This was a very enjoyable NES game. Quick levels, responsive controls, a fair challenge, generous checkpoints and continues. The tight pacing really suits portable play, I'm honestly surprised they never made a Game Boy version of Metal Storm. I also adored the animation on your little robot, it was very satisfying to watch it stomp along. I'm glad to have finally played through the whole thing.
I did find the boss fights to be a bit annoying, so the game ending on a boss rush with no final boss was a bit of a letdown. Still, very good game otherwise.
I did find the boss fights to be a bit annoying, so the game ending on a boss rush with no final boss was a bit of a letdown. Still, very good game otherwise.
For a more detailed review, please check out my video: https://youtu.be/mfzVouF63jk
One of the late highlights of the NES, and it's about gravity flipping mechas! This resulted in a cutting-edge science-y game with awesome presentation and a refreshingly liberating gravity gimmick, albeit one that compliments the NES' reputable old-school difficulty. For as much as I wish there were more levels where you could experiment with gravity switching, the curated challenges are all still great to run down here. Also, I gotta give it up the insane endings of this game in Japan and North America: the former being surprisingly cut from the same cloth as a classic existential mecha tale... and the latter being the most hilariously bullshit epilogue you can think of. Great game!
One of the late highlights of the NES, and it's about gravity flipping mechas! This resulted in a cutting-edge science-y game with awesome presentation and a refreshingly liberating gravity gimmick, albeit one that compliments the NES' reputable old-school difficulty. For as much as I wish there were more levels where you could experiment with gravity switching, the curated challenges are all still great to run down here. Also, I gotta give it up the insane endings of this game in Japan and North America: the former being surprisingly cut from the same cloth as a classic existential mecha tale... and the latter being the most hilariously bullshit epilogue you can think of. Great game!
One of the best games on the NES, top 3 game on the console.
Gameplay doesn't get any better. You get to flip up and down between gravity on the floor or the ceiling, which makes traversing thru levels very unique.
Soundtrack is good but not great. The animations are also pretty good for an NES/Famicom game.
Boss fights are all fun,, with 1 particularly hard motherfucker near the end.
A must-play for the console.
Gameplay doesn't get any better. You get to flip up and down between gravity on the floor or the ceiling, which makes traversing thru levels very unique.
Soundtrack is good but not great. The animations are also pretty good for an NES/Famicom game.
Boss fights are all fun,, with 1 particularly hard motherfucker near the end.
A must-play for the console.
Any console, video game company, or franchise always has their noteworthy and popular titles, ones that most fans of said consoles, company, and franchise could easily identify and have an opinion on, due to their widespread nature. However, for all of these, there are always those games that manage to slip under the radar, that few people know about in comparison to the big boys, but also manage to provide a memorable and creative experience that other games of the time don’t try. I have covered several hidden gems on this site so far, like with Power Blade and Alien Storm, but out of the few that I have checked out, this might just be my favorite hidden gem of the bunch, and that gem would be Metal Storm on the NES.
You could understand why this game wouldn’t be too noteworthy just by looking at the cover and some gameplay screenshots. It looks pretty generic for an NES title, and aside from the fact that you play as someone in a mech suit, you wouldn’t think there would be that much reason to take a look at the game at first. However, when I decided to try it out after hearing about it, I was pleasantly surprised at what I was given, and I would say that this game is pretty damn great, and definitely an underrated title of the system. It’s not perfect by any means, which I will get into later, but for the most part, it sets out what it wants to do almost flawlessly, and was very fun to experience for the first time.
The story is about what you would expect from something set in the year of 2501, but it is all you need to get into some mech fighting action, the graphics are pretty good, although a lot of the enemy designs are pretty generic, so they could’ve been made a whole lot better, the music is very good, the control is pretty solid, although some of the mechanics can take a little getting used to, and the gameplay is what you would expect from this genre, but the twists and spins on the formula make it a whole lot of fun.
The game at first seems like your average 2D action platformer, where you take control of your big mech suit, go through various stages, shooting plenty of enemies that take various forms and require a lot of maneuvering to take out, getting plenty of different powerups to increase your defense or attack power, and take on plenty of bosses that will put your speed and reflexes to the test. Yes, it is all what we have all seen before, but it does feel very fun and satisfying to play, having a nice difficulty curve that many other NES games didn’t have, and, again, testing your reflexes and timing in a way that doesn’t feel aggravating, like other games.
