My Played Video Games Review: BioMetal for the Super Nintendo

BioMetal is a single-player game where you move your ship horizontally and shoot. It was released on June 1, 1993, for the Super Nintendo/Super Famicom.

In the European and North American versions of BioMetal, the music is all remixed songs from the 1991 album "Get Ready!" by the techno group 2 Unlimited. However, the Japanese version of the game has a completely different soundtrack.

This is just one of those shooter games on the SNES that never gained popularity somehow. I wonder why...

The Story

Get ready for an intense battle against BioMetal mutants set to techno music! You command the powerful Halbard fighter equipped with six different superweapons. Use the GAMa system to take down the BioMetals, creatures designed to defend and attack.

Conquer six dangerous alien worlds and defeat countless BioMetal enemies. The epic showdown happens to the beat of a cool soundtrack created by the famous Techno group 2 Unlimited!

The Graphics and Sound

Graphics are very good. The backgrounds are fantastic. For instance, in the first stage, you soar through a space storm with flickering lightning in the clouds behind you. The second stage is set on a desert planet with cool-looking sand dunes and a moon in the sky behind you. It's a job well done, in my opinion!

Most of the enemies are gray battleships with insect-like faces, but there are other enemy crafts too. While the enemy designs could be better, they still look good. Additionally, the weapon effects and explosions are visually pleasing.

The game features techno-style music, which sounds pretty cool. Explosions and weapon firing effects are also well done, and the GAM sound effect adds a neat touch.

The Gameplay

As a space shooter, the controls in the game are pretty straightforward: you can move up, down, left, and right. You'll come across pods that contain either weapon power-ups. If you collect the same weapon that's currently equipped, it becomes stronger. Missiles don't have power-ups; you just collect one, and that determines the type of missile you have. The Halberd fighter has three gun-type weapons and three missile-type weapons, and you can fire both guns and missiles simultaneously.

1. Vulcan: This is your standard weapon, and with power-ups, it shoots multiple energy blasts that spread out across the screen.

2. Laser: It's a laser beam that goes from one end of the screen to the other. With power-ups, it becomes thicker and more powerful.

3. Wave: This weapon shoots a red, crescent-shaped energy beam. With power-ups, it fires from both the front and back, allowing you to hit enemies from behind.

As for the missiles:

1. Dumb-Fire: These missiles just fly straight ahead.

2. Veer: These missiles follow a wild arc in front of your ship.

3. Homing: These missiles lock onto and chase enemies, making them very useful.

Then there's the GAM. When activated, it rotates around your ship. You can use it as a shield to block incoming projectiles, shoot it in eight directions to attack, or expand its radius for both offense and moderate defense. Be careful with the GAM, though, as it consumes energy when deployed. Use it wisely so that your energy can replenish over time.

Replay value is okay. If you enjoy blowing things up, give it a shot. Just keep in mind that there's no way to save your progress. It can be fun, but it might get a bit repetitive after a while.

My Verdict

While BioMetal's story might not be very unique, the gameplay and music are fantastic, and the graphics are better than average for its time. It's a fun side-scrolling shooter game and definitely worth trying out, especially if you're looking for something enjoyable to play.

Play it on the iconic Super Nintendo/Super Famicom or play it on a favorite emulator.

Let's keep on gaming in the free world!