Developer: Flight Plan Publisher: NEC Release: 01/22/93 Genre: Shooter
I am a sucker for anime art. Back in the day when anime was a rare commodity and publishers did everything they could to hide a game’s Japanese origins I took an immediate interest in anything that looked remotely esoteric. Sometimes I would find a cool hidden gem like Stella Glow and others a turkey like Ranma ½ Hard Battle. The PC Engine CD library is inundated with all manner of import gems but Metamor Jupiter stands out due to its name. While I do not know what I expected it certainly was not another shooter. Metamor Jupiter is a good game and entertaining for what it is though not in the upper echelon of shooters for the system.
The plot of Metamor Jupiter is simple. A biological mutation causes an alien race to evolve faster than expected. With their advanced technology they spread quickly throughout the galaxy and set their sights on mankind. Using newly discovered crystal technology a fleet transformable fighter craft are created to push back against the alien threat. Despite the lengthy intro there are no other cutscenes to further the plot as the game might suggest. Instead it lets the gameplay speak for itself.
The mechanics of Metamor Jupiter are a little different. Your ship has three forms, each with a unique weapon corresponding to the colored orbs in the UI. Green is a powerful laser, blue is a wide beam to attack the ceiling and ground, and red is a straightforward Vulcan cannon. You can switch forms at any time as the situation calls for which is extremely cool. You can also switch firing direction at the touch of a button as well. The only other weapons are options that attach to your ship. These mimic your fire but can also be charged up to attack. Their behavior when charged changes depending on your form such as homing in on enemies or blasting forward. Crystals are the only other item and these both power up your weapons and replenish your life gauge.
The transforming mechanic is used to great effect throughout the game. The way your weapons evolve as you power-up makes each optimal in different situations. The tight corridors of stage five are ideal for the blue weapon as the spread bullets cover a wide range. The laser is the weapon of choice for bosses as its charged attack will zero in on their weak point. The ability to change direction on a whim makes more if a difference than you would expect. Most shooters leave you to your own devices when dealing with attacks from your blind spot. It is nice not having to work around that. The game moves from one cool set piece to the next and while some are a little derivative it is still cool. Sadly it does not have enough variety for its length.
At ten levels Metamor Jupiter is a long game. Unfortunately it is to the game’s detriment. Many of the levels drag on far too long for their own good and are full of repetitive hallways and enemy waves. Midway through the game repeats a few of its stages with slight twists. Under normal circumstances this would be welcome but here it feels cheap. There is no score so there is nothing to help distract from the repetition. Overall this is not an overly difficult game like most shooters. In fact it is pretty generous; you have unlimited continues and can save the game as well. While the action is solid it is not so good that you will want more. In my experience I wanted the game to end sooner than it eventually did. Sometimes less is more in my opinion.
In terms of production values Metamor Jupiter is a bit pedestrian. That is not bad but there is a wide gulf between its most impressive moments and its down time. Stage three’s rotating cylinder is an impressive special effect and as you fly among massive space armadas it is incredible. Any time you are at an indoor location the game becomes drab and lifeless. The sprite work and enemy design always remains a treat however. Half way through they recycle some of the stages which is lame. One area that is disappointing is sound. The music is an acquired taste that I completely forgot about. My big issue is the sound effects that cut off randomly. It is easy to take damage without realizing it because of this. The sound effects when hitting a boss are also inconsistent. These have an impact on gameplay and I wish were ironed out.
In Closing
Metamor Jupiter is a solid shooter and a good game overall. I will admit that I expected more from it for no other reason than its status as a CD title. But that is my own fault. While there is nothing here that is truly exceptional it nails the fundamental aspects of its gameplay well enough to be entertaining.
