Virtual Boy

Vertical Force

Here's another must own game. Vertical Force takes some getting used to with it's multi-level gameplay (you ascend and descend constantly), but once you do, you'll be hooked. Welcome to parallax heaven. This is as original a shoot I've seen in many moons. While it's hard it's not impossible. Learning h ow to deal with everything in 3-D is half the fun here, the great graphics and music is the other half. Do not miss this one!

In short, Hudson Soft's Star Soldier arcade series is almost legendary and I don't see why this version shouldn't be the same. An endless stream of enemies and challenge makes for a great game with a long lasting appeal if you're into arcade shooters like this one and have fast reflexes.

I really like the idea and it is quite fun to play, but after just a short bit of time, my eyes were ready for some z's. There is a nice variety of power-ups and enemies shooting fans will really feel comfortable with. However, the multi-level action gets almost confusing and overpowering. I really like the concept, but on this system, it just wore my eyes out. Those who are used to the 3-D effects may feel less of a strain on the eyes, but it is a good shooter nonetheless.

While it's not a bad game, you simply have to ask yourself if it worth ruining your eyes to play a game that you've probably played a thousand times before. The 3-D effect is used here only as a gimmick and nothing more. Die hard shooter fans will find something to enjoy here, but the short ride won't bring many of them back for a second ride.

A standard 8-bit shooter with some minor 3-D effects, this flying game is a wild blue yawner. The graphics are simple and bland, with enemies that wouldn't impress your kid sister. The tiny sounds are below average for an post-1990 game. Shooting on two levels and blasting mediocre enemies make no Force to be reckoned with.

The game isn't very easy on the eyes, with many large, overlapping, red platforms in the later stages. Some bosses are innovative (like the elevator boss in the screenshot), but they tend to repeat. A few sound effects, like the laser fire, are so high pitched that I wanted to turn the volume down. Another annoyance is how the game doesn't bother displaying your score when it's over. What's the point of even keeping score if you can't see it?? Shooter fans might enjoy the novelty value of Vertical Force, but once that wears off, you're stuck with a very mediocre game.