Burning Force
System: Genesis
Release Date: December 1990
Developer: Namco
Publisher: Namco
Genre: Shoot ‘em Up
Show that you have what it takes to join the Space Force in Burning Force! You are Hiromi of Earth University and you want to become a space pilot. In order to do so, you have to defeat five days of training and a final test on the sixth day. If you can do it, you will earn the title of Space Fighter.
This behind the back shoot ‘em up is reminiscent of Space Harrier and 3D World Runner. It plays much smoother than either, but that doesn’t mean it’s very good. The A Button is your main weapon. It can be upgraded into a laser, wide shot, or cross laser, which is a combination of the two if you’re lucky. I wasn’t. Powerups are few and far between and often requires hitting a jump pad to reach them. This is infuriating because missing means you’re stuck with the weak default weapon.
You also come equipped with missiles that can be shot with the B Button. The default is a cluster of missiles that don’t really hit their mark easily. These have a couple upgrades, too, of which I experienced the Max Missile, which explodes for supposedly big damage. You’re limited to five missile blasts per life.
You have an energy gauge that consists of 3 hit points. As you get hit by enemies or their projectiles, you take damage. Losing all three hit points loses a life. You go back to your default shot and have to limp your way through the rest of the level. Each day is split into four areas with the 3rd holding the boss. You’re given their weak point as you start the level and hopefully can avoid their attacks long enough to kill them.
The fourth area of each day tasks you with collecting as many points balls as possible. Getting a high enough score grants you an extra life. But if you lose all of them, you have to use a continue and start on whichever level you have been on until that point. Lose all three continues and it’s game over.
Graphics: 1.5
I wasn’t impressed by the graphics, though they were certainly better than Space Harrier.
Sound: 2.0
The music and sound effects were average and the strongest point of this title.
Gameplay: 1.0
The lack of powerups and the unfriendliness of trying to collect them makes killing enemies a chore.
Difficulty: 1.0
There’s too much unavoidable BS strewn about the levels. Enemies don’t die, but will mess you up.
Fun Factor: 1.0
This isn’t my style of game. I really dislike behind the back shooters because the perspective is always bad and the framerate is always low.
Overall Rating: 1.3
Burning Force earns a D+. I can’t recommend this one. I am biased against this genre, but I really don’t think it was very good. I certainly didn’t want to finish it.