Fire Shark
System: Genesis
Release Date: October 1990
Developer: Toaplan
Publisher: Dreamworks
Genre: Shoot ‘em Up
Show why no one can defeat a biplane in Fire Shark! Enemies amass in the south Pacific, but without an attack, they are allowed to continue. Suddenly, they attack from everywhere and destroy everyone in their path. A single phantom aviator appears on the horizon in a biplane with a fire shark painted on it. The ace is a time traveler who will take on anyone, anywhere, any time. Ten levels stand between you and immortality.
This vertical scrolling shoot ‘em up has you firing your weapons with the A or C Buttons. There are three different weapons that you can grab over the course of your adventure that can be powered up every three P icons you collect. The blue weapon is the Wide Shot. You start with only a few bullets, but as you collect powerups, you can have up to 16 bullets that are a bit weak. The green icon is the Shark Beam. It’s a spiraling green laser that grows in power and spread as it powers up. The red icon is the Super Fire that is a constant beam. The more powerups, the more beams that attack in multiple directions.
There are plenty of enemies that come at you from all directions. You need to take them out before they can run into or shoot you. There are a lot of destructible enemies and stationary turrets that hide bonus items. It becomes a game of avoid the projectiles and avoid the weapon powerups you don’t want. Unfortunately, the levels don’t really give you a whole lot of variety.
Bosses at the end of the level are your typical bullet sponges and won’t give you too hard of a time if you can avoid their shots. I found them to be a good time to drop a bomb with the B Button. These do massive amounts of damage and are a very helpful tool. Between levels you land and earn points for each bomb you have left and lightning bolt you’ve collected. When you finish all 10 levels, you get to start all over again!
Graphics: 2.5
Everything looks pretty fluid, but it’s mostly boring, except for little dudes running around at the end of the levels.
Sound: 2.5
The music and effects are very Genesis. Nothing that sticks with you, though.
Gameplay: 2.0
There’s not a ton of depth to the gameplay. You only get a few different weapons and deaths steal your powerups.
Difficulty: 1.5
Levels start to feel a little cheap as you get farther along.
Fun Factor: 1.5
I thought this was on the boring end of a genre I usually get a kick out of.
Overall Rating: 2.0
Fire Shark earns a C. I was actually kind of disappointed with this title, it seems too bare boned for what it could have been.