Firestriker

DTMC has created a brand new cartridge for the Super NES that combines some old genres to make a wholly new type of game. Fire Striker has you (and a possible second player) trying to thwart the forces of evil using magical fireballs. With this power, you will travel across the land, trying to free the seals that hold the elements under control.

OK, get this... Remember the old game of Breakout? That's how Fire Striker is played. You must swing your sword to knock the ball higher up. To clear the stages, the fiery projectile must be flung to the top of the screen. To stop you, monsters like slimes and skeletons will pursue your hero (you have a choice of fighters) around the screen. You'll lose a life when you lose the ball through the bottom of the screen, or if you get hit by too many monsters. To clear the seals, a giant Boss creature appears to attack.

Fire Striker is a fun game to play. It's very different, and not all that violent so all players can enjoy it.

There are four kingdoms in the world: Earth, Wind, Water and Fire. There was a huge war among them. Wind won and brought peace to the world. But some are not happy with peace and seek to destroy it. Wald is out to destroy that peace by sending monsters with the ability to turn enemies into stone. Only one hero has not been captured and you must take him all over the world to free the others and restore peace to the land.

There is also a Versus Mode where up to four people can play. It resembles soccer in that you have to use the ball to score goals against your opponent.

Styled after Breakout, FireStriker's a new take on old -- but not outdated -- game play.

The goal is simple -- bust through barriers and advance. FireStriker, however, sets the game play in an adventure scenario and adds action elements like bosses and power-ups that increase its replay value. A second play option allows you and three friends to compete in a two-on-two contest or defend individual goals in four-way play.

FireStriker's 14 complex playfields aren't overly detailed, but they offer plenty of barrier bustin'. The ball responds like a pinball and is easy to follow, though you sometimes lose track of it when the screen scrolls upward. The sound nicely underscores the action.

With something for everyone, FireStriker should light a fire under most gamers.