Jet Force Gemini
Reviewed by Michael Staudt
Rare again has rocked the world with their industry-shaking talent!
Jet Force Gemini is a shining example of this. Unfortunately, some
magazines have given this game a crappy review! What's up? You
might ask this. From the graphics to game play to music, this game
will captivate you through and through. You'll also pull a few hairs
on those pesky tribals and scream so loud on the Floyd missions,
but the game is a gem and most likely a candidate for the Players Choice.
Graphics 9 out of 10
I loved the graphics. Those of you who only own a Playstation will
probably wonder what the fuss is about, but Nintendo 64 owners
have something to cherish. My only gripe is the flat backgrounds on
Goldwood and any other forest stage. Some complain about the game
being too cute, but I love the characters. The alien blood around the
walls is definitely a plus for me. The only time that I've ever seen a
graphic glitch is when I turn my camera around near walls. Other then
that, the graphics are top-notch.
Music and Sound 10 out of 10
THE MUSIC ROCKS!!!!!! Who can't blame Rare for doing a beat-all job on
the sound. The music, in my opinion, is the 2nd best of any game that
I've ever played (my first is Final Fantasy Tactics for PSX). From the
tiniest blast of the gun to the creepy atmosphere of Tawfret,
Jet Force Gemini is a game that you would actually buy a soundtrack
for. For me, music is one of the most important aspects of any game.
Try this, stand close to an ant, whip out your tri-rocket launcher
and fire. MMMMMMM... Gooey...
Game Challenge 8 out of 10
After you master the control, alien blasting will become a cinch.
The only real boss that gave me trouble was the twin Mantis. But,
the object of the game is not to only kill bugs, but also to save
tribals. Tribals are little furry-ewok things that you need to reach
the final boss. These things will die (unlike Jinjos in Banjo-Kazooie).
Also, the game doesn't save your progress of Tribal collection midway
through a level! AARGH! They will annoy the hell out of you. Also, the
Floyd missions are near impossible. I managed to beat them, but I
almost broke my controller after throwing it at the wall in frustration.
The controls aren't that hard, but they do take getting used to.
Game Play-Fun 8 out of 10
You won't get tired of this baby for a little while. The new worlds and
constant switching of characters will bring you back for more. The
multi player was good, not great. Rare could have spent some more
time adjusting this. The inclusion of target ranges, races and
death matches are great choices, but they still lack a certain aspect.
Besides the multi player, get this one for the single-player. All the
secrets will tax your time and you won't get bored a bit (well, maybe a bit).
Rumble Pak 5 out of 10
When I plugged the rumble pack in, I noticed the pleasant jolt for the
first 10 minutes. After that, it doesn't seem like anything much. I
am not a real fan of this periphal.
Frustration
Tribals can die. Enough said. AND THOSE DUMB FLOYD MISSIONS ARE
SO ANNOYING THAT THEY WILL MAKE YOU INSANE. I LITERALLY SPENT
157 MIZAR TOKENS ON ONE RACE AND I STILL DIDN'T BEAT IT. But I did
afterwards. Probably the most annoying thing is what I already
mentioned in Game Challenge. The no-save feature. Sure it will save
your ship parts, crates and weapons, but no tribals. You collect 14
tribals, miss 1, save and turn off the game. Turn it back on and you
have to catch all 15 over again! This factor can be easily overlooked
because of all the positive qualities of the game.
Replayability 8 out of 10
You'll find yourself coming back for more. The hidden secrets will keep
you searching for some time. You'll find yourself coming back just for
the sake of killing ants. Still, the multi player is not the best and you
might get bored after ten sessions. Besides this, I recommend this
game to any fan of blowing stuff up.
Game Value 9 out of 10
Definitely. You'll wonder why they didn't ask for more. Graphics and
game play and music, Oh My! The game is huge and will take you a while
to complete. You will get some fun out of the multi-player and a blast
(literally) out of the single-player. One feature that I forgot to mention.
The cooperative mode rules! Once you get Floyd, a second player can join
the fun by shooting with you! It will also help you tremendously in
tight situations.
Overall 9 out of 10
Jet Force Gemini is a great game with high expectations. If you're still
not sure, give it a rental and then decide. Rare has once again showed us
how the Nintendo 64 stays alive. Some may say that the dialogue is a
bit too witty in certain cases. I hope that many will get to enjoy the
beauty of this games. I don't doubt that because the box says Rare,
and it is Rare indeed to come across a game as good as Jet Force Gemini.