Ikari Warriors II: Victory Road

Wenn Sie auf der Suche nach einem neuartigen, innovativen lnteIligenzspiel sind, dann meiden Sie Victory Road tunlichst. Wer hingegen Lust auf etwas gepflegten Bildschirm-Rabumm verspürt (und ab und zu einen Kumpel für den Zwei-Spieler-Modus greifbar hat), liegt bei diesem Programm sicher nicht schief.

Victory Road is an ambitious game that attempts to radically change the direction of the series but is conformed to its lineage. The best way to describe it is as a totally different game that was then molded to the original series intent and vision. A solid game, but nothing new and diehard fans of the original game will still prefer the original game to Victory Road.

Ikari Warriors II is much deeper than its predecessor. You can purchase items at shops and you'll occasionally employ strategy like blasting through a rock wall. There are even a few bonus levels that resemble skeet-shooting. The graphics are more detailed with larger sprites, but there's ample break-up and it's hard to figure out what some of the "aliens" are supposed to be. The music is first-rate, but that voice synthesis is incomprehensible! Who can understand them with all of that static? And another thing - why is it necessary to sit through black screens between stages? Is the game loading? Ikari Warriors II is an ambitious title, but it can't quite match the first game in terms of fun. Note: For a good laugh, check out the screens appear after the game ends.

Maybe I should retract my first statement - Ikari II is in fact a dull ball. The original arcade game was really average, but this conversion is outright below average.