|
Sega Genesis - Review |
|
The sequel to Aero the Acrobat 2 takes place just after Aero the Acrobat. Aero is exploring Ektor's place when he discovers a portal and so enters into a new adventure. Meanwhile Ektor gets saved by one of his minions and so begins plotting Aero's demise. Gameplay: 9/10 Many of the gameplay issues that hurt the first have been addressed in this one. Just like the first one, Aero the Acrobat starts off with three health points and can do things like jump and spin. In this one however, he's much more agile and more responsive. Essentially, for those who haven't yet played the first one, Aero hurts enemies by spinning into them. This is accomplished by pressing B the jump button and then pressing jump again. Obviously you have to guide Aero in the direction you want him to spin by holding down the direction. The second option is to press C which causes you to spin directly down in a screw driver motion. Spinning is also useful for getting to hard to reach places. Aero handles almost perfectly except for a few points. First off you still can't spin directly up or horizontal, you continue to spin at 45 degree angles just like in the first game. This can be very annoying especially when trying to hit enemies. Secondly, Aero has the option to slide while running but that's used exclusively for slipping under certain places. You can't hit enemies with it although it is possible to dodge projectiles if you time it really, really fast. Aero should have been given the ability to crawl rather than this feature which is practically useless. As for taking damage Aero no longer gets instantly killed by spikes but only loses one health point. Graphics: 5/5 The graphics in Aero the Acrobat 2 are right up there with the Sonic Hedgehog series. Not only is Aero much better animated, there are even 3D graphics used for the health as well as certain animations. One complaint I had was the industrial levels which despite machinery still looked rather drab. Sound and Music: 5/5 The music in Aero the Acrobat 2 is much better than in number one. Rather than focus on circus music to the point of annoyance like in the first one, the game's music now suits the environment which makes it much better. The only problem lies with the voice sounds of Aero which haven't been changed since the first game. This provides a great contrast between the rest of the sounds which are all much better and clearer.
The game levels are usually well designed, unique and feature a number of secrets. I particularly enjoyed the Disco levels. For most part you'll know where you're suppose to jump or head. There are a number of poorly designed areas with hazards but there's usually some health around to help you. There's also a snowboarding section similar to Sonic 3 which is fairly cool and well implemented as well. This is a real bonus and really adds to the enjoyment. At the end of each set of levels you'll be treated to a bonus level where you can pick up extra points. One complaint is the instant death obstacles which are still present in the form of bells, swinging spike balls and fans which throw Aero onto your television screen. This is just down right annoying but fortunately these areas are rare. Between levels, there's another bonus level featuring Ektor which you'll be able to access if you collect the letters 'A E R O', in the game. Ektor will hide bonuses under cups and move them around. You'll have to guess where the bonus is. It's quite a fun mini-game and you can even access it in the options menu. Longevity: 4/5 I believe that Aero the Acrobat 2 will be an enjoyable game. I found it to be somewhat short but most people would probably finish it. For: Solid gameplay Against: Still can't spin properly, some slight level design problems, a bit short. |
|
Rom Review Options |
|
Game: Aero the Acrobat 2 Genre: Action Produced by: Iguana Entertainment Year: 1994 Platform: Sega Gensis/Megadrive Runs on: Gens Scoring Summary Gameplay: 9/10 Graphics: 5/5 Sound and Music: 5/5 Game design: 4/5 Longevity: 4/5 Total: 27/30 Rating: 90% Platinum Award -Reviewed by Barnabas |