VectorMan 2

Sega didn't have to launch the second VectorMan game with the fanfare of a $25,000 contest like they did last year. The first game was so good, the gaming community has been anxiously awaiting the release of VectorMan 2 ever since. I'm sorry to say that it's taken until now for me to be able to take a look at this excellent cart - I've been stuck under a pile of games since before Christmas and it's been impossible for me to devote any attention to this game. I was sure relieved to finally be able to plug this futuristic platform adventure into my Nomad, however.

VectorMan 2 should be taken to videogame schools around the world as an example of how to make a great sequel. All of the best elements from the first game have remained intact but now the action has been enhanced by even cooler graphics effects, more weapons and morphs and some really impressive audio. From start to finish, you'd be hard pressed to find a better Genesis game anywhere. It's no wonder a CG rendered VectorMan movie is headed our way.

Never A Day Off

The story for VectorMan 2 picks up right where the previous game left off. On his return home from defeating the pesky villain, Warhead, VectorMan's sludge barge is hit by a missile and comes crashing down to Earth.

VectorMan is unhurt but by some freaky luck (VectorMan only has freaky luck), he's landed right next to a spooky research facility that's become overrun by mutant insects.

Before you can say, "This is a job for...," VectorMan leaps into action and heads into the facility to wipe out the danger and save the planet once again. After all, VectorMan is the hardest working sludge barge pilot in 'show bidness'.

Light Fantastic

The super clean lighting effects of VectorMan 2, were the first things that blew my mind. Every time our fave robot took a shot, a luminescent glow erupted around his firearm, lighting the surrounding area for a brief instant. This is next-gen quality visual enhancement we're talking here - I was spellbound.

The good looks of VectorMan 2 don't end in the lighting department, however. Our hero is one super cool looking metallic dude. Made up of exquisitely animated, floating spheres, VectorMan moves fluidly and dishes out the hurt effectively. And as you wind your way up through the levels, you're also given the opportunity to morph into various insect-robotic creatures.

My favorite VectorMan assimilation is the Fire Ant. This turns Vecty into a Human Torch/Ironman hybrid (Marvel Comics is going to love me), and allows our hero to plaster the baddies with flame blasts - muy caliente!

A Rhino Beetle morph gives VectorMan an enormous invincible horn, which allows him to plow through walls and enemies. And the Tick morph turns VectorMan into a creature you'd like to see in a fighting game, with giant destructive fists, this uber-VectorMan handles the baddies with one swift punch.

Other visual morph treats are watching VectorMan get accustomed to rollerblading and also working through a level as a tank. This is one hero who's not afraid to change his image when the danger calls for it.

The levels in the game range from slimy nighttime swamps, to the multi-hued, molten interior of a volcano, to the antiseptic cleanliness of the research facility. There is some repetition between levels but believe me, you'll feel like you've traveled after you've completed this adventure.

The enemies are numerous and relentless. Some of them take a minimum of ten hits to blow apart and some of them are so small and hard to hit, it's like they burrow their way under your skin. Worst of all, are the baddies that you destroy and then turn around to discover have come back again - they're called Paintball Bugs, 'cause they splatter when you kill 'em.

Compared to the hard edged, high tech look of the first VectorMan adventure, the more organic visuals of VectorMan 2 compliment the series very well. Although the game play is similar in both games, owning these two carts definitely won't feel like you have two of the same game.

Feel The Burn

The game play of VectorMan 2 is as straight forward as you can get. This is one of those titles where reading the instruction book seems like a complete waste of time. Just pick up your control pad and start running and blasting. Sure, there are strategies for staying alive and earning the big points and extra lives, but you'll find those out soon enough. Right from the get go, the baddies are in hot pursuit, so don't think you'll be sleep walking though this one. Even the "Lame" difficulty level is a challenge.

Your objectives for each level are to collect as many of the Photons (otherwise known as "coins", "rings", etc.) as you can, and to destroy every Power Sack. If you collect 80% of the Photons on any given level, you are swiftly transported to one of three bonus rounds (one of the bonus levels is like revisiting Sinistar!). Here you'll have the ability to pick up extra lives and add more notches onto your health meter. Destroying Power Sacks not only helps you gain tons of bonus points at the end of the round, but you'll also have the opportunity to collect a series of power-ups, including point multipliers, different weapons, extra lives and restart milestones (which allow you to pick up close to where you left off if you die). The game rewards you if you play well. Videogame Basics #101.

There's really not much more to tell you about the game play. You've played many similar action platformers before, but VectorMan 2 is going to be one of the sweetest you've ever met. The control is bang on. The levels range from spacious and tricky, to just tricky, and back again. And the additions of VectorMan's morphs help to keep the game from ever getting routine. I loved it.

The Genesis Played Like A Stradivarius

The music for VectorMan 2 is straight form the dance clubs. If high energy electronic techno bounce is your cup of tea, you'll be able to rock your living room with the tunes you find in this cart. Personally, I'm getting a wee bit tired of almost every game released these days having a dance soundtrack attached, but in VectorMan 2 the soulless synth and drum machine stuff works. Certainly, the clarity is there. You can hear every bump and all the boogie in the score, which is dang cool.

The sound effects for VectorMan 2 are outstanding. For starters, the audio folks punched in a huge assortment of different blasting sounds to represent all of the weapons, and each one of the Vector-guns sounds great. I really liked the high pitched, high powered, high velocity wail of the laser blaster. And the ricocheting Super Energy Shot is a ton of fun.

The best part of all the audio in VectorMan 2 is my main man's robotic voice. The slick things he spouts, as he burns his way through level after level of bug carnage, had me smiling the whole way - "I want more!", "Gotcha!", "Right on!"

Turn this one up and, as James Brown would say, "Get into it, man!"

Gold In The Sludge

Yep, it's another blockbuster adventure for the sludge barge pilot. VectorMan has now become my favorite Sega character. This guy is a mascot for the next decade. Sega shouldn't let him get away. If there's one game that Sega has to make, it's a 3D, 32- or 64-bit VectorMan adventure. As cool as the two 16-bit scrollers are, this hero has definitely outgrown the Genesis. For now though, you'd be foolish to own a Genesis or a Nomad and not have VectorMan 2 in your collection.

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