Summary
Bridging the gap between 8 and 16 bit with great animation and gameplay.
The Good
Metal Storm’s premise was simple - a rogue machine planet was set to destroy its creators, so a lone M-308 Gunner mech was sent to deal with the problem. The game, however, was anything but simple.
The main thing that sets the gameplay of Metal Storm apart from the average run-and-gun platformer is the Gravity Flip. The Gravity Flip allows the M-308 to switch between walking on the floor and the ceiling. This also affects certain enemies, mechanical gates, and your ability to navigate certain areas. You will have to master the Gravity Flip to complete every level. While the Gravity Flip could have been a lame gimmick that rarely had to be exploited to finish the game, the great level design keeps it from being a simple gimmick. Once you get the hang of it, it really adds to the fun.
The other items in your arsenal include armor, which lets you take an extra hit from enemies, a positional shield, a fireball that engulfs you, turning the Gravity Flip into an attack, and a souped-up rifle.
The animation is where the game shines. While a lot of the enemies are simple, the M-308 is animated beyond what the average NES character gets. Even with the limited colors, the M-308 would be right at home on the NES’ 16-bit brother. The backgrounds also get a major nod, as you get multiple scrolling backgrounds that are also in a league of their own.
Level designs are excellent, forcing you to rely upon your Gravity Flip and pay attention to where hazards are placed. Until you’ve learned the levels and enemy behaviors, it requires a bit more thought than most games.
Bosses are generally huge, though as this is the NES, their actual amount of animation is limited. Still, they are well-drawn and varied enough to be interesting.
The music is good, but I wouldn’t say that it’s memorable. It fits the game and does the job, but you won’t find yourself humming it. Sound effects are also good.
As you get the hang of the game and defeat it, there is an Expert Mode that becomes available. That’s a plus, because once you’ve learned the game from start to finish, it’s as easy to run through as Contra.
The Bad
About the only thing that hampers the game is the replay factor. It’s an excellent game that stands apart, but it can be too easy in the standard mode.
The Bottom Line
Easy or not, Metal Storm’s unique gameplay and excellent graphics should make it an automatic purchase for any NES fan. It’s unfortunate that it didn’t receive a sequel on later systems.
