Power Lords |
Odyssey 2 |
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Review by Kevin Oleniacz |
Probe 2000 |
Shoot'em-up |
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Graphics: 9 |
Sound: 7 |
Gameplay: 6 |
Overall: 7 |
![]() The general gist is to stay alive. Aboard your "space sled", assault a configuration of charcoal darkened squares and rectangles named Volcan Rock. Patrolling atop the formation is a guardian serpent armed with a pair of deadly laser beams. Lava rocks sporadically shower the landscape. A gravitational ray frequently appears on the mountain, attempts to pull your sled to your demise, and eventually fades out. A random volcanic eruption signifies the conclusion of a level. On the surface this appears to be an attractive shooter. In reality, it is an unvaried, mediocre contest. Even so, Power Lords does have its merits. Blobs of lava actually appear to flow down the sides of the volcano, and the serpent seems to "slither". Rocks fly skyward and flash above the mountain. The designer attempted to project some scenery in the form of a blue sky, a sun, and some mountains (hey, I'm talking about the O2. These effects ARE a big deal!). These effects may sound wonderful, but the final product is undoubtedly drab. A majority of the screen is consumed by the rectangular Volcan rock and a plain brownish terrain. Besides generic explosions, an unrealistic machine-gun announces the arrival of the gravitational force, which is way too easy to avoid. Likewise for the lava rocks. The serpent is your real concern here, as it's endowed with incredible accuracy.
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