Armorines: Project S.W.A.R.M.

The Good
After watching Starship Troopers and noticing this game on the Acclaim roster, I had high hopes, especially with the Turok 2 engine behind it. The package itself is an interesting mix. Although the story is far from original (as I mentioned, too close to ST then it should be) there are some nice weapon selections and plenty of deadly bugs to deal with.

Graphically there are touches of Turok 2 here of course, with the now well known N64 fog hanging around in most places. There are some scary moments, especially when walking into a dark area followed by a sudden attack by a bunch of bugs. And the nice meaty damage made by each of the weapons makes crushing each little bug all the more worth while.

Multiplayer is of course a key element to the game, with 4 player split screen included. One of the nicest touches here though is the 2 player co-op, a big step up from any previous N64 shooter, and well worth a crack. It really adds an element of team work that is lacking in most shooter's of it's type.

The Bad
Even with all of the good elements, there are still areas that are really lacking that makes this a killer title. For starters, enemy AI is a real killer. They are so easy to predict, and since most bugs have the same weak spots (the legs and head) it can be easy to take them down quickly.

4 player mode gets boring quickly, which hurts this game very badly. And playing co-op, although fun, makes completing the game twice as easy as before. Even then, single player can be completed fairly quickly.

The graphics themselves, although with plenty of detail in bug and weapon animations, gets a slap on the wrist thanks to an at times blocky frame rate, a tad slow down in busy areas, and that crazy fog. Sure it adds atmosphere, but it shows how much the console is lacking to really add some spectacle to the show.

That and the fact that it's a complete rip-off of Starship Troopers (which has a game of its own, and twice as good).

The Bottom Line
Not a bad attempt and some bug shooting action, with the co-op mode something of an original element for a console. But there are too many poor elements that lets it down.

Still, the N64 is the best version of the series, thanks to a much better 4 player mode and improved graphics over the PSX, so all is not lost here. Just don't expect a brilliant ride.