Robert Jung fights the
forces of evil
Overview
To counter the numerical superiority of the
Pernitia Empire and win the war, the Federation perfects
"living steel" weapons, quickly shipping them
to the besieged front. Unfortunately, a Pernitian raid
has stolen the security pods, and only their recovery
can stop the fall of the Federation. Operation Cybermorph
is activated; you must fly the Transmogriffon prototype
ship into enemy territory, searching for pods while
fighting Pernitian forces. Skylar the computer and the
T-Griffon's shape-changing ability are on your side,
but ultimately a weapon is only as good as its wielder...
Thus begins
Cybermorph, the first game developed for the Atari Jaguar
game console (it's included in the package). The T-Griffon
flies over a landscape of polygon graphics, navigating
canyons and securing pods while avoiding numerous hazards.
The game gives total freedom of movement; you can pass
a target, turn around, and strafe it from another side.
Pernitia defenses include hostile attack craft, traps,
and planetary dangers, and the T-Griffon can find more
powerful weapons. You start with four ships, each capable
of taking a certain amount of damage, and extra ships
are rewarded at regular intervals. There are five sectors,
each with nine planets and a bonus world, for a total
of 50 levels in all. A four-digit password allows starting
on later sectors.
Gameplay
Cybermorph
is a game that's not easy to categorize; it is at the
same time a simulator, a shooter, and a puzzle, requiring
a variety of skills. While the idea is to retrieve pods,
each planets layout is an enigma to be unraveled. Some
can be conquered with mere firepower, while others feature
mazes, red herrings, and traps. The overall feel is
a blend of prudence and action, cautious exploration
spiced with sudden fire fights. Further, the free-moving
nature of the game encourages exploration and wandering.
Unfortunately, this pace won't appeal to everyone, especially
those who prefer nonstop action.
A few of the
controls can be set, but there is no way to change the
game difficulty. Fortunately, the first sector's planets
are straightforward, which helps beginners learn the
game. While this also gives the misleading impression
that Cybermorph lacks depth, later sectors prove this wrong,
with a wide variety of foes whose diverse tactics add
to the game.
On-screen displays
provide ship, weapon, and mission information at a glance,
though some text is hard to read on a TV. Skylar, the
ship's computer, appears regularly with warnings and
comments, but most of them are useless. Every button
on the controller is used; while basic flight is not
a problem, other features like selecting weapons and
changing view can be somewhat awkward. With a little
practice, however, the player can pull off sharp turns
and high-speed maneuvers easily.
Graphics/Sound
While Cybermorph is distinctive for its unusual gameplay,
its graphics and sound do nothing to entice the player.
The polygon graphics are fast and fairly complex, and
Gouraud shading provides subtle coloring effects. On
the other hand, many of the colors are muddled, and
the lack of any backgrounds means the game often looks
desolate. The horizon depth is also rather short, which
proves distracting at times.
Sounds fare
a bit worse. The title theme is well done, but it's
the only music in the game, and sound effects are mostly
simple chimes and explosions. On the up side, Skylar's
voice is crisp and clear, and her quotes are diverse
enough to avoid being irritating. Still, sounds overall
are lacking, and the game is often silent.
Summary
Cybermorph
lies somewhere between several video-gaming genres,
and has a distinctive flavor that will not work for
everyone. Some people may dismiss its cautious pacing
and lackluster effects for faster, flashier games, but
for those looking for something truly different, Cybermorph
can be a satisfying experience.
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