JŪRYOKU SŌKŌ METAL STORM
(Metal Storm)
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重力装甲メタルストーム
©1991 Tamtex
©1991 Irem Corp.
Release: 1992-04-24 (¥6500)
Cartridge IF-21 (TIX-4M)
Action/Platform
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Released in America as
METAL STORM
( NES-4M-USA )
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Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm is a side scrolling action/platform
game by Tamtex and published by Irem. In the year A.D. 3521,
mankind has successfully colonized space. Pluto was turned into
an ultimate defensive system and the Gigades project was designed
to protect humanity against Alien attacks from outer space. But Gigades went rogue and
destroyed humanity's nearby planetary bases and it is now targeting Earth!
Humans tried to annihilate the thread by bombarding it without much success.
The Universe Commissioner activated Gigades's self-destruction
system, but this last attempt didn't work... Humanity's last hope lies in lieutenant
Greg Burton, who is now sent on-board his
state-of-the art Storm Gunner! His mission is to venture deep inside
Gigades and to activate it's self-destruct mechanism! The player takes control of the M-308
Storm Gunner which comes with an unusual feature - it can switch
gravity and stick to walls. When activated, the gravity field flips the
whole game upside down! This option is at the core of the gameplay
and the Storm Gunner can even flip gravity in mid-air, and this
technique is especially necessary in later stages!
Each area must be completed within a time limit, which definitively puts
pressure on the player to work accurately and quickly!
Various power-ups can be
collected along the way - "A" icons give the player
an extra shield, "P" upgrade the main weapon,
"S" creates an energy-shield, "G" turns
the Storm Gunner into a fireball when it switches gravity,
"C" kills all enemies on the screen, "T"
adds bonus-time, "B" awards the player with extra points
and the rare "1 Up" gives the player an extra life.
Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm consists of seven stages and is single player only.
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Surprisingly, Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm was first released in the
United States and this version features a lot of differences!
Because it was released earlier, it doesn't include an extensive
introduction sequence. Some color palettes were actually surprisingly changed,
the M-308 wears a white armor in the Japanese version
whereas it looks like orange in the American version (picture on the right). The
Japanese version is arguably more difficult - for instance,
an electric barrier was added to the already crazy difficult Level 6.
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If you are fan of Irem's classic games and especially
their masterpiece R-Type (like me) then
Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm should have your nostalgic juices flowing for sure!
Metal Storm features a couple of R-Type cameos that are worth mentioning!
First of all, the boss from level 5, called Multatron,
can transform into multiple forms and it shares a lot in common with
the traditional R-Type ships! The area is called "R-75" (which can also be seen in the background
while fighting Multatron, picture on the left).
As you probably already know, all the R-Type ships follow the same
nomenclature and "R-75" sounds really familar (although it wasn't referenced
in other R-Type games as far as I know...).
But most importantly, the classic R-Type and notorious giant War Ship can be seen in the
background while fighting the sixth boss! This is one of
the most intense and challenging boss fight in the whole game, so most players may have
been way too busy fighting that boss and unable to take a selfie... but I did! (picture on the right)
It is also notable that Tamtex, the studio that developed Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm,
also later developed R-Type III for the Super Famicom system!
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Teaser text copied from the American version:
Battle Station Cyberg's massive computer that keeps space
throughout the solar system is no longer user friendly. It's
gone wildly out of control. The LaserGun it operates has
already destroyed Neptune. Earth is on its next target.
As a High-tech hot shot, you must enter Cyberg's core and
activate the system's self-destruct mechanism. Mankind is
relying on your know-how and toughness to see this thing
through. But time is running out...
Oh yes, one more thing. The powers of your "Gravity Flip"
Suit are essential for a successful outcome to this mission.
The Suit empowers you to proceed both upside down and
rightside up as you dash to put this computer permanently
"on the blink".
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Game Staff (Copied from the Introduction Sequence):
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Directed by
Kengo Miyata
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Program Written by
Hikaku Yamashita
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Graphics by
Utata Kiyoshi
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Game Staff (Copied from the Japanese version's end credits):
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STAFF
Produced by
Hiroshi Futami
Music Composed by
Toru Watanabe
Sound Effects by
Ikuko Minori
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Special Thanks
Yousuke Hayashida
Takayuki Kudou
Osami Okano
Youichi Suzuki
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Guest Charactor Designer
Sadamitsu Numayama
Graphics by
Utata Kiyoshi
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Programmed Written by
Hikaru Yamashita
Directed by
Kengo Miyata
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Game Staff (Copied from the American version's end credits):
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STAFF
Music Composed by
Toru Watanabe
Sound Effects by
Ikuko Minori
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Other Staffers
Yousuke Hayashida
Takayuki Kudou
Osami Okano
Youichi Suzuki
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Characters Designed by
Sadamitsu Numayama
Graphics by
Utata Kiyoshi
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Programmed by
Hikaru Yamashita
Directed by
Kengo Miyata
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O
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Click on picture to enlarge |
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Level Passwords (Japanese Version):
Level 2 : : GOY-732G-ZRU
Level 3 : : Y74-SMCU-397
Level 4 : : U23-7KAD-ZLI
Level 5 : : 3N7-CTRF-4KH
Level 6 : : LX4-NY2J-Z96
Level 7 : : YTL-68ZY-A9F
Expert Mode:
Level 1 : : MZJ-TZHD-13D
Level 2 : : 98H-AR2U-G65
Level 3 : : TBG-4BA4-KF8
Level 4 : : CDC-B4ME-AZ2
Level 5 : : HKM-15ZD-O8T
Level 6 : : CK4-07Z9-0HB
Level 7 : : 68E-GPAE-TAY
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Level Passwords (American Version):
Level 2 : : Z06-V0R2-KZV
Level 3 : : 45T-XPRM-KGQ
Level 4 : : R0N-PK2X-Z2C
Level 5 : : ZN7-X3RJ-XG9
Level 6 : : 5T7-LQZ1-B23
Level 7 : : 6M♥-C627-ZR0
Expert Mode:
Level 1 : : HL0-SSZD-B1T
Level 2 : : BJ1-KVZB-BJT
Level 3 : : !NZ-Z823-ZRS
Level 4 : : 6P!-JPR!-BVW
Level 5 : : 0LV-BMHJ-DX4
Level 6 : : P3J-5RQJ-KG8
Level 7 : : 01L-GKQG-KZ!
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LK
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Add your Pov here !
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P
O
V
s
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Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm is awesome and features some incredible
gameplay mechanics like no other. But we're dealing here with an Irem title
and I must warn you - as expected, the difficulty level is out of this world.
Let me explain. The gravity switch feature is incredible but definitively takes some time to get used to.
Additionally, each level throws
new challenges at you without any mercy. You constantly have to adapt, and adapt
really fast!
Levels take everything you've learned and just
crank it up to eleven! I'm not kidding! Later levels have to be timed
perfectly with new challenges that will make your brain bleed
with pain! The game just doesn't wait for you to ponder your next move and it
constantly throws new incredible challenges at you, and you better master them!
And even if you eventually do, Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm reveals
an "expert mode" that will get you to really think twice!
Jūryoku Sōkō Metal Storm is an amazing and challenging
game for sure, but it does deliver some amazing gameplay mechanics that
will keep you entertained for a while! A definitively hard but
incredibly satisfying game!
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