Wikipedia

Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge

Metal Combat: Falcon's Revengeis a 1993light gun shootervideo gamedeveloped byIntelligent Systemsand published byNintendofor theSuper Nintendo Entertainment System.It is the sequel toBattle Clash(1992) and one of several titles that require theSuper Scopelight gun.Taking place three years after the events of its predecessor, the player acts as the gunner of the Standing Tank (ST) Falcon piloted by Mike Anderson, fighting a group of chiefs in the Battle Game, the returning emperor Anubis, and the invading Eltorian alien race.

Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge
Cover art by Stephen Peringer
Developer(s)Intelligent Systems
Publisher(s)Nintendo
Director(s)Toshitaka Muramatsu
Producer(s)Gunpei Yokoi
Programmer(s)Shinya Yamamoto
Toshihiro Nishii
Artist(s)Toshitaka Muramatsu
Composer(s)Yuka Tsujiyoko
Platform(s)Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • NA:December 1993
  • EU:May 1994
Genre(s)Light-gun shooter
Mode(s)Single-player,multiplayer

Metal Combatwas created by Team Battle Clash, a group within Intelligent Systems made up ofNintendo R&D1staff, which previously worked onBattle Clash.It was directed by chief graphic designer Toshitaka Muramatsu, who worked in theFire EmblemandPaper Marioseries, and produced byGunpei Yokoi.The music was composed byYuka Tsujiyoko,who also scoredBattle Clash.The game garnered generally favorable reception from critics; praise was given to the refined gameplay, different strategies of each enemy, variety of modes, and overall improvements made over its predecessor. Some reviewers criticized the single-player campaign for its short duration, repetitive action, and difficulty.

Gameplay

edit
Internal view of the ST Falcon, battling against the ST Cobra on Saturn
See also:Battle Clash § Gameplay

Like its predecessor,Metal Combat: Falcon's Revengeis alight-gun shootergame which requires theSuper Scopelight gunperipheral for theSuper Nintendo Entertainment Systemto be played.[1][2][3]The plot takes place three years after the events occurred inBattle Clash;the emperor Anubis suffered defeat at the hands of Mike Anderson and a new age of prosperity began to emerge on Earth. However, Anubis returned to resume his tyranny and an alien race called the Eltorians entered the solar system to conquer Earth.[3][4][5]

Gameplay consists of four different modes divided into single-player or multiplayer submenus: Battle, Time Trial, Training, and Combat.[6][7]Battle is a single-player scenario where the player acts as the gunner of the Standing Tank (ST) Falcon piloted by Anderson, fighting a group of chiefs in the Battle Game, the returning emperor Anubis, and the invading Eltorian alien race in one-on-one duels.[3][7][8]Time Trial is a mode where the player must defeat enemies to achieve the best time possible.[5][6][7]Training is a tutorial mode, in which an instructor named Rola helps beginners through a series of seven lessons.[2][3][7]Combat is a versus mode, where one player controls the ST Falcon using the Super Scope while the other player controls one of the enemy STs using a Super NES controller.[1][3][4]

The player attacks enemies using rapid fire by holding down the fire button, energy bolts, bombs, and an array of specialitems.[2][3][6]The ST Falcon charges energy bolts up to three times when the player is not firing and fires a treble shot once the power meters are filled.[3][4]The player counters enemy fire by intercepting their projectiles, though some enemy attacks can only be deflected by shooting energy bolts.[4][5]Each enemy ST has destructible weak points that the player must shoot to deal damage.[3][4][9]Completing the single-player mode unlocks the ST Tornado, piloted by Carol Eugene.[3][4][7]The ST Tornado can store up to ten energy beams and fire each one individually but has less defense compared to the ST Falcon.[3]

Development and release

edit

Metal Combat: Falcon's Revengewas created by Team Battle Clash, a group withinIntelligent Systemsmade up ofNintendo R&D1staff that developed games for theSuper Scopelight gun,which had previously worked onBattle Clash(1992).[3][10][11]The game is one of several titles that requires the Super Scope.[12]It was directed by chief graphic designer Toshitaka Muramatsu, who worked in theFire EmblemandPaper Marioseries, and produced byGunpei Yokoi.[3][13][14][15]Shinya Yamamoto and Toshihiro Nishii acted as two of the game's co-programmers, who later worked onTetris Attack.[a][13][14]The music was scored byYuka Tsujiyoko,who also composedBattle Clash.[13][16]

