The Firemen
Zelda meets Backdraft and Die HardGenre: adventure - overhead
Publisher: Human Entertainment
Year: 1994
System: SFC
Gameplay Score: 4
Gameplay Notes:
Simple and easy to understand. You've got two different hoses - one that is aimed upward and another that is pointed down. A variety of fire enemies can be killed by either one or the other, and many can be killed with either. It's easy to figure out and most of the gameplay involves switching between these attacks. you can lock your position using R or L, which works well. The main challenge is to complete each level in a set time limit, although I never felt pressed for time. One fun mechanic is your invincible companion, Danny, who runs ahead of you and attacks the flames with his trusty axe. He's the best and most reliable companion in a 16-bit title. Overall this game plays very well and despite being quite simple, it's a lot of fun.
Level Design Score: 5
Level Design Notes:
The narrative is broken up into sections, although there are no levels. You just continue on in an unbroken story. Still, each section ends with a boss fight and your health is restored. There's an on-screen map which is every bit as good as Super Metroid's. It shows your current location, rooms you've visited, rooms you haven't been to yet, and all doors. It's great!
Theme Score: 5
Theme Notes:
Backdraft meets Die Hard. There's a lot of dialogue, and most of it amounts to the two characters, Pete and Danny, warning each other that it's dangerous. After a while it becomes comical. Still, this is an intense story that begs you to play it in a single sitting!
Art Style Score: 4
Art Style Notes:
Great pixel art. after a while it all starts to look the same, but the sprites look great and are well animated. The look is cartoony but grounded and fit the theme perfectly. Way better than The Ignition Factor. There's no slowdown, but a bunch of graphical glitches.
Audio Score: 3
Audio Notes:
The music is only ok. The main theme is exciting and pushes you along, but other music isn't great. Great sound effects, but they play so frequently that they lose their novelty.
Overall Score: 84
Review ID: 1926
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