Overall 6.6 Graphics 7 Sound 8 Addictive 7 Story 5.3 Depth 4.3 Difficulty 9.7
7.5
Silver Surfer Review Zircron Swift
What game out there can be considered hard? Where is a game that can challenge my prowess to the very limit? What game can test my patients and skills to overload and beyond? Well, then it's finally time. Let's play Silver Surfer! I've heard around it's a very hard game, and just to complete one level, and there are six in total! When people see an intense difficulty that makes the game seemingly unfair, I see a challenge....or an unfair game. Sometimes both.... Well, lets have a look at this game.
The story is that you, the Silver Surfer, needs to go on a mission to collect parts for a Cosmic Device, because there is an evil froce from "beyond". Galactus insists that you do this, or all life will die or something like that. Something about the Magik Domain, it wasn't explained very well. You get a choice of five levels (with a final sixth one after you defeat the first five), so yay Mega Man! There are two types of game modes, the overhead mode (which is like, well, watching the Silver Surfer over his head), and the side mode which is like watching the Silver Surfer from the side, funny how logic works). You can fire silver balls at our enemies, with a chance of getting an upgrade to fire more than one at the same time. I though many times before that this was an enemy that can't be killed, until I accidentally went into it and got a reward. Each level as three sections in it.
The game is, unsurprisingly, extremely hard. If you take one hit, you die and go back to the last checkpoint. I think you can die four times before a game over. Every death will take away power-ups you got from the level. It;s quite brutal, but I love it! Well, for the most part. Because it's so hard, I have a feeling of genuine satisfaction when I clear a part of that section that kept me dying all the time with nothing but skill....and bombs. You can use a sort of smart bomb to destroy all enemies on the screen, and I think you get one back for every death. It does get annoying as the slightest touch to the walls and scenery will kill you, and what makes it worse is that about half of it seems like the background. On more than one occasion I was almost convinced that I was fling in the right direction, but I flew into a wall. But that's ok, learn what kills you and what doesn't, and just try again.
The controls are simple enough for a scrolling shooter, but I can't say they're fluid enough for one. The controls feel a little too slow and sluggish to be dodging enemy fire where just one little thing can kill you. It doesn't drag on like your feeling really slow and clunky in a suit of armour or anything (it's funny because he's made of silver =D), but it would have been better if they were a little more fluid when moving around. Now, he is also a fairly big target to be when only one shot can kill you, making the entire system seem unfair, but it probably works well with the controls. If he was smaller, then faster controls would be nice. However, he's big for a shooter game, and having faster controls would probably result in you hitting the walls much more than you do now.
The graphics aren't that bad. They seem a little simple and plain in some places, but making them more complex and interesting in others, which really cover some of the enemy fire, causing another death. Sometimes they are nice to look at, while others are an eyesore. The most annoying thing about these graphics are that they blend in very well with both the background and foreground, almost as if the game designers intended that everything just "blend" together into one surprisingly managed and orderly mess in some parts of the game. In all honesty, I like the attention to detail in one of the fiery levels.
The music is just plain awesome! Sadly, there isn't a unique piece of music for every level, but what is of there is just amazing. It's a highly go-getting piece of music that gets you in the mood to defeat enemies that threaten the lives of the entire universe. Then there's the more atmospheric piece of music, that plays more subtly to evoke a mood that makes you feel as if you are being watched. Not that the enemies are subtle in this game or anything (did I just say that out loud =p)
This game is fairly addictive. It's a game I won't say no to if offered to play it, I'll tell you that. It's game play is rather fun once you get out of the way of the enemies line of fire. Sometimes, you won't get a warning to react fast enough to dodge, and die because you didn't know there were three rapid fire turrets waiting for you. On a side note, why is it just one hit to kill you? You get knocked off by one hit, which would mean the Silver Surfer isn't very good at balancing on his own board? what kind of logic is that? He can't take a single hit without going overboard? Maybe then, just maybe, this is his early years, and he is just practicing using the silver board for combat. That would certainly make sense, but then why is Galactus weighing the fate of the entire universe on his shoulders? Wait, what am I saying? This happens all the time in other games/animes/other, why should this be different? I proclaim it! No logic will dismay this fantasy of fixing a loophole.
Overall, I give it a 7.5/10 I like this game. I like the game play and the challenge. I might not like it a lot, but it's something different for my thumbs to thrash at. It might have flaws in, and it might be outrageously difficult, but it's a novelty that seems to last longer than others, so enjoy it while you can.
Graphics 7 Sound 8 Addictive 7 Story 5 Depth 4 Difficulty 10
Review Rating: 5/5
Submitted: 05-31-12
Review Replies: 0
6.8
Silver Surfer Review THEKILLERJUNKER
Many people thought it couldn’t be done. It just couldn’t. Yet somehow, there is a game in the NES library that surpasses every other NES game as the most difficult, unforgiving, and downright sadistic game for the NES. A game that is even harder than Castlevania. A game that surpasses Contra with the difficulty. A game that puts even the infamous Ninja Gaiden to shame. I’m of course talking about Silver Surfer, a game that many consider to be the hardest game ever made for the NES. Even with Game Genie and the Turbo controller, it’s almost impossible to complete a single level. It’s incredible to consider how well known a game can be for something as simple as its difficulty. Let’s check out all the fuss over Silver Surfer and see if it lives up to the hype.
