Robert Jung reviews the
Jaguar version of the arcade classic Tempest
Overview Can an abstract
game make it in today's ultra-realistic video game market?
Atari seems to think so with its release of Tempest 2000,
an expanded version of the 1981 color vector arcade
classic. As in the original, the player maneuvers a
claw-shaped blaster on the rim of an electronic web.
Flippers, Pulsars, and other geometric beings rise from
the bottom, to be shot before they destroy the blaster.
When all of the enemies are eliminated, the player moves
to a new web, where new foes and greater challenges
await.
Tempest 2000
provides four modes of play. "Traditional Tempest"
offers a very close rendition of the original title.
"Tempest Plus" expands on this, with new levels
and a greater difficulty, while allowing aid from a
second player or a computer-controlled drone. "Tempest
2000" features new enemies, new weapons, 100 levels,
and various bonus stages. Finally, "Tempest Duel"
pits two players in competition with the enemies and
each other. Extra blasters are rewarded at regular intervals,
and a key system keeps track of player progress in "Tempest
2000" mode.
Gameplay This game is
intense! Tempest 2000 strikes a perfect balance between speed and
thought, driving players to the limit of human reaction.
At the game's peak, there's so much happening that it's
almost impossible to keep abreast of it all, and only
the best will. Once past the beginning levels, this
game soon immerses players deep in the action. Though
the goal is to simply destroy all enemies, mindless
blasting is not a suitable long-term strategy, and what's
really needed is the ability to think fast in the midst
of chaos.
Of the four modes, "Traditional
Tempest" is a relatively tame game, though fine
in its own right. "Tempest Plus" works best
as a training mode for beginners or a cooperative two
player game, while "Tempest Duel" is a passable
competitive game. The jewel of the cartridge, however,
is "Tempest 2000": As a good sequel should,
the expanded enemies and features add new dimensions
of strategy without losing the spirit of the original
game. Demon Heads, A.I. Droids, Mirrors, the Jump, and
more - each adds more wrinkles, more opportunities,
and more dangers.
The original Tempest used
a rotating dial controller. In Tempest
2000, while the joypad is
not a perfect replacement, after some practice it's
a workable substitute. There's no way to directly adjust
the game difficulty, though the various modes offer
something to players of all skills, and the game grows
harder at a gradual pace. The only real flaw - if it
can be called that - is that the game's abstract nature
may not make it immediately enticing to players. Those
who can overcome their biases will find a title that's
very hard to put away.
Graphics/Sound As expected,
"Traditional Tempest" uses the simple wire-frame
graphics of the arcade, but the other modes offer more
enhancements. Messages burst across the screen, pixels
dance and swirl through explosions, and "Tempest
2000" mode adds filled polygons, seamless color
gradients, and hypnotic effects in the bonus stages.
The adjustable view defaults from behind the blaster,
with the perspective changing as it moves, though some
webs look small in the fixed-view mode. No words can
do the visuals justice; the overall effect is a kinetic
spectacle that's akin to a fireworks show on steroids.
What really steals the show
are the sounds and music. Explosions, weapons fire,
and other effects are distinctive and pleasing, while
voices are crystal clear and loaded with emotion (including
a rather slinky "Superzapper recharge"). But
that's all secondary to the music, an original Techno-rave
stereo soundtrack with an attitude and tempo that matches
the game perfectly. It enhances the experience and is
almost enough justification alone to buy the cartridge.
Summary Tempest
2000 is by Jeff Minter of
Llamasoft, and carries all the hallmarks of his previous
works: fast, blistering action coupled with eye-shocking
graphics and wild sounds. The title is not for the meek,
but a snarling beast that runs on blood, sweat, and
adrenaline. For those looking for a hot, never-ending
challenge, turn down the lights, crank up the volume,
and jam with Tempest 2000!
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