Firepower 2000 is a second-generation game released in 1992 by Sunsoft. As such, it takes place in the far off time of September, 1997. :) An underground race has stolen prototypes of the most up-to-date military equipment from the most powerful world forces. Using data collected from the study of these high tech war machines, they have created a military force of their own - an army of computerized warriors. Military Intelligence has tracked them to an island somewhere in the middle of the Atlantic. Your job, of course, is to find and destroy them.
Gameplay and Control [9/10]:
Gameplay is simple: shoot everything that moves, and some things that don't. Firepower 2000
plays a lot like Xevious. You start off at the bottom of the screen while the enemies come at you
from the top. There are often several moving objects at once with no discernable slow-down. You can play as either a jeep or a helicopter (or both, as a terrific 2 player option). There are advantages and disadvantages to both. The jeep is slower, but can fire ammo in any direction. It is, however, obstructed by any thing on the ground (ie; tanks, cannons, passing trains, buildings). The jeep can also do something the helicopter can't; It turns into a speed boat when you need to traverse over water (Third level)! The helicopter can only fire straight ahead, but is free to fly anywhere (including up to the top of the screen, if necessary). The control is beautiful. Every button is extremely responsive, and simply holding the fire button down will deliver rapid, continuous ammo. You shouldn't get a sore thumb from playing this game.
Graphics [8/10]:
The graphics are crisp, clear and colorful. The animations are smooth, and the boss at the end of each level is creatively designed. Each enemy is disctinctly drawn, and there is no confusion as to where you are in the heat of battle.
Music and Sound [8/10]:
The sound effects are appropriate, with each explosion and shot ringing out clearly. They don't stand out from any other game, but they fit well and don't interfere with each other (multiple sounds at once with no cutting out). The music is non-memorable, which is perfect for this type of game.
Challenge and Replay [8/10]:
Choices are what this game is all about, and that makes it infinitely replayable. There are plenty of powerups and shields along the way, which help keep you involved in the action. You have several choices, the first being permanent weapons. Once you pick these up, you won't run out of them, and you are free to toggle between them at any time. These include normal bullets as well as flame, plasma, laser and ionic cannons. There are also other special weapons which may be used once only. You may build up as many of these as you wish before using them however, so I'd recommend saving them for the bosses. These include Mutilple and Homing Missiles as well as three other, slightly odd choices. The scrolling battlefield is also wider than your screen, so it is possible to miss things (powerups, etc) your first time through. The 6 levels offered in Firepower 2000 may not sound like much, but it will take you a while to beat this. If the challenge isn't hard enough for you, play with the jeep. You'll be struggling. Promise.
Conclusion/Overall [8.25/10]:
Firepower 2000 may not offer much in the way of strategy or new ideas, but it is the best at what it does: offer slam-bang, shoot-em-up, always exciting warfare. Fans of the genre won't want to miss this.