Graphics - 7
Surprisingly, we’re starting this review on a high note. The graphics are actually pretty decent for the NES. To begin with, the backgrounds are pretty well done and each stage looks different and offers diversity to gamers. But some of the stages could’ve used a little more creativity. For example, in the horror themed stage, you have jack o lanterns and ghosts as enemies; pretty stereotypical if you ask me. While some of the stages where a little blaze, the overall environment is still there. You have a wide variety of enemies to take down and each have different directions; some move simple and straight while others move diagonal and in odd patterns. The bosses are also unique and clever and as I mentioned before, none look like the other. Overall the graphics are well done which is why I give this game a 7/10.
Sound - 10
Here’s another shocker; the music in Silver Surfer is what I believe to be the BEST music I have ever heard on the NES. The music is among the most underrated soundtracks to video games out there. It sounds incredibly impressive seeing how this is the NES we are talking about. It’s what you expect for a 2-D shooter; fast paced and full of adrenaline. It fits the game perfectly and gets you in the mood to shoot down enemies and bosses. The music sounds like it was on the SEGA Genesis and that came out years later. Overall I was really surprised at this game’s delivery on it’s music. Despite having a total of only 5 or 6 tracks, each track sounds fresh, upbeat, and each have their own vibe. Never do the tracks sound similar. I give this game a 10/10 for its sound.
Story - 5
Here’s where the game’s quality starts to turn a little sour. The story itself isn’t that bad to begin with. You are Silver Surfer (big shocker) and you are given information from Galactus about a weapon called the Cosmic device that will spell chaos and destruction to the universe if it falls into the wrong hands. Only one problem: the Cosmic device was scattered throughout the galaxy into 5 separate pieces. Each piece is guarded by one of Silver Surfer’s many enemies. The enemies are as follows: Reptyl, Mephisto, the Possessor, Dorrek VII, and the Skrull Emperor. It’s left up to Silver Surfer to defeat these villains and to restore the Cosmic device back to its original form. To begin with, that’s a fresh and cool story. It’s not about Silver Surfer saving some damsel in distress. So why such the low rating? Simple. This game has the worst ending ever. It makes Mass Effect 3’s ending look Oscar worthy. I’m not going to spoil it but let me assure you that the ending will leave you speechless. Overall, I give this game a 5/10 for the story department.
Addictiveness - 7
Surprisingly the game is addictive despite being incredibly difficult. In fact, I’d say that the difficulty is the reason why people play this game. You get frustrated at dying constantly to the point where enjoyment doesn’t matter anymore. What matters is that you can
sleep tonight knowing that you were able to make it farther in a level or beat that once impossible boss than you did the previous session. You try to meet the game’s demands…. only to get punished some more. It’s a cycle: you die and rather than just giving up, you persevere regardless of whether you get better or not. Being able to say “I BEAT SILVER SURFER ON NES!” is already enough to make most gamers stick around. Many would say that the only reason why people talk about this game is because of its difficulty. While this would deter any potential gamers with its steep difficulty, it’ll leave NES gamers wanting more. With that said, this game gets a score of 7/10 for its addictiveness.
Depth - 6
Unfortunately, this game doesn’t really have that much depth. While the game offers a variety of enemies, you aren’t given many ways on how to destroy them. You only have 2 upgrades which are pretty easy to get anyway. Let’s face it: the best part about shooters are the large varieties of weapons to use when killing enemies. Imagine Contra where you only get the machine gun and the laser. Or Life Force where you only get your default weapon. It wouldn’t be nearly as fun. As for the levels, you have two variations: a 2-D horizontal shooter and an overhead shooter. The game also has a variety of enemies but the majority of them are just reskins that copy the same moves. Overall, this game gets a stale 6/10 for its depth.
Difficulty - 10
Many people can agree that this is one of the most difficult games ever made let alone for the NES. The game is beyond unfair; it’s the meanest, nastiest, most revolting bully you’ve ever met - and it’s a videogame cartridge. From what I have gathered, there are four major flaws that destroyed what could have been an NES classic. Flaw #1: You have to constantly press in order to fire continuously. Unless you have a turbo controller, you have to constantly press the fire button. This would be fine if Silver Surfer was a platformer like Super Mario Bros but last time I checked this is a SHOOTER; there are dozens of projectiles EVERYWHERE! Your thumb starts to get sore after constantly pressing the fire button to the point where it becomes a chore rather than a pleasure. Not to mention, these projectiles take more than one hit which brings us to Flaw #2: One hit and you’re dead. That’s right. All it takes is one measly hit and you’re a goner. This also means that Silver Surfer himself is the weakest character in the entire game; every enemy takes atleast 2 or 3 hits but all it takes is one hit and you’re dead. Not to mention, it’s really hard to dodge enemies due to Flaw #3: Silver Surfer is too big a target. Trust me when I say that the size of Silver Surfer is another disadvantage. His board is too long and can be a nightmare to maneuver around the levels. Which brings us to probably the worst flaw of them all.
