SHMUPS





Blazeon - Atlus (1992)









Blazeon - Transforma-Shmup...?

Reviewed by Roger Post

Maybe this is supposed to read "BLA" Zeon. Because that is just about what describes the overall feel of this shooter: Bla. Once again this is one of those games where it has one redeeming quality that makes it stand out, that makes it worth reviewing, that keeps it from being lost in the pile of garbage cluttered with failed shooters that just wouldn't catch on. I will try to keep in mind that this game was made in 1992, and by today's standards it is sub-standard.

Blaze-on pits a tiny, heavy as anything ship against six or so levels of what looks to be ripped off R-Type sections (hardcore gamers will recognize the similarities). The mini-terror in question has only one hit, but when you do get hit, the ship breaks apart rather than just blowing up. You have two means of attack, the regular shot and what I call the freeze missile. The freeze missile has the ability to *redeeming quality* shut down certain enemies in their tracks so you can hi-jack them and play as that character *redeeming quality*. While this is somewhat like Gaiares, in Blazeon you actually change character, not just the weapon system. This means you get more hits now, your special weapon changes, and the very cumbersome and difficult to control main ship can be a bit easier to handle. The fun of Blazeon is finding out which enemies you can steal and what they do.

Besides this, Blazeon is lacking. Gameplay is very slow, the graphics have weird color schemes, and the music is ……different, but also very slow. It's very calming and puts you to sleep, while being repetitive. And to top things off, there is NO ENDING, NOTHING whatsoever. You just start again, but this time your ship is RED. Granted, this may be a second quest, but I just don't care. At least tell me to go through again. (Note, if you want to make me give your game a bad review, leave out the ending……this will do it every time). Now if shmup designers today would take all the lower-end games out there, pull out the best elements from them, and combine ideas, what a killer game that would be. Just strain out the enemy changing idea from Blazeon and use it in a real game……..anyway, if your Saturn is off being chipped, play this to hold you over, if not, read the review and pass it up.



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Even the title screen screams out "cheese!"

(I can really tell you're enthusiastic about this review Rog - Felix the Cat)

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Here's the beginning, very similar to R-Type with a starfield and a group of enemies in that pattern advancing toward you. The graphics are kind of "kiddie" (check the pink cockpit).

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The first, and most common, hi-jackable enemy. His special is a ring of fire. Asteroids around these parts use thruster engines to get around, in case you haven't noticed.

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Just call the game B-Type, why dontchya! If there's a reflective blue laser weapon coming up, I'm calling Irem….

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Morphable ship #2: Very very fast, and the special attack turns you invincible. Sounds good, but the firepower is weak, and it is difficult to control.

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Ship #3, very very lame. Two magnets shoot a pathetic beam off, and the special button moves the magnets around you like options. Just blow this guy up, don't bother freezing him.

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Blaze-on makes a Broadway production out of boss fights, with weak special effects leading up to encounters. I have no clue what the working means.

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The first boss has guns that can pop up from any of those circles. The main target is the glowing orb. The boss score section continually counts down, so the quicker you finish a fight the more points you get (but true Shmuppers don't care about points).

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Imposter #4, the samurai ship gives people the finger (no, really…you'll see when you play) but has an unlimited special attack of homing missiles. Obscene gestures must really hurt the enemies feelings, to the point of blowing up.

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The well armed ketchup spill came in from nowhere and battered our hero until he promised never to use a condiment again.

Never use tomato sauce again! BBQ Sauce your way into page 2!

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Nice one Rog! Blazeon huh? I remember playing this when I first got my SNES, back in the summer of early ninety-something. I thought it was pants then, and I still do. Don't you just hate it when you go through a game, only to find that there's no ending whatsoever? RPGs are like that for me... Personally though, the idea of stealing bodies from the enemy was good, but poorly executed. Better luck next time, huh?

[ Felix the Cat ]



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