the ground or high in the sky. Changing altitude is neccessary in several sections of the game, and it can also help you avoid some unneccessary battles. The game is a one player affair only.

Graphics: 7/10

Nice, especially for a first-generation SNES cart. The bosses are huge and colorful, and the scenery is decent. The explosions are nothing special.

Sound: 8/10

Standard sound effects for a game of this type, but I found the music surprising good and sometimes even catchy. Well done.

Gameplay: 7/10

A point taken off for the game being too short. When you get good at this game, finishing it is no problem at all. Otherwise, the controls are very good, and simple. The assortment of weapons is pretty standard, but nice, and the altitude changing is a nice touch and adds a little variety. The enemies are pretty average, but the size of the bosses is a plus and they often have to be shot in several different places to be beaten. A two player option would have been welcome.

Replay: 5/10

Not a lot of motivation here. Once you finish it, you may try it again at some point because of its ease.

Overall: 6/10

Nothing really special, but it is a solid shooter. It doesn't perform badly in any area: decent graphics, above average sound, and good gameplay. If it was a little longer, it could have been something pretty good, but the way it is I would recommend a rental and nothing more.

Reviewer's Score: 6/10, Originally Posted: 11/01/99, Updated 11/01/99