This game seems to be generating a lot of buzz in the online community,
and with good reason.  It's a throwback to the grandaddy of all video
games:  the sci-fi shooter.  Ah, my eyes get misty when I think back to
games like Super Cobra, Caverns of Mars, Tempest, and R-Type.  So how
does the new kid on the block fare?  Read on!

Synopsis:

Think of Nanotek Warrior as a constantly moving version of Tempest that
is sometimes inverted.  You are constantly moving down a tube -
sometimes inside the tube, sometimes outside the tube.  Meanwhile,
baddies are coming at you on the tube and above the tube - all at a very
zippy rate (30 frames a second?).  

At the end of each level, you encounter a boss, which are all some
variant on yet another classic shooter, Star Castle.  Only this time,
it's in 3D.  These bosses, although a bit too easy to beat, are for me
the highlight of Nanotek Warrior.

Graphics: 7.5

Graphics are very fast and fluid.  The main levels (the tubes) move so
quickly and smoothly it's hard to believe at first.  The tube is texture
mapped, and looks very nice.  The enemies in and outside the tube are
simple polygon constructs a bit bland and boring.  There are few
variations of the enemies as well.   The multitude of objects blocking
your path, ranging from mines to spikes to sweeping fans which take up
an entire screen (my personal favorite), are very well done.  

The bosses are very cool.  Cleverly designed and animated, they spin and
move and rotate with fluidity that made me stop a couple of times just
to watch them.  Needless to say, I lost many a ship in the process. 8)

Sound: 7.9

Sounds are very well done.  Explosions have a meaty sound to them,
especially on a decent sound system.  Fans make a swishing noise as you
approach, and the humming of mines adds immeasurably to the tension of
the game.  

Music is a techno mix which is rather good.  It's probably the second
best techno I've heard on the Playstation, behind Tempest X (and yes,
ahead of Wipeout XL, which I feel is a way overrated).

Gameplay:  8.5

Very good.  You'll be jumping about the tube, firing like a madman, and
swearing like a sailor as you try to get through the game's 8 levels. 
The amount of control you have over the ship is astounding - you can
jump, roll, and put the ship on its side with the greatest of ease.  The
ship's weaponry is nothing to sneeze at, either; the special weapons
range from a grenade like bomb to a screen filling row of fireballs that
take out whatever may be in your path.

This game is a bit on the tough side, but not impossible as some
onliners are making it out to be.  There are only eight levels, with a
couple of bonus areas, which may sound short, but trust me, once you get
to level 8, you'll be begging for a break.

The bosses are a bit too easy to beat (figure out the pattern they fire
in and keep moving against it firing until he dies is the order of the
day).  However, they are so fun to fight they could almost be a game by
themselves.

Annoyances:

Although I really enjoy this game, a few things detract from my
enjoyment of Nanotek Warrior.  

The biggest complaint it a lack of variety.  All eight levels feel just
like the first.  The enemies for the most part look pretty much the
same, and the tube is always a tube; a variety of geometric variations
(ala Tempest) or branching paths would have been a major improvement.  

The password system is also annoying.  Not only does the game not
utilize the memory card (why even bother having a high score table if it
doesn't save?), the password system is inherently cheap.   Your password
takes into account the number of lives you have remaining when you
complete the level.   Therefore, if you beat a level with no lives
remaining, when you start the game again with the password, you start
with no lives remaining.  The game is difficult enough without this
hinderance.  

Even that is nothing compared to the major password ripoff after you
complete the game.  Upon completing the game, you are giving a password
for a new ship with phenomenal firepower.  But everytime you complete a
level using your spiffy new ship, you are given the EXACT SAME
PASSWORD!  Therefore, in order to completely beat the game, you must
play through from beginning to end in one sitting.  Sheesh!

The graphics and sound are quite good, but really could have benefited
from a bit more pizazz.  Speech announcing what powerup you just got
would be a big plus.  

Overall:  7.9

Although my list of annoyances is rather long, don't be put off. 
Nanotek Warrior is a pretty good game, and a step in the right direction
for next-generation shooters.  It beats the hell out of playing
Philosoma, that's for sure.  Until someone gets it together and releases
a new R-Type (or ports the phenomenal Darius Gaiden over from the
Saturn), it's about as good as Playstation shooters get.


---Randy Baer---