Genesis

Sparkster

So, as much as I liked last month's SNES Sparkster, I found the Genesis game to be even better. It may not have Nintendo's colors or larger graphics, but the gameplay puts it a notch above!

There is a surprising amount of flexibility with these deceptively simple controls. You can jump in the air and then blast straight down or diagonally toward your enemy (Sparkster automatically flies with his sword outstretched), jump and then spin attack in any direction, propel yourself at the enemy while on the ground, or break through walls or crates with a high powered blast. It is this freedom of movement that is key--the game requires technique that makes it seem different every time you play. And it certainly doesn't hurt knowing that Sparkster is the fastest critter this side of a blue spiked hedgehog. If you're in the mood for some high flying hijinks, and love action-platform games, give this Rocket Knight a whirl. You won't be disappointed.

Despite some minor flaws, Sparkster's a good progression from the original. The four difficulty levels don't just add more enemies, they actually throw fresh sections at you. You'll have your hands full. Whether Sparkster saves Princess Cherry is up to you, but the path to victory's a real blast.

Okay, so it's a platform game, which normally wouldn't be so cool or special, but this is one platform/action game that's not lacking in quality or playability: it's just a rock-solid cartridge. Simply put, Sparkster is an excellent game.

Given a meaner, leaner look, Sparkster comes off pretty well in this sequel to Rocket Knight Adventures. Some of the attacks are different and take some getting used to (like the new rocket attack), but overall a good action title for the Genesis. It could use a few more colors and the sound effects are a nice complement to the overall game.

My review was probably overly negative-- I just don't generally gush in my reviews. Everything about the game is decent. Nothing outstanding, nothing awesome. Good for a weekend's gaming, but for most people probably not much more. Average is probably the single term for Sparkster. Average graphics, average sound, average gameplay, average story, average characters. There are good things about it, but quite a few disappointments, too. What is probably most disappointing about Sparkster is that it is so different from the perfection of RKA. The sword works differently, the rocket pack works differently, Sparkster himself is different, the level types are different, etc. It feels like a totally different game. It isn't a bad purchase by any means, but don't feel like you're missing out on a great experience with Sparkster.