|
The intro to UFER shows a monster connected to an
array of electrical wires. Electrical pulses surge
into it and jolt it to life as it awakens and burns
with inner fire... The scene shifts to a cityscape
where the monster knocks Ultraman out with a
walloping left hook. The intro continues with
snippets of Ultramen clowning, monsters glaring, and
other uncommon sights.
The game options that appear once one starts are in Japanese but
they are as follows:
1) Ultra Mode - Basically, a story mode of
the game where Ultraman battles through all the
monsters in the game
2) Battle Mode - Fight against a procession
of monsters
3) Versus Mode - Battle the CPU or a 2nd
player
4) Tutorial - Learn the ways of Ultraman
Fighting
5) Practice Mode - Test your skills in a
friendly environment
6) Option - Set difficulty, time limits,
vibration toggle, key configs, save/load
Select Ultra Mode and the first scene shows a helicopter
flying in to report on a pock-marked monster called
Bulltron which is rolling into the city. To counter
the menace, Ultraman leaps into action.
Upon starting combat, the commands are as
follows:
D-Pad for movement. Note that the analog pad is
not used in the game.
X / Grab and grapple with both hands
O / Punch
TRIANGLE / Kick
SQUARE / Karate chop or bitch slap
R2 / Fire laser beams
Bulltron uses electromagnetic power to hurl metal objects at
Ultraman and has the power to lift Ultraman himself
off the ground. To combat the magnetic menace,
Ultraman resorts to conventional attacks such as
slaps, kicks, and throws. To pick up Bulltron,
simply get close to it and press the X button.
Ultraman will reach out with both hands and then
hurl it a fair distance away where it sustains some
damage. After Bulltron loses it's first supply of
health, it throws up an electromagnetic shield
around itself. Bulltron attacks with firepower as
well as rolling attacks. It can also send UMan into
a sort of phantom zone where a humongous Bulltron
steamrolls over UMan for game over. Once bulltron is
sufficiently weak, UMan can perform an R1 + button
special attack to send a whirling energy buzzsaw
flying through the air to split it.
At the end of each battle, the vitals and time remaining are graded
and the overall battle given a rank based on these
two parameters. If you're unsatisfied with a score,
you can replay the episode again to attempt to
garner better points.
The second episode features Uman against a familiar face - Gomora
and the two grapple in a deserted mountainous
setting with bits of shrubbery in the background.
Note that after Episode 1 is completed, the game
forks to Ep2 or Ep3 and one may choose either path.
There's a sequence in episode 2 where Ultraman rips
off Gomora's tail and as the monster cries and
rushes off in pain, Red King enters the battlefield
for some one-on-one. Red King swings, punches, and
brawls like its life depended on it and it would be
prudent to guard against some of its smacks before
going in for the kill.
There is a system in the game where two fighters grapple for
supremacy by quickly pressing the "O" button. He who
hits the most "O" taps wins and knocks the other for
a loop and does damage. The loser is thrown down.
Game Modes / Characters
At the outset of the game Battle and
Versus Modes, the following 12 fighters are
selectable:
Ultraman, Ultra Seven, Ultraman Taro, Ultraman Tiga,
Ultraman Gaia, Ultraman Cosmos / Gomora,
Eleking, Kyrieloid, Waroga, Alien Baltan, Tyrant,
16 additional slots are also on the Character Select
Table but they must be unlocked by attaining certain
goals and conditions before they are playable.
NCS Closing Thoughts
The game runs and plays well. Ultraman can
perform a number of conventional attacks as well as
special attacks. For example, to perform a powered
up dash-dive onto a beast, press and hold D-pad down
and then press and hold the "O" button. Ultraman
will literally charge into a beast head first with
energized hands outstretched. Pressing R1 and then
waiting for the energy meter to fill up and then
pressing SQUARE, TRIANGLE or O will unleash a
powerful special attack. For example, pressing
Square will have Ultraman fire off six rings of
encapsulation on a beast to hold it prisoner. Pummel
it once it is immobilized.
NCS Game Notes
* Hint for Bulltron - when it starts its spin
attack, the way to stop it is by kicking it with the
SQUARE attack. When Bulltron is covered in the
electromagnetic field, the best way to counter it is
by grabbing it and throwing it or slamming it
against a building. A head-on physical attack will
not work since all of Ultraman's blows will bounce
right back at him.
* In Ultra Mode, the only playable character is
Ultraman. Before starting the Ultra Mode, the game
will ask you if you wish to try a bit of practice on
a relatively docile Gomoku. Move the cursor to the
right and click if you wish to skip it. |