FireHammer for Zodiac

It was a decade ago this year that Taito released the vertical space shooter Ray Force.  The prequel to Ray Storm, Ray Force used a long, vertical screen instead of the standard square-shaped monitor.  This allowed the developers to be really expansive with the game and create a much greater distance view than was normally found in video games.  The game was made just before polygons hit it big, so 2D was all gamers knew.  Taito's technology was somewhat new, and no matter how dated it may seem today, you can't deny its addictiveness.

Today I hold Zodiac in my hands, a mobile entertainment device that is far smaller and far more powerful than 90% of the arcade machines on the market.  The unit's wide screen could easily become a vertical screen just by turning it sideways.  I think you know where this is going.

FireHammer is a vertical shooter that was clearly inspired by games like Ray Force and Ray Storm.  It may also have some Ikaruga in its roots, though that game may be too new to have had an effect on the developers.

If the developers had wanted the game to have a subtitle, "Frantic" would have been it.  The gameplay is full of all the frantic, bullet-dodging action you expect from a space shooter.  You can count on at least a dozen deaths before the game is beaten.

However, not every part of the game is a challenge.  For some odd reason the boss battles are an easy target in comparison to the regular enemy ships.  The bosses are big, they move slowly, and their attack patterns are repetitive.  You don't need much more than a single super attack to destroy the boss ship.  This means that you'll spend all your time and all your effort working hard to not die during the level, and kick back and relax for the last battle.  Strange.

There aren't many power-ups in this game either.  FireHammer starts you off with a basic two-laser gun, but that can be quickly upgraded to shooting multiple blasts in all directions.  A shower of gun blasts can be launched to eliminate enemies before they even become visible on the screen.

Dead enemies drop point multipliers that can be collected to up your score.  It's not an integral part of the game, but FireHammer is based on the arcade-style shooters of the past, and back then the only source for bragging was the high score.  I personally don't pay much attention to that, but I still found myself collecting as many of the multipliers as possible (call it a natural reflex that I've developed over the years).  The multipliers drop fast so catch them quickly!  Missed multipliers reset the combo, but your score is only erased when all of the ships (extra lives) have been depleted.

FireHammer isn't as much of an aesthetic masterpiece as Ray Force was for its time.  The graphics are not as colorful as the Ray series, but it does have some cool semi-3D effects.  The backgrounds give the appearance that you're flying over an industrial setting (or perhaps the inside of a giant spaceship?).  Certainly the Game Boy Advance could create the exact same effect.  It can do better, believe it or not.  And so can Zodiac!  Zodiac can do a lot better, Spy Hunter is proof of that.  This game just happens to take on a more primitive look.

But don't let the looks fool you.  There's a fun game to be had here, one that'll keep you occupied during those long business meetings.  "Johnson, what are your thoughts?"  "Well, sir, I uh...I...(looks down at Zodiac).  I think we need to shoot down the competition!"  "Johnson, that's brilliant!  Why didn't you think of that, Thomas?"  Thomas was too busy fooling around with his Palm Pilot to realize how important it is to defeat your competitors.  FireHammer builds character.  It shows gamers and clever businessmen that you must not give up the good fight.  And if you don't believe any of that nonsense, maybe you'll understand that it was written to convey one thing and one thing only: that this is one good game.

To purchase FireHammer, visit www.TapWave.com

Gameplay: 8.3
And you thought Galaga was tough!  FireHammer is a great, dodge-and-fire space shooter.  No one who has a Zodiac should be apprehensive – ya gotta take this one for a spin.

Graphics: 6
Could be worse, could be better.  FireHammer looks cool at times, but there's no denying the simple fact that this game uses only a smidgeon of Zodiac's power.

Sound: 5
Better stick to your own MP3 music.

Difficulty: Medium/Hard
Let me warn you: don't play this game on the easiest difficulty.  The game is still a challenge on the “easy” setting, but is somewhat boring because of the lack of enemies to shoot.  You want 'em coming at you non-stop, don't ya?  Of course you do!  Keep it on medium, or for a real challenge, kick it up to the hardest setting!

Concept: 7
This isn't a new concept, but now that the Ray series is MIA, who else is there to carry on the vertical shooter legacy?  Ikaruga can continue it on GameCube, but we need more than just one vertical shooter.  FireHammer helps fill the void.

Overall: 8
Vertical shooter fans, this is where it's at.  No fan of Ray Force, Ray Storm or Ikaruga will want to miss this Zodiac classic.