However, there is one aspect of the gameplay that separates itself from all of the other games like this on the system and at the time: The manipulation of gravity. Throughout the game, you can change the gravity to where you can either walk on the ground or up on the ceiling or bottom of platforms, and not only are you affected by this, but several of the enemies and obstacles that you will encounter along the way are as well. As you would expect, the game makes sure to test how well you can use this mechanic to pass its challenges, with not only the enemy placements and how you jump on certain platforms, but also with several puzzle elements that require using the gravity manipulation to solve. In my opinion, I think this mechanic was implemented into the game perfectly, as it does make traversing through these stages feel much more compelling and fun, and while it did take me a while to get used to the controls for flipping the gravity, it only became a bit of an issue in several circumstances that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.
Despite how much I did enjoy this game though, it isn’t perfect. Some of the boss fights that you take on throughout the game can get pretty annoying, specifically the last two, due to their mechanics. They are doable, but it does take a while to get used to how to properly take them on. And speaking of bosses, that goes into my main problem with this game: the last stage is just a boss rush. Like I have mentioned in the past, I am completely fine with boss rushes as long as there is some kind of growth to be found in between the original fights and the rematches, but this game doesn’t have that at all, and it just comes off as unnecessary padding in a game that really doesn’t need it. What’s even stranger is that, usually at the end of a boss rush, there would be another boss to fight that would serve as the final foe of the game, but this game doesn’t have that, and instead just has you shooting these nodes before the time runs out, which isn’t really all that satisfying at all. If I had any other minor complaints, it would be that you need to beat the game a second time on a harder difficulty in order to even see the credits, but really, that is something that I just ignored overall, because the game already has an acceptable conclusion without one.
Overall, despite some annoyances with the bosses here and there, I still had a pretty great time with this game, and I would consider it to be one of the best hidden gems that the NES has to offer. I would definitely recommend it for those who are looking for something different to play from the system that isn’t a Mario or a Zelda. Shame that it never did get a sequel though, because if it did, I would buy that in a heartbeat, no questions asked.
Game #250
You could understand why this game wouldn’t be too noteworthy just by looking at the cover and some gameplay screenshots. It looks pretty generic for an NES title, and aside from the fact that you play as someone in a mech suit, you wouldn’t think there would be that much reason to take a look at the game at first. However, when I decided to try it out after hearing about it, I was pleasantly surprised at what I was given, and I would say that this game is pretty damn great, and definitely an underrated title of the system. It’s not perfect by any means, which I will get into later, but for the most part, it sets out what it wants to do almost flawlessly, and was very fun to experience for the first time.
The story is about what you would expect from something set in the year of 2501, but it is all you need to get into some mech fighting action, the graphics are pretty good, although a lot of the enemy designs are pretty generic, so they could’ve been made a whole lot better, the music is very good, the control is pretty solid, although some of the mechanics can take a little getting used to, and the gameplay is what you would expect from this genre, but the twists and spins on the formula make it a whole lot of fun.
The game at first seems like your average 2D action platformer, where you take control of your big mech suit, go through various stages, shooting plenty of enemies that take various forms and require a lot of maneuvering to take out, getting plenty of different powerups to increase your defense or attack power, and take on plenty of bosses that will put your speed and reflexes to the test. Yes, it is all what we have all seen before, but it does feel very fun and satisfying to play, having a nice difficulty curve that many other NES games didn’t have, and, again, testing your reflexes and timing in a way that doesn’t feel aggravating, like other games.
However, there is one aspect of the gameplay that separates itself from all of the other games like this on the system and at the time: The manipulation of gravity. Throughout the game, you can change the gravity to where you can either walk on the ground or up on the ceiling or bottom of platforms, and not only are you affected by this, but several of the enemies and obstacles that you will encounter along the way are as well. As you would expect, the game makes sure to test how well you can use this mechanic to pass its challenges, with not only the enemy placements and how you jump on certain platforms, but also with several puzzle elements that require using the gravity manipulation to solve. In my opinion, I think this mechanic was implemented into the game perfectly, as it does make traversing through these stages feel much more compelling and fun, and while it did take me a while to get used to the controls for flipping the gravity, it only became a bit of an issue in several circumstances that didn’t take away from my enjoyment at all.
Despite how much I did enjoy this game though, it isn’t perfect. Some of the boss fights that you take on throughout the game can get pretty annoying, specifically the last two, due to their mechanics. They are doable, but it does take a while to get used to how to properly take them on. And speaking of bosses, that goes into my main problem with this game: the last stage is just a boss rush. Like I have mentioned in the past, I am completely fine with boss rushes as long as there is some kind of growth to be found in between the original fights and the rematches, but this game doesn’t have that at all, and it just comes off as unnecessary padding in a game that really doesn’t need it. What’s even stranger is that, usually at the end of a boss rush, there would be another boss to fight that would serve as the final foe of the game, but this game doesn’t have that, and instead just has you shooting these nodes before the time runs out, which isn’t really all that satisfying at all. If I had any other minor complaints, it would be that you need to beat the game a second time on a harder difficulty in order to even see the credits, but really, that is something that I just ignored overall, because the game already has an acceptable conclusion without one.
