Iridion 3D

"The Game That Could Have Been Awesome"

Graphics - 10 = The graphics are by far the best out of all the launch games. With graphics this good, it boggles the mind how the rest of the game could go so wrong.

Sound - 9 = The music and sound effects are absolutely stunning. The music adds to the hectic frenzy of dogfighting with evil aliens bent on world domination. It makes you feel like you are really there.

Control - 5 = The controls don't take full advantage of the GBA like they should. They should use L and R to do barrel rolls, switch weapons, or brake and boost. Throughout the majority of the game, the only button you use are the D-Pad and the FIRE button. Yes it is simple, but it doesnt give us enough options on gameplay.

Story - 9 = Next to none. Thats what games of this genre should have. Aliens invade, you kill aliens. Plain and simple.

Features - 4 = Next to none. The whole point of the game is mindless alien killing. OK. That's acceptable. Now Shin'en should have put anything and everything that they could think of into tis game in terms of weapons and power-ups. Speed Enhancers. Bombs. Super lasers. These are what make space shooters so much fun. Yet none of this is in Iridion 3-D. I mean, the game doesnt even save your position. It relies upon passwords. Thats pure poop.

Diffuculty - 8 = One of the hardest games i've ever played of this genre.

Replay Value - 2 = Chances are that you wont be able to beat the game the first time to be able to replay it.

Multiplayer - 0 = The game could have been worth buying just for multiplayer. Sadly, it wasnt included.

Gameplay - 1 = This game could hyave been much better if it weren't so freaking hard or confusing. In a heated moment of combat, your chance for survival is slim to none. Your own ship constantly blocks your point of view. If the game had not been rushed, it could have been one of the greates titles to ever grace the GBA. But, it was rushed. Had there been more of everything, this could have been the ganme to own for the the GBA.

All in all, this game should have been in development awhile longer. It plays as if it is just a test version or demo with a lot of things that need to be added.

Overall - 2/10 = Don't play it unless your trying to go insane or really, really, really stoned.

Reviewer's Score: 2/10, Originally Posted: 12/28/01, Updated 12/28/01