:Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge
{{good article}}
{{Short description|1993 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge
|image = SNES Metal Combat - Falcon's Revenge cover art.jpg
|caption = Cover art by Stephen Peringer
|developer = Intelligent Systems
|publisher = Nintendo
|director = Toshitaka Muramatsu
|producer = Gunpei Yokoi
|programmer = Shinya Yamamoto
Toshihiro Nishii
|artist = Toshitaka Muramatsu
|composer = Yuka Tsujiyoko
|platforms = Super Nintendo Entertainment System
|released = {{Video game release|NA|December 1993|EU|May 1994}}
|genre = Light-gun shooter
|modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge is a 1993 light gun shooter video game developed by Intelligent Systems and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the sequel to Battle Clash (1992) and one of several titles that require the Super Scope light gun. Taking place three years after the events of its predecessor, the player acts as the gunner of the Standing Tank (ST) Falcon piloted by Mike Anderson, fighting a group of chiefs in the Battle Game, the returning emperor Anubis, and the invading Eltorian alien race.
Metal Combat was created by Team Battle Clash, a group within Intelligent Systems made up of Nintendo R&D1 staff, which previously worked on Battle Clash. It was directed by chief graphic designer Toshitaka Muramatsu, who worked in the Fire Emblem and Paper Mario series, and produced by Gunpei Yokoi. The music was composed by Yuka Tsujiyoko, who also scored Battle Clash. The game garnered generally favorable reception from critics; praise was given to the refined gameplay, different strategies of each enemy, variety of modes, and overall improvements made over its predecessor. Some reviewers criticized the single-player campaign for its short duration, repetitive action, and difficulty.
Gameplay
File:SNES Metal Combat - Falcon's Revenge.png
{{see also|Battle Clash#Gameplay}}
Like its predecessor, Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge is a light-gun shooter game which requires the Super Scope light gun peripheral for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System to be played. The plot takes place three years after the events occurred in Battle Clash; the emperor Anubis suffered defeat at the hands of Mike Anderson and a new age of prosperity began to emerge on Earth. However, Anubis returned to resume his tyranny and an alien race called the Eltorians entered the Solar System to conquer Earth.{{cite book|url=https://archive.org/details/snes_Metal_Combat_Falcons_Revenge_USA|title=Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge|date=1993|publisher=Nintendo|edition=North American|type=Instruction Booklet}}
Gameplay consists of four different modes divided into single-player or multiplayer submenus: Battle, Time Trial, Training, and Combat. Battle is a single-player scenario where the player acts as the gunner of the Standing Tank (ST) Falcon piloted by Anderson, fighting a group of chiefs in the Battle Game, the returning emperor Anubis, and the invading Eltorian alien race in one-on-one duels. Time Trial is a mode where the player must defeat enemies to achieve the best time possible. Training is a tutorial mode, in which an instructor named Rola helps beginners through a series of seven lessons. Combat is a versus mode, where one player controls the ST Falcon using the Super Scope while the other player controls one of the enemy STs using a Super NES controller.
The player attacks enemies using rapid fire by holding down the fire button, energy bolts, bombs, and an array of special items. The ST Falcon charges energy bolts up to three times when the player is not firing and fires a treble shot once the power meters are filled. The player counters enemy fire by intercepting their projectiles, though some enemy attacks can only be deflected by shooting energy bolts. Each enemy ST has destructible weak points that the player must shoot to deal damage. Completing the single-player mode unlocks the ST Tornado, piloted by Carol Eugene. The ST Tornado can store up to ten energy beams and fire each one individually but has less defense compared to the ST Falcon.