Nintendo first publishedMetal Combat: Falcon's Revengefor theSuper Nintendo Entertainment Systemin North America in December 1993, followed by Europe in May 1994.[8][17]It was originally titledBattle Clash II,but the name was changed shortly before its North American launch.[18]The game was housed in a 16-megabit(2MB) cartridge using theOBC-1,a sprite manipulation enhancement chip.[8][19]Metal Combatwas only released in Western regions, as the Super Scope proved to be less popular in Japan.[3][4][10]The cover was illustrated by artist Stephen Peringer.[20]

Reception

edit

Metal Combat: Falcon's Revengereceived generally favorable reception from critics and retrospective commentators.[3][4][23][24][25]Nintendo Powerconsidered it to be a much improved follow-up toBattle Clashand highlighted its multiplayer mode; however, they found the single-player campaign weak, pointing out the difficulty of seeing incoming enemy fire.[9]Electronic Gaming Monthly's reviewers celebrated the game for having colorful graphics and deeper gameplay than mostSuper Scopetitles, and cited the two-player mode as the best feature, although they did not like its difficulty.[21]Game Players's Chris Slate lauded each of the game's enemies for their different strategies, as well as the soundscapes, variety of modes, and replay value.[1]GamePro's Captain Squideo described it as "much harder, faster, and ultimately better than any previous Super Scope game, includingBattle Clash".Squideo praised the detailed graphics that allow the player to spot enemy weak points, but criticized the text between fights and low-quality voice samples.[2]

Hobby Consolas'Antonio Caravaca praised the game's visual quality, sound effects, difficulty, and two-player mode, but criticized the occasional flickering that occurs during explosions.[6]Nintendo Accióngave favorable remarks to the game's mech designs, audio, and various game modes, but criticized the story mode for its short duration.[7]Player One's Jean-Pierre Abidal found the action in the game to be fun but repetitive.[22]Hardcore Gaming 101's David DeRienzo lauded the game's improved audiovisual presentation, refined combat system, and modes of play, writing that "Metal Combatmanages to surpass its predecessor in every imaginable way while still offering the same great core play experience ".[3]Destructoid's Zoey Handley regarded it as one of the bestlight gungames ever developed.[4]

Notes

edit
  1. ^Known in Japan asPanel de Pon(パネルでポン,Paneru de Pon)
  2. ^Electronic Gaming Monthly's review was by four critics with different ratings out of 10: 9, 7, 8, and 7.[21]
  3. ^GameProprovided scores of 4/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 twice for control and fun factor.[2]
  4. ^Nintendo Powerprovided scores of 3.4 for graphics and sound, 3.6 twice for play control and challenge, and 3.5 for theme and fun.[9]