Overall, despite some annoyances with the bosses here and there, I still had a pretty great time with this game, and I would consider it to be one of the best hidden gems that the NES has to offer. I would definitely recommend it for those who are looking for something different to play from the system that isn’t a Mario or a Zelda. Shame that it never did get a sequel though, because if it did, I would buy that in a heartbeat, no questions asked.
Game #250
Not really much I can add to this that others haven't already said, but I'll try anyway. Really like how short yet tightly designed each stages are, plus messing around with the different weapons for each case right around when they're necessary keeps the kit fresh throughout, and also helps to really figure out their niches. For instance, there's a shield that pierces through to the enemy machinery that I initially wrote off due to how its range is pitiful, but a stage thoroughly utilizes this aspect to have you break through the walls in order to destroy the laser chargers that impede on your progression. It's good shit, and the game contextualizes the gravity shifts in numerous styles that I really wasn't expecting. I've been meaning to do a writeup of sorts about Irem and their history, and cases like this, Ninja Baseball Batman, the R-Type series, GunForce 1&2, and even way later in the console gens where they crafted PS2 cult hits Disaster Report 1&2 and Steambot Chronicles make it all the more tempting. By the way, the music here is exquisite, easily one of the best sounds on the system, and something I highly suggest you check out even if you decide to skip out on the game.
I'll still call this a bit of an overlooked gem on the system, but a few things hold it back from really achieving the same level as Mega Man 4 or Castlevania 3. Firstly, these backgrounds suck. They're not poorly made or anything like that, it's just that they're those types of NES/Famicom graphics where they majorly use one or two colors yet detailed in a way that, while fine stationary or staring at them via screencaps become irritating on the eyes when playing. I didn't get nauseous, but it was seriously annoying. Secondly, the bosses are weaksauce. They're either pitifully easy to figure out the pattern, or are super tight in dodges that you're likely to power through brute force instead of any level of skill. Makes me glad this game has infinite continues on top of my rewind, otherwise I'd be busting out save states like it was nothin. Although, I did use a translation hack for the Japanese version that not only has a few line of dialog, but is also supposedly a little bit harder. I never really felt there was a grand sense of difficulty, but some aspects did feel a little tighter than they should be.
Other than that, this did remind me I have way more Irem catalog to check out, I've actually only ever completed this and NBBM for the moment. I'll figure it out from there, especially since I'm not really in the mood to delve in long-form commitments in games for the time being.
I'll still call this a bit of an overlooked gem on the system, but a few things hold it back from really achieving the same level as Mega Man 4 or Castlevania 3. Firstly, these backgrounds suck. They're not poorly made or anything like that, it's just that they're those types of NES/Famicom graphics where they majorly use one or two colors yet detailed in a way that, while fine stationary or staring at them via screencaps become irritating on the eyes when playing. I didn't get nauseous, but it was seriously annoying. Secondly, the bosses are weaksauce. They're either pitifully easy to figure out the pattern, or are super tight in dodges that you're likely to power through brute force instead of any level of skill. Makes me glad this game has infinite continues on top of my rewind, otherwise I'd be busting out save states like it was nothin. Although, I did use a translation hack for the Japanese version that not only has a few line of dialog, but is also supposedly a little bit harder. I never really felt there was a grand sense of difficulty, but some aspects did feel a little tighter than they should be.
Other than that, this did remind me I have way more Irem catalog to check out, I've actually only ever completed this and NBBM for the moment. I'll figure it out from there, especially since I'm not really in the mood to delve in long-form commitments in games for the time being.
Q jogo bom, é um ótimo platformer com mecânica de gravidade q afeta tanto vc quanto os inimigos
one of the best games the nes has to offer - a damn fine sidescroller with a fun and fully utilized gravity-switching gimmick. lots of stage variety and fun bosses. gets pretty tough but it's hardly ever unfair
my ONLY gripe is the last stage being a lazy series of boss repeats with the most underwhelming final "boss" ever
my ONLY gripe is the last stage being a lazy series of boss repeats with the most underwhelming final "boss" ever
Pretty interesting for a NES action platformer. Gravity flipping is the central mechanic here - passé by today's standards - but the game utilizes it cleverly in both the level and boss designs. Brought down overall by a disappointing final level - a standard boss rush followed by a trivial final boss.
