NAM 1975 |
Neo-Geo |
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Review by Matt Paprocki |
SNK |
Shoot'em-up |
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Graphics: 8 |
Sound: 7 |
Gameplay: 8 |
Overall: 7 |
![]() For a first-gen game, the graphics are a highlight, but it's nothing the SNES couldn't pull off with some programming genius. The animation is an entirely different story however. Hundreds of frames have been stuffed into the cart. Whether it's the enemies being singed to a crisp, blown up into pieces, or simply falling over due to a gunshot wound, you can bet that you'll notice the detail in every frame. Other little details litter the screen like bullets actually making a mark in the ground when hit, but these are far too numerous to mention here. At times, it's tough to see the potential life-taking bullets headed for your character due to the backgrounds, but this usually results in only a few deaths a game, making this a minor complaint at best.
The game's major flaw is the ludicrous level of difficulty, mostly due to the game engine itself. It's nearly impossible to judge both your character and crosshair at the same time. Bosses toss insane amounts of ammo at the player and dodging all of them is almost an impossibility. Some of the shots can be picked off before they hit the ground, but this requires flawless timing. Luckily, the generous amount of continues is helpful, but it's still not enough. Oh, and the last boss... well, forget about it. As the Geo's very first title, this one holds it's place in history and most people probably own it for this fact alone. The outstanding gameplay makes it a worthwhile purchase, but actually beating this one will require a level of dedication unlike any other. Of course, if YOU paid $300 for a single game, would you really want to beat it in one sitting? |