References

edit
  1. ^abcdSlate, Chris (April 1994)."Review: Metal Combat".Game Players.Vol. 7, no. 4. Signal Research. p. 48.
  2. ^abcdeSquideo, Captain (May 1994)."ProReview: Metal Combat — Falcon's Revenge".GamePro.No. 58.IDG.p. 64.
  3. ^abcdefghijklmnoDeRienzo, David (August 7, 2007)."Battle Clash / Metal Combat".Hardcore Gaming 101.Archived fromthe originalon 2017-10-05.Retrieved2024-01-26.
  4. ^abcdefghiHandley, Zoey (March 3, 2023)."Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge for SNES was Nintendo's best use of their space bazooka".Destructoid.Gamurs Group.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-03-03.Retrieved2024-01-26.
  5. ^abcMetal Combat: Falcon's Revenge(Instruction Booklet) (North American ed.).Nintendo.1993.
  6. ^abcdeCaravaca, Antonio (May 1994)."Lo Más Nuevo: Metal Combat – La Caza Del Futuro".Hobby Consolas(in Spanish). No. 32. Hobby Press. pp. 114–115.
  7. ^abcdefg"Super Stars: Metal Combat — Un Nuevo Objetivo Para Tu Super Scope".Nintendo Acción(in Spanish). No. 18. Hobby Press. May 1994. pp. 48–49.
  8. ^abc"Preview: Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge — La nueva onda del" Scope "".Nintendo Acción(in Spanish). No. 17. Hobby Press. April 1994. pp. 38–39.
  9. ^abc"Super Scope Roundup; Now Playing: Metal Combat".Nintendo Power.Vol. 55.Nintendo of America.December 1993. pp. 42–47, 106–107.
  10. ^ab"Developer Profile: Intelligent Systems — An indepth history and look at the often overlooked R&D; group of Nintendo's EAD division".IGN.Ziff Davis.January 10, 2001.Archivedfrom the original on 2012-10-25.Retrieved2024-01-28.
  11. ^"Engaged Game Software".Intelligent Systems.2016. Archived fromthe originalon 2016-11-30.Retrieved2024-01-28.
    "Tác phẩm giới thiệu - ゲーム"(in Japanese).Intelligent Systems.2024.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-01-14.Retrieved2024-01-28.
  12. ^Dog, The Watch; Tangonan, Denver (November 1996)."Buyers Beware".GamePro.No. 98.IDG.p. 24.
  13. ^abcIntelligent Systems(December 1993).Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge(Super Nintendo Entertainment System).Nintendo.Level/area: Creative Staff.(Good Ending screensby VGMuseum [The Video Games Museum].Archived2004-06-16 at theWayback Machine)
  14. ^ab"“パネルでポン” ホームページ công khai 1 đầy năm kỷ niệm đặc biệt xí họa - khai phát giả インタビュー ".“パネルでポン” ホームページ(in Japanese).Intelligent Systems.August 19, 1997.Archivedfrom the original on 1998-01-17.Retrieved2024-01-28.(Translationby Graeme Howard.Archived2020-05-23 at theWayback Machine).
  15. ^Szczepaniak, John (March 17, 2022). "Feature: 30 Years of the Super Scope".Retro Gamer.No. 231.Future Publishing.pp. 44–47.
  16. ^"Interview with Yuka Tsujiyoko".RocketBaby.Hollow Light Media. 2001. Archived fromthe originalon 2002-08-21.Retrieved2024-01-28.
  17. ^"Super NES Games"(PDF).Nintendo.Archived fromthe original(PDF)on 2008-09-20.Retrieved2024-01-28.
  18. ^"Smygtittar: Metal Combat".Nintendo-Magasinet[sv](in Swedish). Vol. 5, no. 37.Atlantic Förlags AB[sv].March 1994. p. 12.
  19. ^"Repasamos 10 juegos de SNES que necesitaron de cartuchos especiales".Univision(in Spanish).Univision Communications.August 18, 2016.Archivedfrom the original on 2023-01-29.Retrieved2024-01-28.
  20. ^Peringer, Stephen."Video Game Art".stephenperingerartwork.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-07-22.Retrieved2024-07-22.
  21. ^abSemrad, Ed; Carpenter, Danyon; Manuel, Al; Williams, Ken (March 1994)."Review Crew: Metal Combat".Electronic Gaming Monthly.No. 56. Sendai Publishing. p. 50.
  22. ^abAbidal, Jean-Pierre (July–August 1994)."Vite Vu – Le Zone de Vite Vu: Metal Combat".Player One[fr](in French). No. 44.Média Système Édition[fr].p. 116.
  23. ^Buret, Stéphane (May 1994)."Selection: Metal Combat".Nintendo Player[fr](in French). No. 20.Média Système Édition[fr].p. 28.Archivedfrom the original on 2024-01-27.Retrieved2024-01-26.
  24. ^Bruinsma, Bjørn (June 1994)."Review: Metal Combat".Power Unlimited(in Dutch). No. 11.VNU Media.pp. 36–37.
  25. ^"Super NES Review: Metal Combat".Nintendo Magazine System.No. 20. Trielle Corporation. November 1994. p. 52.
edit
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Metal_Combat:_Falcon%27s_Revenge&oldid=1250553029"