Metal Storm is a game I truly love, but I have a hard time talking about it. It’s perfectly polished and looks fantastic, but it’s still just an NES platformer. To anyone without the context of the console’s usual limitations, or the common design pitfalls of its time, it would seem about half as impressive as it really is. The smoothness of the animations is better than even the majority of SNES games, and the difficulty is perfectly tuned to be satisfying but not time-wasting, unlike its “Nintendo Hard” contemporaries. But, if you remove the reference points from that evaluation and only judge it by a modern standard, all you’re left with is “it looks fine, and it isn’t frustrating”. While it may not stand out much compared to the NES throwbacks of today, it doesn’t change how the developers broke past the limitations of their time to create a game that’s still highly enjoyable over thirty years later. The fact that it can be compared at all to the NES throwback games, with their advantages of decades of retrospect and technological improvements, is a marvel in itself. Even if you do end up finding it half as impressive as I do, it will still be well worth your time.
buen plataformero con mecánicas interesantes, no le doy mas estrellas porque me pareció un poco corto y el final no era lo que esperaba.
Oh man. Where do I start?
Irem, I do miss you lol
From the minds that gave us the R-Type franchise, comes Metal Storm.
Possibly the first game on the NES to feature the player piloting a mech.
You jump, you shoot, you reverse gravitational axis…wait…what?
Yep, that is this games gimmick. And it uses this gimmick well.
It’s not just a platformer where you can walk on the ceiling, there are sections that require you to flip back and forth.
Once you get proficient at it, it makes you feel like a complete and total bad-ass. Like you could launch Rambo with a single kick to the butt.
Irem branches out from the shmup genre once in a while, and I’m glad they do.
This game is a gem.
Irem, I do miss you lol
From the minds that gave us the R-Type franchise, comes Metal Storm.
Possibly the first game on the NES to feature the player piloting a mech.
You jump, you shoot, you reverse gravitational axis…wait…what?
Yep, that is this games gimmick. And it uses this gimmick well.
It’s not just a platformer where you can walk on the ceiling, there are sections that require you to flip back and forth.
Once you get proficient at it, it makes you feel like a complete and total bad-ass. Like you could launch Rambo with a single kick to the butt.
Irem branches out from the shmup genre once in a while, and I’m glad they do.
This game is a gem.
Possui um modo extra depois de zerar, mas não é lá essas coisas, pois só aumenta a dificuldade.
This is a platformer by Tamtex, which is Irem. You star as a big mecha robot and you have the powers to gravity flip onto the ceiling,. Difficulty curve is good. It's very steady and escalates in just the right ways. I played the Japanese version and my favorite level was the 6th, where you really need to utilize the gravity flips a lot since there's electricity on the floor and ceiling of the stage.
I think if you like old school platformers and may not have heard of it will be pleasantly surprised. It requires good execution, memorization skills, and routing (especially for stage 6). The last stage is a boss rush with a very short final boss, but it was satisfying to get through.
I think if you like old school platformers and may not have heard of it will be pleasantly surprised. It requires good execution, memorization skills, and routing (especially for stage 6). The last stage is a boss rush with a very short final boss, but it was satisfying to get through.
Have you ever wondered what could happen if Gravity Man was actually a cute robot in a "run and gun"-like game with tough to swallow bosses? Here's some news for you in case you did.
Jump and shoot nes platformer with giant robots. Solid level design and a cool gravity switching mechanic. I do wish you could take more hits but it’s pretty fair. Very impressive art design and pixel art for the nes and it honestly stands out more than most action platformers on the era. I really wish we got a super nintendo sequel.
This also started Happy Video Game Nerd so that’s cool
light 3.5/5
4/9/24
4/5
I have the same opinions but this game gets better over time. It’s like a perfectly designed nes game it’s very balanced and challenging. Such an awesome action game how the hell did they not make a sequel? I really wish this caught on. Still I really wish there was some sorta health bar to start off.
This also started Happy Video Game Nerd so that’s cool
light 3.5/5
4/9/24
4/5
I have the same opinions but this game gets better over time. It’s like a perfectly designed nes game it’s very balanced and challenging. Such an awesome action game how the hell did they not make a sequel? I really wish this caught on. Still I really wish there was some sorta health bar to start off.
Fun and interesting but the bosses aren't so enjoyable and it ends with having to do a full boss rush in one hit for some damn reason. Not a great decision really and ultimately brought it down some for me.
Did this front to back in a vc in the backloggd server and they talked about
-Cum
-Being able to fight and defeat bears
-Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 is a 3D platformer
Did this front to back in a vc in the backloggd server and they talked about
-Cum
-Being able to fight and defeat bears
-Tony Hawk Pro Skater 3 is a 3D platformer
a modern indie game spiritual successor to itself