Iridion II (Game Boy Advance)

GameSpot editors' review

• CNET editors' rating: 4.0 stars Excellent
  Detailed editors' rating
  Overall score: 8.2 (4.0 stars)

• Reviewed by:
  Frank Provo
• Reviewed on: 06/27/2003
• Released on: 05/29/2003
• Originally published on GameSpot: Iridion II (Game Boy Advance) Review

When the Game Boy Advance was introduced back in the summer of 2001, a shoot-'em-up game developed by German developer Shin'en managed to turn a lot of heads due to its ambitious implementation of 3D visuals along with a soundtrack composed entirely of digitized techno sound recordings. That game was Iridion 3D, and while it earned respect as a technical showcase for the GBA's media capabilities, it fell flat in terms of overall play design. Even so, Iridion 3D sparked enough interest to warrant a sequel, which Majesco and Shin'en have gladly provided with Iridion II. Iridion II is much better than Iridion 3D--not only is it a beautiful game, but it's also fun to play

The most obvious difference between Iridion 3D and Iridion II is that the perspective has been tilted and pulled back so that the game more closely resembles traditional vertically scrolling shoot-'em-ups. While this change does mean that enemy ships are smaller in size, the trade-off is that the developers have put more detail into everything that's shown onscreen. Enemy ships have wings and engines that flap and flare as they fly toward you. The gradual scaling effect is much more believable than it was in the first game, due to the wider variety of angles and roll maneuvers that each ship exhibits. The environment also plays a larger role in Iridion II--there are scaffold structures you need to avoid, rotating gates that you have to shoot open, and mines that explode if you fly too close to them. In some stages, there are gigantic motherships that occupy most of the screen, forcing you to skirt past them while dodging their gun turrets and exhaust vents.

Iridion 3D didn't really have much in the way of backgrounds--just a few flat, 2D backdrops. In Iridion II, the developers have taken the GBA's ability to play back and loop tiny video clips and used it to generate the trenches and planets you'll fly through in each level. These backdrops have a textured look to them that fits right in with the polygons and sprites used to create the objects and ships you'll see in the foreground. As a result, the action occurring in Iridion II doesn't look like it was pasted over flat, two-dimensional paintings.

Just as Iridion 3D borrowed its design from games like Star Fox and Space Harrier, Iridion II isn't altogether unique in how it plays--the comparisons to many of the classic shooters available for the Super NES and Genesis are inescapable. You control a lone ship set against an army of invading spacecraft. These enemies fly into view at the top of the screen, fire off their bullets, and typically perform some evasive maneuver as they fly out of view at the bottom of the screen. Your task is to dodge the bullets and destroy as many ships as possible. Midway throughout each level, and again at the end, you'll have to face off against large boss vessels. Your ship comes equipped with a modest shield that can protect it from a few bullets or a direct collision with one of the tinier vessels. Green pods scattered throughout each stage give you the opportunity to upgrade the six different weapons attached to your ship. Each weapon can be upgraded three times, although most players will probably stick to the traditional lasers or homing bullets--both because they're familiar and because they're powerful enough to stay competitive with the other weapons.

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