SEGA Saturn

Solar Eclipse

I can honestly say that it's not only one of the deepest shooters in gameplay, but design as well. The tunnel system in this game is fantastic. Graphically, Crystal pushes the Saturn close to the edge with insane textures, super fast 3-D and cavernous worlds. The accompanying story and constant communique from the squadron actually add to the gameplay and the music is excellent. CD is the new king of the shooters.

If you thought Total Eclipse was a poor game, I'd agree with you. The sequel, however, had quite a bit more going for it. First, the gameplay is actually fast-paced and exciting. There is actually technique to use when dodging enemies and obstacles. The graphics may not be the most spectacular, but they get the job done. There are a lot of nice little details. The power-ups are really intense, but they do get distracting. This ranks among the best for the Saturn.

In short, while there's no one thing I can point to that really knocked me out, it definitely kept me coming back for more and it lasted a good long while. Worth a look.

Despite it's limitations, Solar Eclipse is hard to put down once you're airborne. Expect a fun trip, just don't expect the thrill to last.

The action in Solar Eclipse ranges from the caverns of Janus to the cold reaches of space. You have the option of either viewing the game in normal chase view or you can switch to a first-person perspective. The premise isn't too original, but Solar Eclipse has a ton of gameplay. The graphics are nothing short of amazing (they're a big improvement over Total Eclipse, which wasn't bad in itself) and the FMV is artfully included and thankfully subdued.

The gameplay itself is fair. There are plenty of things to shoot at and the explosions look nice. Lasers are your main weapon, but a limited supply of heat-seeking missiles swarm on all potential targets. The graphics are decent, and the corner of the screen has a little video box which lets you see and hear other members of your squad. Despite the lousy control, Solar Eclipse isn't a total loss. You might even have some fun with it. But probably not.