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A.P.I Review:	EINHANDER
Developer:	Square	OPTIONS:	SCREENSHOTS: No.1   No.2   No.3
Distributor:	Square	1 Player
Game Type:	Shooter	Memory Card
Review Date:	April 1998

Setting the Scene

Einhander is Square's first attempt at a shooter style game.  I 
suppose they figured what hell...they appear to have the RPG style 
game down to a science, they have already released two fighting games; 
the very nice Tobol No. 1 and the exceptional Tobol No. 2, so why not 
try and conquer the twitch / shooter market as well.

Well, square has definitely done their homework and investigated the 
genre quite well before implementing Einhander...but do they succeed 
with the final product?  Read on!

Genre

Einhander is a mission based "twitch" type shooting game.

Graphics

As with all of the "newer" Square titles, you are immediately treated 
to a wonderful FMV opening sequence that really sets the scenario and 
stimulates your senses.  You begin to get the feeling that something 
good is about to happen here.

The actual gameplay graphics are incredible.  I mean, with Square's 
reputation I already expected a nice graphical flare, but I was 
certainly not prepared for what I was seeing.

All of the characters in the game and basically everything that moves 
is made up of polygons.  What this translates to is incredibly 
animated, superior looking characters (when compared to sprites) that 
move extraordinarily FAST!  The level of detail in the objects is 
astounding.  Coloration is vibrant, yet shaded very realistically. 
 The texture mapping techniques used are truly innovative for a game 
of this type.  The screen is also literally loaded with these objects, 
enemies and your fighter yet there is no slowdown.  Even when there 
are explosions and other special effects happening, the game continues 
to cruise right along...zip...no problem.

The special effects are also cutting-edge with amazing particle 
explosions that consist of enemies that break apart into progressively 
smaller pieces and literally disintegrate right in front of you eyes. 
 All of this is of course embellished with raid array execution and 
ample light-sourching to complete the effect.   Everything just seems 
so active and vital on the screen that it dazzles your eyes.

Backgrounds are also nicely done, featuring a mix of polygons and 
blending 2-D pre-rendered backdrops.  The backgrounds convey a real 
sense of depth to them...this illusion is further cemented by the 
ability to break and blow-up objects that are seemingly static 
background objects.  Cool.

Oh, and just wait until you witness some of the boss enemies.  These 
encounters place you in a deadly battle to the finish with characters 
that literally fill the entire screen up.  Polygon counts for the 
bosses are way up there as well.  They are animated smoothly and 
convincingly and look breathtaking.  Just wait until you blow one of 
these puppies away...

Once again the graphics in a particular genre of game have been raised 
another notch and a line in the sand has been crossed, erased and 
re-drawn.  Talk about  your eye candy...it's here.

Sounds and Effects

The music in Einhander is quite appropriate and well matched to the 
varying missions.  One moment the music is quite haunting and the next 
blood pumping.  Depending on where you are in a mission, the music 
fits into the action nicely.  The musical score also isn't 
overpowering...it's rather subtle, but you know it's there.

The sound effects are also fitting.  Each weapon you acquire and 
utilize has its own very distinguishable sound.  Explosions are aptly 
handled as are varying vehicle sounds.   Background sounds are also 
skillfully woven into the game.

All in all the music and sound effects do their job in pulling you 
into the game...as they should.

Playability

First up, you have to understand that Einhander is a twitch-based 
shooter.  I don't really care for these types of games.  Perhaps I am 
getting jaded but I no longer enjoy the intensity, yet lack of return 
that these types of games provide for me.  For a diversion, I'll 
occasionally pick one up and play for an hour or two, get all pumped 
up and then forget about playing another shooter for months.  The 
replay value for me just isn't there.

With that said, I expected Einhander to be more of a chore rather than 
an enjoyment to review.  Well, I was wrong about the "chore" part to 
be sure...the game is a blast to play!

Now remember, the copy I have is the Japanese version and I don't read 
Japanese so I may have missed some valuable inf. on the menu screens, 
but I doubt it.  For the most part, it's pretty straight forward 
getting the game configured and ready to go.

You have a selection of three difficulty settings, plus free which 
lets you acclimate to the game and your controls before stepping into 
a game that really counts.

The initial selection of ships is three; the Endymion FRS Mk. II, 
Endymion FRS Mk. III and the Astraea FGA Mk. I.  I grabbed the FRS Mk. 
III figuring it had the highest number so it must be the best one. 
 Boy, sometimes I just feel so smart.

Anyway, the ship you select has "arms" that deliver the firepower. 
 One arm can have the standard multi-use auto fire machine gun while 
the other is busy picking up and using the heavy duty weapons.  This 
arm can also be manipulated to fire behind your craft, from above or 
below depending on your situation.

Weapons are obtained by destroying enemy ships and picking them up 
before they drop off of the screen.  The weapons are varied and some 
are rather devastating.  The Vulcan shoots a steady stream of plasma 
bullets, while the Spreader distributes the fire power in wide arrays. 
 The Wasp will fire missiles while the Cannon just plain knocks the 
crap out of anything it hits.  Each weapon has a finite amount of ammo 
and once you run dry you default to the machine gun...which pretty 
much sucks, especially against a boss.  Of course, once you destroy 
another cruiser you always the chance of getting another weapon.

I really liked the way that the game restarts you in pretty much the 
same general area as you got blown up in.   The checkpoints in this 
game must be extremely close to one another...that's a good thing.  I 
hate starting back at the beginning of a level when I get nailed. 
 There is also what seems like an infinite number of lives.  I just 
kept on getting destroyed and starting right back where I left off 
(for the most part).  I liked that too especially considering the fact 
that you get hit OR you hit something once -just once- and your 
history.  A fair trade-off in my book.

The game does a really nice job in keeping your interest with varying 
levels and enemies.  I also liked the way that the levels flowed.  One 
moment you are flying through a city at night, hovering about roof top 
level and then next you are in some barren wastelands.  The transition 
happens very smoothly.

I also like the variation in flying.  In addition to forcibly 
traveling left to right there are also moments when you are traveling 
down into pits and into and out of the screen.  Pretty neat, but 
nothing that hasn't been done before (Nanotek Warrior comes to mind). 
 Still, it's this kind of flair that keeps the game fresh and the 
gamer longing to see the next level.  You ship also comes equipped 
with flaps that can be opened or closed to give your craft a certain 
amount of drag.

I was surprised by just how enjoyable this game was.  Don't get me 
wrong here, I am still not wild about shooters, but I certainly 
enjoyed this one while I was playing it.  If you enjoy this type of 
game, then you should be in nirvana.  It's a wonderful ride while it 
lasts, but it still won't be the title I grab off the shelf 
first...well, maybe the US version...we'll see.

Value for Money

Hey, it's a shooter...how good can the replay be?  Oh all right... in 
the case of this game, I guess it's pretty darn good.  There are a 
good number of missions and ultimately ships to choose from.  The 
action is certainly engaging and non-stop and the level design is 
fabulous.  I'd say that you will certainly be compelled to try and 
finish the game and see all there is to see, but after that...nah.