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Image Fight (TurboGrafx-16) review"More than two years after its initial release, Image Fight stood defiant on the PC Engine as one of the finest shooters the system had to offer. It had graced the arcades, sold its soul to the devil to appear on the NES, and even graced the likes of a couple of obscure Japanese computers. But now it was on the PC Engine where it deserved to be. A hardcore shooter on a system known for its hardcore shooters. This is how things should have been from the start. " |
More than two years after its initial release, Image Fight stood defiant on the PC Engine as one of the finest shooters the system had to offer. It had graced the arcades, sold its soul to the devil to appear on the NES, and even graced the likes of a couple of obscure Japanese computers. But now it was on the PC Engine where it deserved to be. A hardcore shooter on a system known for its hardcore shooters. This is how things should have been from the start.
If you have been kind enough to read Part 1 and Part 2, you by now understand the elements that make up Image Fight’s composition. It requires precision and practice, good timing and patience. Yet once you reach a certain point, the obstructions melt away, and all that remains is an easily conquerable game. Call yourself conquering Kaiser if you’re blessed to reach such lofty heights.
What makes PC Engine Image Fight a great game, and therefore the best port of the bunch, is difficult to pinpoint. Aesthetically, the arcade version is almost the same. The few differences are negligible. Challenge-wise, both versions are tough, yet rewarding. The OF-1 plays its best on both platforms.
So if there aren’t any noticeable differences, why the proclamation of greatness? The PC Engine will always remain one of my favorite systems, and I believe that its appearance on the system caused Irem to do the unthinkable. For two years, Image Fight floundered in obscurity, a victim of unforgiving player wrath and disinterested markets. Then it found a home on the PC Engine where other tough shooter titles found their own salvation. Two and a half years later, Image Fight II: Operation Deepstriker would grace the PC CD. Chalk it up to successful sales or Irem’s desire to take advantage of the time’s technology.
But that’s a whole other review.
Part 1: The Triumph
Part 2: The Tragedy
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Staff review by Felix Arabia (February 08, 2009)
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