Flaw #4: Anything can kill Silver Surfer. You know games like Ninja Gaiden and Contra and how they are known for their difficulty? Well imagine dying by doing something as simple as touching the floor or ceiling. That’s right; touching the ceiling or floor kills you. Let me continue by asking one simple question. One. Measly. Little. Question. WHO ON EARTH THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD IDEA?!?! WHY? WHY WOULD YOU TAKE SILVER SURFER: ONE OF MARVEL’S STRONGEST CHARACTERS, AND TURN HIM INTO A COMPLETE WIMP?!?!? One hit deaths: I understand. Constantly press to fire: OK. Have a huge character: hard but not impossible. But….. floor and ceiling deaths?!?!? ARE YOU MAD?!?! That is straight up sadistic, even by NES standards. If you can overcome that then you’d be surprised to find that the boss fights are surprisingly easy compared to the stages. The bosses have very easy patterns and are a walk in the park which gives you a sense of relief that they aren’t nearly as hard as the stages. If I could I would give this game a 20/10 in difficulty; 10/10 does not do it justice. It’s a game that you have to try for yourself and see why it’s hated by gamers and critics alike. As I mentioned before, this game gets a 10/10 for its difficulty.
Overall - 6.8/10 - DECENT
Overall, this is one of the more enjoyable games I have played for the NES. Sadly, decent graphics and an amazing soundtrack can’t save a game from being a little mediocre. If you like shooters for the NES, go for games like Life Force or 1942. This is without a doubt the MOST unfair and downright unforgiving NES game I have ever played. Unless you are a serious collector or have a turbo controller, I suggest finding another game. Trust me when I say that it’s not worth 20 or 30 dollars. This game will make you laugh. It will make you cry. But most of all, it will bring you new levels of frustration and anger beyond your wildest possibilities. It’s not like Mega Man or Castlevania where you replay it. It’s a game that you play once and be done with it. If you can somehow master the game’s mechanics and beat it, I can assure you that you will be given the absolute worst ending for a game you’ve ever seen. Altogether, this game started strong but was an overall disappointment. It had potential. Think about it: a 2-D shooter featuring one of MARVEL’S better comic book characters. It worked for shooters like Life Force and 1942, so why couldn’t it work for Silver Surfer? This game should have been a classic, joining Batman as one of the only good Superhero games for the NES but instead, it became the exact opposite being hated by the gaming community and Superhero fans alike. I’m being generous with the rating too. As a Silver Surfer fan myself, I hate the fact that I’m giving the game a low rating. Am I saying that this game is the worst ever made? No. Try it out. But at your own discretion.
Graphics 7 Sound 10 Addictive 7 Story 5 Depth 6 Difficulty 10
Review Rating: 5/5
Submitted: 07-04-15
Updated: 07-07-15
Review Replies: 5
7
Silver Surfer: Bullet Hell Survivor SavatoX
Story
Silver Surfer: Galactus! Why have you summoned me?
Galactus: I have need of you, Surfer. This universe is threatened from beyond.
Silver Surfer: Beyond?
Galactus: The evil forces of the Magik Domain are almost upon us! Only by recovering the Cosmic Device can all be saved!
Silver Surfer: And if I refuse?
Galactus: You must not. Upon this, all life depends.
Depth, Addictiveness, and Difficulty
This game isn't very big, but it's a pretty addictive game. As with most other NES games, I'll probably play it more and get good at it and perhaps be able to play this game without save-stating. This Contra-hard game is relentless in its bullet hells. One hit on your massive board, and you die instantly and go back to the last invisible checkpoint you passed. Your best chance is by "using the turbo button." You'll probably be seeing the death screen more often than not. Because in certain parts, it's almost impossible to get through unscathed. And as the Angry Video Game Nerd stated, it would be easier to dodge rain in a thunderstorm than to play this game. Still, I only gave it a 9 because the patterns can be memorized. And the fact that Touhou can prepare you for such bullet hells.
Graphics & Sound
The graphics themselves also add to the extreme difficulty of this game. Certain projectiles blend in with the background and can kill you unexpectedly. The background will often misguide you as well, making you think that what you're charging into is open space, but the game registers it as running into a brick wall. Still, the graphics themselves aren't bad for an NES game. The soundtrack however, is somewhat disappointing. It doesn't have different music for every stage, it just repeats the same track throughout the entire game. Even though it's a great track, it gets a little repetitive at the end. I'm not even going to take a crack at the good sound effects, for obvious reasons.
Overall
Just because a game is hard, that doesn't mean it's a bad game. Silver Surfer is a prime example of this. Although it's extremely touchy, it's a pretty addictive game. The game was a bit short though, and it loses major points for that. But its story, addictiveness, difficulty, and graphics all make up for its shortness. This legendary challenge will always remain a fun game, when it isn't relentlessly punishing us.
Graphics 7 Sound 6 Addictive 7 Story 6 Depth 3 Difficulty 9
Review Rating: 4.8/5
Submitted: 06-07-12
Review Replies: 3
User Notice 
.png)
.png)
