Developer:
Capcom 1988
Translated
to Turbo by:
Nec Avenue 1992
Format:
Super CD Rom
(1 disc)

Genre:
Arcade shooter
Players:
1 or 2 simultaneous
options:
difficulty, lives,
language, auto shot,
sound test

Forgotten Worlds
A Superb review by


(actual video capture from game
- optimized for the web)

AS ONE OF THE FEW CAPCOM games to make its way stateside for our beloved turbo, this is a classic. Much truer to the arcade than its Sega Genesis counterpart, we get a very close translation with all the levels (I should hope so being on a CD) and trimmings.

THE GAME IS VERY UNIQUE in its control scheme and graphic style. There is still nothing quite like it. You move your character (a punky muscle-bound neo hero) with the D-pad while rotating him with the run and II buttons. You shoot with the I button (and detonate super-bombs). This results in an odd necessity to hold the controller so that you can have 3 fingers on the buttons and is the only real flaw in the game. A reconifure option would have been nice. But, you get used to the controls and in no time are into the intense action. To spice up the simple controls, there are shops that pop up and sell you new weapons, speed-ups, hints, etc... for the 'zenny' that you collect throughout the levels. This keeps you from having to worry about picking up much during the heat of action aside from the zenny coins and bonus points.

Forgotten Worlds was also designed around NEC's 3 Button controller which was unfortunately released only in Japan. Luckily the rest of us can still use the standard 2 button controllers, or NEC's 6 button controller which can be obtained through a number of resellers such as TZD -note from editor


Multi-Screen Boss capture - Holy cowabunga!

THE 9 LEVELS in Worlds are each unique from each other except for a slight Egyptian theme that reoccurs at various points in this otherwise futuristic world. For the most part, we automatically scroll left-to-right, but at times there is some vertical and diagonal travelling too. The artwork of foreground and background graphics are both very impressive- as Capcom usually does, although sometimes there is only foreground, leaving a black backdrop. You won't have much time to admire the scenery, anyways because the enemies are constantly keeping you on your toes coming at you from all directions in both fixed and free-flying form. Gun-toting lizard men and egyptian warriors seem to dominate the menu, but there's an assortment of other bizzare enemies so things never get stale.

THE MAIN ATTRACTION here is the bosses, however. We're talking HUGE folks. Some are larger than the whole screen! They have to be seen to be believed. They're so detailed that even with the Super CD's memory, there's a slight pause needed to load in more graphics. Some of the most memorable in gaming history, really.

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OVERALL THE GAME IS very challenging (unlike the Sega version) and a game you can come back to every few months. There is a little flicker in places, but not as bad as R-Type's worm stage. The music is also top-notch. And yes, those hilarious between level cinemas are there too! Bad translations result in totally bizzare statements made by the game's heros and they only add to the game's unique feel. The control issue keeps this shooter a hair below the greatness level of GATE OF THUNDER and R-TYPE, but it's right up there with the best. Definately Recommended.
Grade: A-

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Awesome review by Wes ([email protected]) with additions by Bob Frasure. Layout, graphics, and design by Bob Frasure [email protected].