Wurm: Journey To The Center Of The Earth (Asmik 1991)

In the year 1999 some destructive Earth tremors and volcanoes cause havoc with the planet's surface prompting scientists to attempt learning the origin behind these forces. Vehicles are built to explore the depths of the planet but four of these never return. Now it's up to you to find these lost explorers and try to find out what caused their disappearance as well as what is causing the tremors.

WURM combines quite a few genres in a attempt to bring something new to the NES and a huge quest stands between you and the secrets of the center of the Earth. Traveling around in your VZR (the WURM) you have to fight against the inhabitants of the underworld in a variety of viewpoints. Not only do you have side scrolling and top town shooting sections but also a first person view boss battles and platform style adventure sections. All these are backed up by some entertaining cut-scenes that further the interesting storyline.

Your VZR have quite a few tricks it can employ to thwart the enemies and your crew is also on standby to offer some advice. With the ability to use tank, hover and aerial modes,  your VZR is well equipped for the missions ahead as long as you keep a eye on your shield and fuel levels. Shields recharge over time but fuel has to be collected by killing certain enemies. Enemies come at you thick and fast and only split second reflexes will save you. Enemies also have the annoying ability to constantly respawn so be on your guard at all times. The boss sections are unique because you take them on in a first person view battle. You can only scroll the screen left and right but you can move your target cursor all over the screen to take out their minions and focus on their weak spots. You also get the chance to talk to your crew to best determine how to kill the boss which is quite an interesting touch.

The platform sections put you on control of Moby, the female captain of the VZR. Although these levels are generally short they can be pretty tough and it's a good thing that you have a gun to take out enemies. You bullets are finite though so unless you want to kick your way across a level it's best to conserve them. You'll have to search for clues and keys to progress as well as find the missing members of the previous teams.
The graphics in the game are quite good especially considering how many different gaming styles are on offer. The platform sections feature large characters and some pretty detailed locations. The boss battles are also quite nice with huge creatures and cool effects. The shooting sections are nothing special and look pretty much like any other but still has some unique enemies and levels while the WURM is a unique and versatile craft. With twenty levels spread across five acts it's a good thing the game has a password feature and infinite continues.

The audio in the game isn't bad but there is nothing to make it outstanding or especially good. The tunes remain in the background and you'll be hard pressed to remember any of them once you've stopped playing. Sound effects are also basically nonexistent. The controls take some getting used to and there is a definite learning curve involved mastering them. The collision detection can be a bit shaky at times which can make things frustrating as well.

Although WURM is a unique and entertaining game it could also have been a bit better in some areas. The constantly onslaught of enemies are challenging but at times you can hardly dodge them. Some of the platform sections also get a bit tedious as you have to search maze like areas for the exit or clues. The ability to talk to crew members during a boss battle is a nice touch but their dialogue is limited and the soon repeat themselves.

While it's not quite a classic game it can still entertain and it's good to see companies try something new. It has some original touches that makes it worthwhile but some persistence (as well as patience) is required if you want to get the most out of it.

[7]

D-Force (Asmik 1991)

One of those oil rich dictators from the Middle East has finally gotten too big for his shoes and declared war on the world for some misguided reason. Not only does he have droves of high-tech planes, tanks and weapon sites at his disposal but through the help of his biologists also managed to bring back some mean dinosaurs to further boost his forces. The UN's defence budget must be running a bit low since they decide to send in only one Apache helicopter. Your job of course is to pilot it and save the world.

Despite the rather elaborate storyline Dimension Force is a rather simple game. In fact the only place you'll learn the plot is in the manual since the game itself contains no intro, cut-scenes or even ending. I'm sure those people unfortunate enough to not have the manual was wondering why they were shooting down jets on one stage and dinosaurs on the next. If you've ever played a game of this type in the arcades you should know exactly what to expect. You have to pilot your small helicopter through six levels teeming with enemies wreaking as much destruction as you can along the way. Foes attack in swarms and there's no shortage of bullets heading your way which considering the fact that it only takes one hit to destroy you makes for a few hair-raising experiences.

Ultimately though Dimension Force is one of the easiest games in the genre thanks to the three skill levels and the ability to have up to nine lives to start with. Furthermore you continue where you were shot down with full fire-power and even when you are game over have unlimited continues which place you back at the start of the stage without taking away your power-ups. This means with a little perseverance anyone should be able to finish this one.

Looking at the graphics D-Force is decidedly average with the usual ocean, forest and desert type backgrounds. Apart from a few freaky dino's the enemy designs isn't anything special either. Despite the basic graphics the screen can get rather cluttered at times making those small, indestructible enemy missiles a real nuisance. One of D-Force's main (well only actually) gimmicks is the ability to alter your height on some levels. You simply tap one of your shoulder buttons and the view zooms down so you can shoot enemies on the ground or dodge obstacles. An interesting idea but the levels are rather short and the graphics get a little blocky up close. This feature is also one of the reasons I suspect there's no two-player mode.

The audio is a bit of a mixed bag with sound effects being about as feeble as can be. Apart from the tame sound your guns make, a few explosions and the sound of a power-up being picked up you'll hear nothing else. The music isn't that bad and some of the tunes (especially the song on the final stage) actually sound nice but overall I have to say they don't really fit the game. These tunes are a strange choice for a fast paced shooter that's for sure.

Besides the main game there is also a "Shooting" and "Technical" mode but these are basically the same levels from the game split up into "zooming" and "non-zooming" sections. Trying to put up a high score is nice but since the game has no battery backup also pretty pointless. In the end only the lack of other good shooters makes D-Force worth playing and even so it won't keep you busy for long.

[6]

Conquest Of The Crystal Palace (Asmik 1990)

The citizens of the Crystal Palace were happy until their once peaceful homeland was conquered by an evil spirit and his undead minions. With their King  and Queen killed, their only hope was the young prince. Unfortunately he was only six months old at the time. Fortunately the palace guardian and keeper, Zapolis survived despite being turned into a dog. Now fifteen years later prince Farron and his trusty dog Zap must venture back to their home and defeat the warspirit once and for all.

I have to say I'm impressed with this effort from Asmik. They have taken a sound platform game and added a bit of role playing elements to shake things up. The graphics are quite good and features some nice details. Some levels such as the Gateway of Flame have nice effects like the lava. The main character has some nice animations and is also quite responsive to control. Levels also shy away from the run of the mill formulas and feature some originality for once. Besides walking about, slaying your foes and collecting the coins they leave behind, you will also come across a shop from time to time. Here you can replenish your health, buy some new weapons or even catch the wacky news. While fighting you can also call upon Zap to attack your enemies and he has his own life bar that can also be filled up again by buying some food at the shop.

The game only has five levels but they are moderately long and feature some really hectic boss battles. Some of these guys are really tough and having the right weapon for the job helps immensely. You start out with only a sword but can buy some projectile weapons along the way. These don't last long so must be used sparingly and preferably kept for the bosses.

Another highlight is the music which is surprisingly good for a NES game, especially one of this era. There are also some downsides, but luckily not much. Gameplay can be a bit frustrating at times with things hitting you all over the place, but with patience and timing you can easily complete the game. Dying is also a frustrating experience while fighting a boss as you have to travel all the way back to him to restart the fight, instead of simply starting the battle from scratch. The last level also features some particularly nasty maze like layouts that can cause much frustration. Don't let these criticisms put you off though. Conquest of the Crystal Palace is still an enjoyable game and one that stands out in the platform market due to the extra features.

[8]