Metal Storm (video game)

Metal Storm

The M-308 gunner with Pluto in the background

North American box art
Developer(s) Tamtex
Publisher(s) Irem
Director(s) Kengo Miyata
Producer(s) Hiroshi Futami
Programmer(s) Hikaru Yamashita
Composer(s) Toru Watanabe
Platform(s) NES
Release date(s)
  • NA February 1991
  • JP April 24, 1992
Genre(s) Action, platformer
Mode(s) Single-player

Metal Storm (重力装甲メタルストーム Jūryoku Sōkō Metaru Sutōmu, lit. "Gravity Armor Metal Storm") is a side-scrolling action platforming game developed by Tamtex and published by Irem for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It was released in North America in February 1991 and in Japan on April 24, 1992. The story takes place in 2501, when a laser weapon at a defense outpost on Pluto has malfunctioned and begun destroying the Solar System. The player takes on the role of the M-308 Gunner, which storms into the defense base in order to activate the self-destruct system before the laser gun destroys Earth. The M-308 is equipped with a gravity control device which allows the player to flip between the floor and ceiling, a main feature of the game. Metal Storm received positive reviews from gaming publications.

Gameplay

The M-308 seen using reversed gravity in stage 1-1.

Metal Storm is an action platform game featuring six stages with two acts each, and a final boss rush stage. The player takes on the role of the M-308 Gunner, an all-purpose combat robot with a specially equipped gravity control device. This device allows the player to flip from the floor to the ceiling and vice versa. The gunner is also equipped with a gun to destroy enemies. The player can pick up various power-ups including a power booster for the gun, a shield, and a fireball ability for when flipping gravity. When a stage is finished, a password is provided which saves the score, special weapons, and number of lives left. [1]

Plot

In the year 2501, mankind has colonized the solar system, but all is not well. On a defense outpost on Pluto, a robot-controlled laser gun built to protect Earth from alien invaders has begun to malfunction. It has turned against the human race, and begun destroying the solar system. Most recently, the people of Earth watched helplessly as Neptune was destroyed. Attempts to activate the station's self-destruct system have failed. In a last ditch effort, the player must storm the Pluto base with the most sophisticated weaponry available, the M-308 gunner, and enable the self-destruct device.[2][1] After the final boss is destroyed, the leaders of Earth grant the M-308 Gunner immortality, with the duty to protect mankind from future threats.[3]

Reception

Metal Storm was covered in the March 1991 (issue #22) of Nintendo Power. The issue not only featured the game on its cover, but also featured a 12-page strategy guide. The reviewers provided scores of 3.8 out of 5 for graphics and sound, 3.7 out of 5 for play control, 3.7 out of 5 for challenge and lasting interest, and 3.7 out of 5 for theme and fun.[1] Electronic Gaming Monthly provided a score of 7.75 out of 10.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Metal Storm". Nintendo Power (22): 8-19. March 1991.
  2. ↑ Metal Storm NES Instruction Manual
  3. ↑ Metal Storm. Nintendo Entertainment System. 1992, IRem.
  4. ↑ "Metal Storm". Electronic Gaming Monthly (20). March 1991.

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Thursday, December 24, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.