When you tally it up it really is incredible just how many shooters there are for the Genesis. If you count the few import only shooters there are close to 50 altogether which is insane. And the Turbo Duo is even worse! Taking that number into account there is plenty of generic fodder cluttering the library. A game has to really do something different to stand out. Bio-Hazard Battle does so with its biological theme and massive weapon selection. It’s definitely a weird game thematically but is solid and incredibly fun.
During the first global biological war on the planet Avaron a new virus is released. This virus creates new life forms on the planet’s surface and leaves it inhospitable for humanity. The only survivors are those aboard the spaceship Odysseus, who are then put into suspended animation to await the day the planet is hospitable again. That time is now, hundreds of years later. As the pilot of an organic ship it is your job to prepare the world for humanity’s reawakening.
In terms of weapons the game comes loaded for bear. Each ship is equipped with a standard rapid firing cannon and a chargeable plasma wall. For added firepower you are permanently equipped with the power star, an option like satellite that fires your currently equipped secondary weapon. The power star moves in your opposite direction making it difficult to position. Once you get the hang of it you can use it to ram enemies and absorb bullets, I would say its most important feature. It still would have been nice to have the option to lock it in place as many times it feels like a happy accident when you use it effectively.
The weapon system goes a step further from there. In total there are seven sub-weapons, designated by the colors blue, yellow, red and green. Each weapon can be upgraded three times, although you won’t notice a dramatic difference. To further break it down there are four selectable ships, each with its own weapon load out. One weapon is shared but the rest vary greatly. Each insect like ship has numerous strengths and weaknesses that you’ll unfortunately have to glean by testing them out. The red Electra is well rounded with two homing weapons. Orestes puts more emphasis on its rapid fire capabilities but suffers from a lack of versatility. Polyxena is the best rounded, with its weapons adapting to every situation and its access to the powerful homing laser. Hecuba is the hardest to use but has weapons that can destroy bullets, which is inhumanly indispensable.
Bio-Hazard Battle differs from the vast majority of shooters in that nearly all of its enemies are organic in nature. Although you fly through man made environments the game’s biological theme is always front and center. In a sea of me too shooters fighting against a primarily insectoid threat is a pretty novel concept. Only the decent Insector X occupies that same niche. The game’s pacing also deserves mention, as you start your descent from space, make your way through a ruined city, and proceed underground in search of the rogue bioweapon. The sense of one continuous journey is evident and helps sell the game’s story.
Unlike most traditional shooters the only way to die in Bio-Hazard Battle is from head-on collisions with enemies or bullets. You can bounce off walls and other background objects freely. The game takes full advantage of this in its second half. Aside from being awesome it comes in handy navigating tight corridors, of which there are many. It doesn’t make the game any easier, as there is plenty of mayhem to compensate. The chaos is so high that there is heavy flicker and slowdown that can lead to some cheap deaths.
While median at first there’s a sharp difficulty spike around the fourth level that is unexpected. At this point all hell breaks loose as the screen is blanketed in bullets. It’s about here that you’ll have to start making strategic use of the constant weapon drops to survive. Having said that the game never becomes so hard that it seems unfair. On the contrary, extra lives come frequently which reduces the fear of death. More than likely you will only use 1 or 2 continues to reach the end of the game.
Despite being an old game Bio-Hazard Battle is pretty striking at times. The art design is what carries it with plenty of unique insectoid and organic enemies that you’ve probably never seen in another game before. The closest comparison would be R-Type but that has more in common with Alien. The backgrounds, although flat are pretty detailed and are only let down by the dithered color palette. For all of its good points the visuals are pretty uneven. Anytime the levels take you to a man-made environment it feels bland. The nature based stages are where the art direction truly shines.
In Closing
Bio-Hazard Battle isn’t the most spectacular shooter available but it’s a solid game that will provide a few hours of entertainment. It has a unique atmosphere, one that elevates it above generic drivel like Arrow Flash and Whip Rush. The game has been re-released numerous times and can be had dirt cheap. I’d say jump in once you’ve exhausted the more high profile games in the genre.