Development and release
Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge was created by Team Battle Clash, a group within Intelligent Systems made up of Nintendo R&D1 staff that developed games for the Super Scope light gun, which had previously worked on Battle Clash (1992).{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/10/developer-profile-intelligent-systems|title=Developer Profile: Intelligent Systems — An indepth history and look at the often overlooked R&D; group of Nintendo's EAD division|work=IGN|publisher=Ziff Davis|date=January 10, 2001|access-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025162616/https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/01/10/developer-profile-intelligent-systems|archive-date=2012-10-25|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://www.intsys.co.jp/english/software/index.html|title=Engaged Game Software|publisher=Intelligent Systems|date=2016|access-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161130074834/http://www.intsys.co.jp/english/software/index.html|archive-date=2016-11-30|url-status=dead}}
{{cite web|url=https://intsys.co.jp/works/games/|title=作品紹介 - ゲーム|publisher=Intelligent Systems|date=2024|language=ja|access-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240114184057/https://www.intsys.co.jp/works/games/|archive-date=2024-01-14|url-status=live}} The game is one of several titles that requires the Super Scope.{{cite magazine|author1=The Watch Dog|last2=Tangonan|first2=Denver|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_088_November_1996/page/n25/mode/1up|title=Buyers Beware|magazine=GamePro|issue=98|publisher=IDG|date=November 1996|page=24}} It was directed by chief graphic designer Toshitaka Muramatsu, who worked in the Fire Emblem and Paper Mario series, and produced by Gunpei Yokoi.{{cite video game|title=Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge|developer=Intelligent Systems|publisher=Nintendo|date=December 1993|platform=Super Nintendo Entertainment System|level=Creative Staff}} ([https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/snes/c/mc.htm Good Ending screens] by VGMuseum [The Video Games Museum]. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040616120004/https://www.vgmuseum.com/end/snes/c/mc.htm|date=2004-06-16}}){{cite web|url=https://www.intsys.co.jp/game/panepon/p09/index.html|title=「パネルでポン」ホームページ公開1周年記念特別企画 - 開発者インタビュー|work=「パネルでポン」ホームページ|publisher=Intelligent Systems|date=August 19, 1997|access-date=2024-01-28|language=ja|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19980117152427/https://www.intsys.co.jp/game/panepon/p09/index.html|archive-date=1998-01-17|url-status=live}} ([http://timelyhoward.com/?p=104 Translation] by Graeme Howard. {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200523150222/http://timelyhoward.com/?p=104|date=2020-05-23}}).{{cite magazine|last=Szczepaniak|first=John|title=Feature: 30 Years of the Super Scope|magazine=Retro Gamer|issue=231|publisher=Future Publishing|date=March 17, 2022|pages=44–47}} Shinya Yamamoto and Toshihiro Nishii acted as two of the game's co-programmers, who later worked on Tetris Attack.{{efn|Known in Japan as {{nihongo|Panel de Pon|パネルでポン|Paneru de Pon}}}} The music was scored by Yuka Tsujiyoko, who also composed Battle Clash.{{cite web|url=http://interviews.rocketbaby.net/interviews_tsujiyoko_yuka_1.html|title=Interview with Yuka Tsujiyoko|work=RocketBaby|publisher=Hollow Light Media|date=2001|access-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20020821180147/http://interviews.rocketbaby.net/interviews_tsujiyoko_yuka_1.html|archive-date=2002-08-21|url-status=dead}}
