Review - Insecter War
Posted: Fri Feb 23, 2007 9:33 pm
**This game was released exclusively in Japan.**
Insecter War is a game you've likely heard little, if anything about. With the possible exception of it's native homeland of Japan, I'd say this title is very rare as 3DO imports go. The question ... is it worth hunting down a copy of this Japenese oddity.
Insecter War is indeed an odd little game. One look at the brief, but crazy opening should convince you of this. Insects of various types fly about (all the while making giggling noises) and eventually find there way from a forest all the way to space amidst different planets. It is colorful, cosmic, and very japanese.
The actual selections in this game are in English, but don't get too excited ... the descriptions remain in the Japanese tongue. In the story mode you select a field (level) pick a character (each accompanied by sound clips which are kinda cute, but also annoying at the same time) and prepare to challenge the insect of that level. Your competiton appears to taunt you prior to the load (although since it is Japanese, I can only assume it's a taunt ... who knows, maybe they are just wishing you good luck
) In any event, this can be skipped.
The first time I played this title I was pummeled almost instantly. This was followed by yet more taunting, and I was tempted to quit. Perseverance paid off some though, and soon I discovered how to shoot, get powerups, and use objects on the field to my advantage. Think of Insecter War as a weak version of Battle Sport. Both games feature two players on a field who fire at each other and collect powerups. In Battle Sport you are shooting a ball at a goal, in Insecter War you are shooting at one another.
This game has decent colorful graphics (although the screen is cropped) It has varied music, that seems appropriate. It has respectable load times, and sprinklings of English (on the load screens the field name appears in English) It also supports play for multiple players, and appears to have unlimited continues to balance the challenge. These are good things.
Now for the bad things. Although you are shown the starting positions of both yourself and your opponent, I often found it difficult to locate them on the field. They seemed to quickly disappear, and often appeared behind me without my knowing (until they started firing at me that is
) Obstacles were also a pain. Weapons bounce off them, and it is far too easy to get stuck on them and be unable to move as well. Many of the level designs were also poor. The 'Pharoh Star' level was much too sparse, the 'Cosmic Sky' level made it difficult to spot things, and overall none of the levels I played seemed to be memorable (they all seemed too small to me also)
Without Japanese language skills, this game simply proved too difficult for me. Progress was slow, and I often witnessed the screen shattering graphic effect when I was close to death. The only way I was able to advance was to constantly fire at the opposition all the while using the shift buttons to side step projectiles (that couldn't be destroyed)
Bottom line - This game is not that good unless you understand the language, or are willing to invest much time with it (I was quite patient with it too) With is cartoony kiddish graphics, this is likely to remain one of the least coveted 3DO imports. I had moments of mild enjoyment with this game, but I can only recommend it to the most hardcore 3DO collector who has the resources to be able to locate a copy.
-Trev
Insecter War is a game you've likely heard little, if anything about. With the possible exception of it's native homeland of Japan, I'd say this title is very rare as 3DO imports go. The question ... is it worth hunting down a copy of this Japenese oddity.
Insecter War is indeed an odd little game. One look at the brief, but crazy opening should convince you of this. Insects of various types fly about (all the while making giggling noises) and eventually find there way from a forest all the way to space amidst different planets. It is colorful, cosmic, and very japanese.
The actual selections in this game are in English, but don't get too excited ... the descriptions remain in the Japanese tongue. In the story mode you select a field (level) pick a character (each accompanied by sound clips which are kinda cute, but also annoying at the same time) and prepare to challenge the insect of that level. Your competiton appears to taunt you prior to the load (although since it is Japanese, I can only assume it's a taunt ... who knows, maybe they are just wishing you good luck
) In any event, this can be skipped.The first time I played this title I was pummeled almost instantly. This was followed by yet more taunting, and I was tempted to quit. Perseverance paid off some though, and soon I discovered how to shoot, get powerups, and use objects on the field to my advantage. Think of Insecter War as a weak version of Battle Sport. Both games feature two players on a field who fire at each other and collect powerups. In Battle Sport you are shooting a ball at a goal, in Insecter War you are shooting at one another.
This game has decent colorful graphics (although the screen is cropped) It has varied music, that seems appropriate. It has respectable load times, and sprinklings of English (on the load screens the field name appears in English) It also supports play for multiple players, and appears to have unlimited continues to balance the challenge. These are good things.
Now for the bad things. Although you are shown the starting positions of both yourself and your opponent, I often found it difficult to locate them on the field. They seemed to quickly disappear, and often appeared behind me without my knowing (until they started firing at me that is
) Obstacles were also a pain. Weapons bounce off them, and it is far too easy to get stuck on them and be unable to move as well. Many of the level designs were also poor. The 'Pharoh Star' level was much too sparse, the 'Cosmic Sky' level made it difficult to spot things, and overall none of the levels I played seemed to be memorable (they all seemed too small to me also)Without Japanese language skills, this game simply proved too difficult for me. Progress was slow, and I often witnessed the screen shattering graphic effect when I was close to death. The only way I was able to advance was to constantly fire at the opposition all the while using the shift buttons to side step projectiles (that couldn't be destroyed)
Bottom line - This game is not that good unless you understand the language, or are willing to invest much time with it (I was quite patient with it too) With is cartoony kiddish graphics, this is likely to remain one of the least coveted 3DO imports. I had moments of mild enjoyment with this game, but I can only recommend it to the most hardcore 3DO collector who has the resources to be able to locate a copy.
-Trev
Didn't somebody ask you about those in your recent Q & A vid anyway?