Developer: Toaplan Publisher: NEC Avenue Release: 04/12/91 Genre: Shooter
Zero Wing has been the butt of internet jokes for a few decades now and rightfully so. That localization is downright hilarious. But underneath that is a game that is slightly above average from shooter wunderkind Toaplan. Their second stab at the horizontal shooter genre, Hellfire fairs a bit better. Most are familiar with the Sega Genesis version as that one released in the West. However the PC Engine CD is the home of the only true arcade perfect port with a few superfluous additions under the name Hellfire S. For those that had their souls crushed by the Sega game this is a more approachable version of the game. But is it worth it considering its stiff competition?
There was only a brief story for Hellfire you would only find in the instruction manual of the Genesis game. Now however the game has lavish cutscenes detailing its plot. In the year 2998 a robot dictator named Super Mech creates a substance known as Black Nebula and threatens to engulf the galaxy in its essence. The Space Federation of Earth sends pilot Captain Lancer to intercept Super Mech’s forces in the CNCS 1 fighter craft before he reaches Earth.
Hellfire’s hook is its weapon system. Rather than collecting power-ups for separate weapons your ship has four firing modes. These cover different angles: straight forward, behind, above and below the ship, and in four diagonal directions. You can switch modes at the touch of a button which the game calls on frequently. The few items present boost speed, grant a shield, and increase the power of your weapons, up to five times. The game is fairly generous with its power-ups; you will rarely go more than a few feet without at least one dropping. Some might say that is to the game’s detriment but I digress.
The level design is the game’s greatest triumph. The levels are more wide open than in most horizontal shooters but that is mostly for maneuverability purposes. Enemy placement is very deliberate and designed to force you to use specific weapons in certain circumstances. Not that you have to of course; it is incredibly fun to use the diagonal shot to take out enemies from behind using skill. This is a much slower paced shooter than most titles in the genre which is both good and bad. The pacing allows you to learn the order of your modes when switching and never becomes too absurd in asking you to change multiple times in a row. On the other hand some weapons are underutilized. The vertical shot by its nature is the most situational and used the least.
Hellfire lives up to its name in the arcade and was a brutal experience. For the home port the game is easier even on the normal setting. The game uses the instant respawn system of the arcade revision which has its pluses and minuses. Respawns mean you can brute force through a rough patch. But it also means you are screwed if you die in a bad spot. I hit a death spiral midway through stage three and if the game were not so generous with extra lives would have hit a game over. Outside of that random occurrence most will have little trouble seeing the credits. The weapon system means you are adaptable to any situation. Choosing the right option and blazing through the most tumultuous situation unscathed remains satisfying until the game’s conclusion. They strike an excellent balance between challenge and approachable that is hard to achieve.
Where the Sega Genesis edition of Hellfire has a few gameplay additions Hellfire S is truer to the arcade. Hellfire S, while lacking the Sega “improvements” to gameplay does benefit from being on a CD. The game has animated cutscenes that further its story, such as it is. Truthfully outside of the extensive voice acting these could easily have been on a cartridge as evidenced by games like Valis. What could not however is the great arranged soundtrack. The music is generally fantastic although the game’s brevity means the soundtrack is not extensive. And Hellfire S has two-player coop although that means an already easy game becomes that much simpler.
In Closing
Hellfire S is a solid shooter with a cool mechanic that helps it stand out among a tough shooter crowd. It lacks the production values of much of its competition but makes up for it with good mechanics and pacing, and accessible difficulty. It is a toss-up which version of the game is better. While the Sega game has better graphics and a few gameplay additions it also deviates from the arcade a bit. Hellfire S is a more accurate port with all that entails. Both are worth your time however although they probably fall within the middle of the pack in both console’s shooter library. What can I say, the competition is fierce.