Nintendo first published Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in North America in December 1993, followed by Europe in May 1994.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Accion_017/page/n37/mode/2up|title=Preview: Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge — La nueva onda del "Scope"|magazine=Nintendo Acción|issue=17|publisher=Hobby Press|date=April 1994|pages=38–39|language=es}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.com:80/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf|title=Super NES Games|publisher=Nintendo|access-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080920223937/http://www.nintendo.com/consumer/gameslist/manuals/snes_games.pdf|archive-date=2008-09-20|url-status=dead}} It was originally titled Battle Clash II, but the name was changed shortly before its North American launch.{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/nintendomagasinet/199403/page/n11/mode/1up|title=Smygtittar: Metal Combat|magazine={{ill|Nintendo-Magasinet (Sweden)|lt=Nintendo-Magasinet|sv|Nintendo-Magasinet}}|volume=5|issue=37|publisher={{ill|Atlantic Förlags AB|lt=Atlantic Förlags AB|sv|Atlantic förlag}}|date=March 1994|page=12|language=sv}} The game was housed in a 16-megabit (2 MB) cartridge using the OBC-1, a sprite manipulation enhancement chip.{{cite web|url=https://www.univision.com/entretenimiento/cultura-pop/repasamos-10-juegos-de-snes-que-necesitaron-de-cartuchos-especiales|title=Repasamos 10 juegos de SNES que necesitaron de cartuchos especiales|work=Univision|publisher=Univision Communications|date=August 18, 2016|language=es|access-date=2024-01-28|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129093216/https://www.univision.com/entretenimiento/cultura-pop/repasamos-10-juegos-de-snes-que-necesitaron-de-cartuchos-especiales|archive-date=2023-01-29|url-status=live}} Metal Combat was only released in Western regions, as the Super Scope proved to be less popular in Japan. The cover was illustrated by artist Stephen Peringer.{{cite web|last=Peringer|first=Stephen|url=https://peringer.com/Video-Game-Art|title=Video Game Art|website=stephenperingerartwork|access-date=2024-07-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722022956/https://peringer.com/Video-Game-Art|archive-date=2024-07-22|url-status=live}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
|EGM = 31/40{{efn|Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s review was by four critics with different ratings out of 10: 9, 7, 8, and 7.{{cite magazine|last1=Semrad|first1=Ed|last2=Carpenter|first2=Danyon|last3=Manuel|first3=Al|last4=Williams|first4=Ken|url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_56/page/n33/mode/1up|title=Review Crew: Metal Combat|magazine=Electronic Gaming Monthly|issue=56|publisher=Sendai Publishing|date=March 1994|page=50}}}}
|GP = 92%{{cite magazine|last=Slate|first=Chris|url=https://retrocdn.net/index.php?title=File:GamePlayers_US_0704.pdf&page=50|title=Review: Metal Combat|magazine=Game Players|volume=7|issue=4|publisher=Signal Research|date=April 1994|page=48}}
|GamePro = 16.5/20{{efn|GamePro provided scores of 4/5 for graphics, 3.5/5 for sound, and 4.5/5 twice for control and fun factor.{{cite magazine|last=Squideo|first=Captain|url=https://archive.org/details/GamePro_Issue_058_May_1994/page/n65/mode/1up|title=ProReview: Metal Combat — Falcon's Revenge|magazine=GamePro|issue=58|publisher=IDG|date=May 1994|page=64}}}}
|HC = 85/100{{cite magazine|last=Caravaca|first=Antonio|url=https://archive.org/details/HobbyConsolas032/page/n81/mode/2up|title=Lo Más Nuevo: Metal Combat – La Caza Del Futuro|magazine=Hobby Consolas|issue=32|publisher=Hobby Press|date=May 1994|pages=114–115|language=es}}
|NP = 14.1/20{{efn|Nintendo Power provided scores of 3.4 for graphics and sound, 3.6 twice for play control and challenge, and 3.5 for theme and fun.{{cite magazine|title=Super Scope Roundup; Now Playing: Metal Combat|magazine=Nintendo Power|volume=55|publisher=Nintendo of America|date=December 1993|pages=42–47; 106–107}}}}
|rev1 = Nintendo Acción
|rev1Score = 80/100{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/Nintendo_Accion_018/page/n47/mode/2up|title=Super Stars: Metal Combat — Un Nuevo Objetivo Para Tu Super Scope|magazine=Nintendo Acción|issue=18|publisher=Hobby Press|date=May 1994|pages=48–49|language=es}}
}}
Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge received generally favorable reception from critics and retrospective commentators.{{cite magazine|last=Buret|first=Stéphane|url=https://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Nintendo%20Player/nintendoplayer_numero20/Nintendo%20Player%20N20-%20Page%200027.JPG|title=Selection: Metal Combat|magazine={{ill|Nintendo Player|lt=Nintendo Player|fr|Nintendo Player}}|issue=20|publisher={{ill|Média Système Édition|lt=Média Système Édition|fr|Média Système Édition}}|date=May 1994|page=28|language=fr|access-date=2024-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240127001750/https://download.abandonware.org/magazines/Nintendo%20Player/nintendoplayer_numero20/Nintendo%20Player%20N20-%20Page%200027.JPG|archive-date=2024-01-27|url-status=live}}{{cite magazine|last=Bruinsma|first=Bjørn|url=https://archive.org/details/008_20231030_20231030_1241/011/page/n35/mode/2up|title=Review: Metal Combat|magazine=Power Unlimited|issue=11|publisher=VNU Media|date=June 1994|pages=36–37|language=nl}}{{cite magazine|title=Super NES Review: Metal Combat|magazine=Nintendo Magazine System|issue=20|publisher=Trielle Corporation|date=November 1994|page=52}} Nintendo Power considered it to be a much improved follow-up to Battle Clash and highlighted its multiplayer mode; however, they found the single-player campaign weak, pointing out the difficulty of seeing incoming enemy fire. Electronic Gaming Monthly{{'}}s reviewers celebrated the game for having colorful graphics and deeper gameplay than most Super Scope titles, and cited the two-player mode as the best feature, although they did not like its difficulty. Game Players{{'}}s Chris Slate lauded each of the game's enemies for their different strategies, as well as the soundscapes, variety of modes, and replay value. GamePro{{'}}s Captain Squideo described it as "much harder, faster, and ultimately better than any previous Super Scope game, including Battle Clash". Squideo praised the detailed graphics that allow the player to spot enemy weak points, but criticized the text between fights and low-quality voice samples.
Hobby Consolas{{'}} Antonio Caravaca praised the game's visual quality, sound effects, difficulty, and two-player mode, but criticized the occasional flickering that occurs during explosions. Nintendo Acción gave favorable remarks to the game's mech designs, audio, and various game modes, but criticized the story mode for its short duration. Player One{{'}}s Jean-Pierre Abidal found the action in the game to be fun but repetitive. Hardcore Gaming 101{{'}}s David DeRienzo lauded the game's improved audiovisual presentation, refined combat system, and modes of play, writing that "Metal Combat manages to surpass its predecessor in every imaginable way while still offering the same great core play experience".{{cite web|last=DeRienzo|first=David|url=http://hardcoregaming101.net/battleclash/battleclash.htm|title=Battle Clash / Metal Combat|work=Hardcore Gaming 101|date=August 7, 2007|access-date=2024-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171005192222/http://hardcoregaming101.net/battleclash/battleclash.htm|archive-date=2017-10-05|url-status=dead}} Destructoid{{'}}s Zoey Handley regarded it as one of the best light gun games ever developed.{{cite web|last=Handley|first=Zoey|url=https://www.destructoid.com/by-the-wayside-metal-combat-falcons-revenge-snes-retro-super-scope/|title=Metal Combat: Falcon's Revenge for SNES was Nintendo's best use of their space bazooka|work=Destructoid|publisher=Gamurs Group|date=March 3, 2023|access-date=2024-01-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230303220006/https://www.destructoid.com/by-the-wayside-metal-combat-falcons-revenge-snes-retro-super-scope/|archive-date=2023-03-03|url-status=live}}
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Portal|1990s|Japan|Video games}}
- {{Official website|http://www.intsys.co.jp/game/clash2/}} at Intelligent Systems {{in lang|ja}}
- {{moby game|id=/metal-combat-falcons-revenge}}
{{Intelligent Systems}}
Category:Intelligent Systems games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System games
Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System-only games
Category:Video games about mecha
Category:Video games developed in Japan
Category:Video games scored by Yuka Tsujiyoko
Category:Video games set in Mongolia