Developer: Technosoft Publisher: Technosoft Release: 11/22/96 Genre: Shooter
Technosoft were a force to be reckoned with in the shooter genre. It is just a bit sad the greater public did not know this. The Thunder Force series comprise some of the best shooters you have never heard of. But despite their skill at the genre their presence all but disappeared in the West with the Saturn. But that does not mean they were not still pumping out great titles. Hyper Duel is a port of their 1993 arcade title and I can see why they waited for Sega’s next platform. This is an intense and mechanically fantastic game that hits all the right notes and makes for a great import purchase.
Hyper Duel offers a choice between three Buster Gears and their pilots. Buster Gears like the Macross VF-1 have multiple modes, in this case two: armor and fighter mode. Armor mode is the more powerful of the two as you assume robot form and can fire in multiple directions. The tradeoff is that you are a larger target. Fighter mode is your traditional space ship mode, sleeker and able to dodge bullets easier but with less power. The games simple control with a button dedicated to each mode makes switching simple and it only takes a second.
Each pilot and their corresponding mech differ in power, speed, and attack making it worth it to try each character. The weapon system in Hyper Duel is slight but more effective than games with twenty power-ups. Each gear has a different weapon in each mode that powers up with P icons and it only takes a few to reach full power. By holding both buttons together you create satellites whose mode of attack differ depending on your mode. This special attack has a meter that slowly replenishes over time. In addition there are two helper machines that function like options. Tracer units follow your movements and attack any enemies in sight. Gunner units are mini robots that aggressively seek out enemy’s independent from you. You can have up to three and mix and match although they can only sustain five hits for balance.
Hyper Duel is an intense game from the start with action more densely packed than in Thunder Force. The game is very generous with power-ups but that comes with a drawback. Hyper Duel has a ranking system that varies the action depending on the number of power-ups you have collected. Collect a ton of items and the enemies become more aggressive and fill the screen with bullets. This can quickly become a literal nightmare on certain stages. The beginning of stage four in particular escalates quickly if you enter at full power. Speaking of nightmares, the sixth stage boss (aptly named Nightmare) lives up to its name and can be more difficult than the actual final boss.
Although the ranking system sounds like it punishes players for engaging with the game’s systems in reality it provides a challenge commensurate with your power. The game gives you the tools to navigate the chaos but it is up to you to utilize them. Macross Scrambled Valkyrie used a similar switching system but I like the way it is implemented here better. It is entirely possible to stay in one form for the entire game but that makes life harder. Using ship mode to dodge a flurry of bullets and then changing to armor mode to unleash focused fire to destroy a boss is exhilarating. Mechanically the game is a little simple but how you apply those mechanics is what gives it depth.
At eight stages Hyper Duel might seem long for a shooter. In reality the levels are incredibly short outside of stage six. This is an arcade game at its heart. For its Saturn port Technosoft added an exclusive Saturn mode that features an extensive number of changes. One of the biggest additions is in the controls. Saturn mode adds another button to lock your firing direction while moving around freely. This affects Armor mode the most as previously you had to balance movement with aiming simultaneously. I cannot stress how much more playable this makes the game and makes me question why it was not setup this way in the first place. I would have also liked a separate button for the satellite attack but whatever, the game is perfectly fine otherwise.
In Saturn mode the game receives a near total graphical face lift and the difference is striking in parts. Most stages take place at different times of day; I like stage three’s night time assault the best. Where there isn’t a shift in time the color palette has become more vibrant. Enemies and background elements have been redesigned with more detail as well. There are gameplay adjustments as well that make the game more difficult but truthfully only those that play both modes back to back will notice. With an additional arranged soundtrack Saturn mode is worth playing the game twice in my opinion. But I would have said so anyway as it is pretty cool overall.
In Closing
Hyper Duel is a fantastic yet underrated Saturn shooter and a great pick. It isn’t the flashiest graphically but holds its own and makes up for with solid gameplay. Unfortunately it is one of the most expensive Saturn titles so the chance most will experience it is slim. If you find it at a reasonable price go for it, you won’t regret it.
