Rating

C+

Specific Ratings

GameplayB+
GraphicsC-
Learning CurveA+
Replay ValueB+
SoundC-

Pros and Cons

Pros
  • Multiplayer
  • Story
  • Amount of Levels
Cons
  • Repetitious sound.
  • Graphics

Gain Ground (Genesis)

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Summary

Gaining Ground from Acrade to Console

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Description

Gain Ground (Accomplished on Medium and Hard Difficulty)

A lot of people may be completely oblivious to a small sleeper hit title on the Genesis called "Gain Ground." The story revolves around a premise of existing inside a computer system where the computer has went berserk. You goal is to conquer (level by level) collecting new recruits, who are POW’s captured by the computer, along the way to help you on your adventure. The game offers a two player co-op setting as well.

The game is a semi-slant above view of each level. What that means is that the illusion they were trying to accomplish is a view from above. Each level is littered with enemies that have different attacks, ranges, and difficulty. You begin the game with a limited number of characters and in every other level or so you are presented with characters on the map that you can acquire by saving them or activating them. Each level, except boss levels, have an exit usually located at the very back of the map. To activate a character or save one that has been killed you must run over the "dead" character and lead them to the exit. However, at least ONE enemy but be left to do this because if all enemies are killed the level ends. Another way to end the level is sending all your characters (one at a time of course) through the exit.

This wide array of enemies and terrain provide a pretty good tactical challenge, especially at higher levels of the game. For instance, some characters lack the ability to have a "high" attack. These characters are unable to hit characters on walls or buildings. So, if you choose the wrong character you may be quite helpless when it comes to attacking enemies at higher altitudes. This results in you having to get to the exit to switch characters. There are 20 characters in all. Particular abilities possessed by characters can be high attacks but limited to only shooting forward, high attacks with free range firing (ability to shoot in all directions), and then various low attacks in the same type of variations. All characters have a primary and secondary fire. Secondary fire is usually a single shot pistol-like attack while primary fires can range from flame throwers, spears, water attacks that leave the enemy spinning stunned, extremely long ranged missiles, etc. Each character is different and has a different array of abilities.

The game is quite entertaining and especially fun with a partner. The difficulty elevates quite linearly as it should in this type of game. The challenge becomes harder and harder as you continue through the levels and there are 50 levels in all! The graphics are a little dated, even for a Sega Genesis game. Since it was originally a arcade title ported to the Sega Genesis it appears to have been a straight port with little boost in graphic quality. The levels are pretty flat which can sometimes lead to a little confusion when attacking enemies that are supposed to be elevated. The characters on screen are barely distinguishable aside from hair color or character color. There are no character death animations or complex storyline screens. Level transitions are merely fade outs. However, once you become immersed in the game you hardly have the time or the drive to focus on the graphics.

Sound pretty much parallels the generic graphics. Each level has a similarly generic midi soundtrack. You may see slight variations in sound during boss battles and different levels but after a while of playing the sound runs together into a sludge of basic sound quality. Weapon sounds are repetitive consisting of the same basic sound for the same type of weapons regardless of character. The sound doesn’t necessarily hinder the game but it definitely doesn’t add anything either.

However, even with bland sound and very basic graphics the gameplay is still very enjoyable. I found myself positive immersed in the game after the first few levels. Even with poor character animations you can find yourself liking or disliking characters and quickly forming a favorite (mine was a guy I nicknamed Wooly. See if you can figure out the character I am speaking of). The level of tactical requirement is just enough to keep you thinking and debating on which character to use, which character you would rather lose or sacrifice, etc. This really adds to the overall enjoyment of this title. The increasing difficulty is also a great plus to this game. You get enough time to conquer any learning curve so you have plenty of game knowledge by the later levels to make good decisions. I often found myself very enthralled in tense situations where I would lose a character and was trying to save them (because you can only save ONE character, i.e. if you lose one and then the next character your first character is no longer able to be saved. You can only save your LAST character). Even with sub par sound and graphics you will find the gameplay pretty enjoyable, especially with a friend.

This brings us to the multiplayer aspect of this game. The multiplayer is basically co-op through the single player game. There is a little noticeable difficulty increase in the way of MORE enemies! Playing with a friend can really increase the fun of this game. Now with a friend you must work together in order to share characters and preserve those characters. The same rule applies to character death, that is, if you lose a character and then your partner loses one before you are able to pick your character up your "dead" character is replaced by theirs! This can result in massive character loss in harder levels where the exit is hard to reach. Team work is definitely a must in this title which is pretty standard in these older titles (due to the way they increase difficulty by putting more enemies on the screen).

With all the pluses and minuses tallied I would definitely recommend this title to any classics fan. It has an immersive playing experience and pretty good replayability. The story is also pretty original in that it includes a war simulation program/computer that has gone berserk. However, don't pop the game in expecting long cut scenes or scrolling text. I would recommend reading the book first in order to get a good grasp on the story. This title proves pretty challenging and pretty fun, especially with a friend. Don't hesitate nabbing this at a yard sale if you come across it.

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