Mad Stalker: Full Metal Force
Almost top tier mech actionGenre: action - beat em up
Publisher: NEC
Year: 1994
System: PCE CD
Gameplay Score: 3
Gameplay Notes:
Plays like Ninja Warriors, on a single plane. Attacks include a strong and weak sword swings, a useless uppercut, a jump attack, and a dash attack combo which is by far the best option available. You can also perform SF2 style fireball and Shoryuken attacks, but the inputs don't always work. Movement is fast but a little squirrely due to your huge hitbox and long animations. There's no way to block so you can't play strategically. Just attack as ferociously as possible and hope for the best. It's a much better Genocide for the SFC.
Level Design Score: 3
Level Design Notes:
Sadly, the stages are short, linear, and straightforward. There's no platforming or interesting enemies to keep things spicy. The stages themselves look great (more on that later) but they all amount to a slow walk from kermft to right. Except for the obligatory elevator stage, of course.
Theme Score: 4
Theme Notes:
Mechs! The futuristic city has a cool vibe, like Last Resort for the NeoGeo. The cutscenes leave a lot to be desired, however. They're just a long exposition dump between talking heads, ala Metal Gear Solid, but in all Japanese.
Art Style Score: 5
Art Style Notes:
Amazing sprite work. The mechs look and animate beautifully. Backgrounds feature tons of detail and colors. The city looks like a lived in place, although it feels like the mechs should be larger than they appear compared to the buildings around them. Still, one of the better looking mech games of the era.
Audio Score: 4
Audio Notes:
Fantastic, upbeat music that's closer to Journey than Van Halen. I wouldn've preferred more bass guitar and percussion rather than air guitar and piano accompaniment. Crunchy sounds round out the package.
Overall Score: 67
Review ID: 11065
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