Bio FREAKS
Reviewed by Raymond Almeda
Given the company's lackluster history with N64 fighters (including
titles such as Mortal Kombat Trilogy, and Mace: The Dark Age), one
might naturally expect similar fare from Midways latest release.
Thankfully, history has not repeated itself with Bio FREAKS. A bloody,
gruesome fighting title, Bio FREAKS manages to impress with a few
notable gameplay innovations with excellent character design and
graphics. The result is one of the most compelling and memorable N64
fighters to date, a game that showcases the progress developers are
making on the console.
The cliche-ridden story behind Bio FREAKS is entertainingly silly: the
United States has fallen victim to a "techno-industrial civil war," and
in its place has risen "Neo-Amerika." Overall Neo-Amerika is a rather
unclean, nasty place with few fresh-cut flowers or babbling brooks.
However, the country is blessed with an impressive selection of meat
grinders, lava pits, biological waste dumps, and so forth. Fortunately,
some Neo-Amerikan scientists have worked wonders with the human
genetic code; unfortunately, they have used their scientific discoveries
to mutate people into part-human, part-machine psychotics known as the
Bio FREAKS.
The game introduces us to eight main Bio FREAKS, each of whom are
forced to compete in head-to-head gladiator-type battles. The
polygon-based characters of Bio FREAKS are wonderfully rendered,
and one of the primary strengths of the game. Each character bears a
distinctive design, and is implemented flawlessly. The amount of
graphic detail is most impressive; its actually possible to see their
eyes blink and mouths move. The developers clearly spent a great
deal of time and effort in delivering compelling characters, and their
hard work has paid off. The characters of Bio FREAKS are among the
best youll see in any fighting game.
Complimenting the killer character graphics are some equally cool
gameplay twists. Of primary importance is the addition of a 3D element
via the "hover" feature. By pressing the "B" button, characters will
hover in the air on "jump jets." In many arenas, it is possible to thus
fly up one or two levels to cliffs above. The addition of such a 3D
element to gameplay is most welcome: its possible to hover high above
ones opponent and shoot at him or her, or to seek refuge upon a higher
level. After playing so many ground-based fighting games, its interesting
to experience this gameplay innovation. Midway is on the right track.
The arenas of Bio FREAKS are dark and interesting. As previously noted,
many contain environmental hazards such as lava and meat grinders. As
you might have guessed, Bio FREAKS is an exceptionally violent game. An
integral gameplay element involves slicing the arms off of opponents. It
is not uncommon for a fighter to have lost both arms, and to finish the
round with gobs of blood squirting from his or her chopped off nubs.
Fortunately, these Bio FREAKS have a regeneration ability that, when
enabled, allows them to regrow their limbs. Although the amount of gore
may be reduced, the overall thrust of the game is clear: if you have a
problem with extreme violence, be warned: this isn't Yoshi's Story!
Gameplay is fast and smooth, with few of the slowdown problems that
plagued Mace: the Dark Age. Since every fighter is armed with a long-range
weapon, many fights involve taking potshots from an extreme distance.
As would be expected, there are some killer special moves here that are
especially fun to pull off. One character, for example, is able to vomit
some sort of toxic substance upon command. Let's just say it is not a
very attractive way to die.
Bio FREAKS was originally slated for an arcade release. For whatever
reason, Midway instead decided to launch the game directly on consoles.
N64 owners have reason to be pleased with that decision. While Bio
FREAKS is by no means the definitive fighting game, it does have elements
of extreme personality and slight innovation. Fighting purists may
perhaps prefer Fighter's Destiny for that games renowned gameplay
engine, but Bio FREAKS delivers the killer characters that Destiny sorely lacks.
Bio FREAKS is a pleasantly nasty surprise. As always, I recommend that
you rent the game before buying it. But when you do so, I think you will
find it compares favorably to the current N64 competition. Nice job, Midway.
Overall 8.0 out of 10