| Lupin is a scoundrel with an
exciting life. Perhaps that is why so many American gamers have taken to this character
ever since he made his arcade appearance in the LD arcade game Cliff Hanger. In the 80s,
Dragon's Lair was simply one of the most impressive looking games, with it's Don Bluth
animation and beautiful visuals. Too bad the gameplay was relegated to a series of
joystick tugs tuned to the flashing cues on screen. Cinematronics' gameplay model may be
compared to Pavlov's salivating dog. Pavlov rang a bell and thoughts of Alpo flushed
through the dog's brain, inducing salivation. Cinematronics flashed a light and the paying
player immediately tugs on the joystick. Tug it too slowly and Dirk got zapped and
crumbled into a pile of bones. Cliffhanger played similarly to Dragon's Lair. Since then,
Lupin has appeared in countless strategy/interaction games on the PC-Engine, Playstation
and Saturn. This latest Saturn release goes beyond the usual interaction model and goes
into full blown 3-D action where you take control of Lupin as you explore temples,
pyramids, and jungle terrain. A neat animated storyline winds through the game as you go
into different scenarios and adventures. |
