Here in America we received the vast majority of the Sega Genesis’ shooter library but there were some curious omissions that were very interesting from a gameplay perspective. Whether you consider it a shooter or not Twinkle Tale takes what made both Elemental Master and Mercs great and wraps it in a neat package. Panorama Cotton is one of the most technically advanced games of that era. It moves at a blinding pace and is awe inspiring to watch. Bio-Ship Paladin is a pretty good port of the arcade game of the same name that offers a unique hook in the form of its beam weapon. But while the beam weapon is interesting it doesn’t exactly make for a great game.
Bio-Ship Paladin is a far different animal than almost every Genesis shooter in nearly all respects. Unlike most shooters you have a life bar. That isn’t so surprising on its own but as you collect life power-ups your ship increases in size! It is…..different but I honestly question why that was added. It completely defeats the point of staying at full health since you present such a large target. More of a challenge? The game is already difficult as is. Additional weapons are pretty sparse but the default ship is well equipped to handle anything in your path. You have an R-Type style chargeable laser and can pick up optional satellites that attach to your ship depending on where you touch it. These are not indestructible however and I found fairly useless as they are destroyed within seconds.
The most useful weapon is the beam. Activating the beam allows you to aim a targeting reticule and release powerful bombs that can destroy nearly any projectile. This mechanic forms the basis of your ship’s defense as there are no optional shields to collect. Luckily it works beautifully and is one of the most unique systems I’ve ever encountered in a shooter. There’s even an item that turns your reticule into an aggressive enemy seeking angel of death for a brief period that frees you up to focus on dodging walls and other such distractions.
While I like the inclusion of the beam weapon using it can be frustrating. Activating the beam causes your ship to become stationary while you move the cursor around. It’s a smart decision but not one that I feel never becomes second nature. You also have to press the button again to turn it off. Particularly during boss battles this method of control can be a problem although I will admit there really was no other option. The optional two-player mode allows one player to control the ship and the other to guide the cursor which sounds awesome and alleviates the problems I have with it.
Bio-Ship Paladin is a slower paced game than the majority of shooters in the Genesis library. That makes sense as it would otherwise be impossible to keep up. The game leans heavily on destroying bullets, walls, and other impediments in out of the way spots. Since your standard laser can’t penetrate walls the beam is necessary to avoid taking hits. The game’s pace can be a bit too laid back with predictable enemy patterns and a general lack of excitement since it is so slow. Outside of the unique targeting mechanic this is an average shooter with levels that cover the standard spectrum. There’s nothing wrong with that but with so many options to choose from one distinctive “hook” in this case isn’t enough to raise the game’s profile.
In spite of the life bar and instant respawning the game can be pretty tough for those that don’t grasp using the cursor. There are numerous instances where swarms of enemies will rush the screen or a hailstorm of bullets will shower the playing field. Unless you are quick death comes swiftly. I won’t go so far as to say it is unfair but it starts early. Bio-Ship Paladin would have been better served with a gradual learning curve. Boss battles drag on as you must dismantle them piece by piece. Unfortunately the game does not do a good job of signaling that you are hitting the right target. Sound effects tend to drop out leaving you to blast every piece and hope for an audible que. It ruins what should be one of the highlights of the game..
As a conversion the Genesis port stands up to the coin op pretty well. The backgrounds, while simple feature a high level of detail and a few levels of scrolling to give depth. This is a pretty colorful game which is a surprise as most shooters of that era were exceptionally dark. The music on the other hand is a different story. What few tracks exist are not well composed and generic and worst of all recycled throughout the game.
In Closing
Bio-Ship Paladin in the end is an above average shooter with an innovative hook that probably deserved to be in a better game. While it is decent there are much better import shooters to spend your money on.
