HyperZone

Review

by Brett Alan Weiss

Though not 3D in the strictest definition of the term (your ship doesn't move forward or backward), the graphics in HyperZone have a distinctive three-dimensional quality. Things coming toward you from the distance are convincing, and the futuristic scenery moves smoothly past your ship. Even though you are not actually moving forward, it kind of feels like you are.

The music in HyperZone is quite good and distinctive. It manages to sound mysterious and foreboding while keeping an insanely hyper kinetic beat. It is slightly redundant, but it keeps the game, which is fast to being with, moving along nicely. The sound effects are tolerable, but not up to Super NES standards. The constant buzzing noise when you are low on power is annoying. Sound effects-wise, HyperZone is a lot like a mediocre Genesis game.

Each level in HyperZone is much like the others. You always move down straight highway-type space pathways, and your objective is always to shoot and dodge, shoot and dodge. Much of the screen is radioactive, so you must spend most of your time in a narrow area of the play field. The ship upgrades are a welcome feature (you'll definitely need them to beat the game), but the bosses are unimaginative and easy to kill. Some of the levels are kind of tough, though.

All in all, HyperZone is unique in terms of graphics and music, but the gameplay is mind-numbingly repetitive. For a more interesting and worthwhile experience, stick to some of the left-to-right shooters such as R-Type 3 and Darius Twin.