|
Preview  Defender
- By Mike Schneider [Editor In Chief]
Who can argue with another aerial combat game – especially one that is based off of one of the top arcade action gems of the 1980s? We surely cannot, and Midway is betting that you won’t either.
The meat and potatoes of the game, as is the case for any other flight shooter, lies in some intense dog fighting and tactical maneuvers. Players can upgrade their ships and weapons, and may even use hyperspace technology to instantaneously relocate the ship to one of several predetermined locations in order to aid in defeating the aliens. Defender is all about defending and protecting the human race from an alien invasion, with 14 missions that span the entire solar system.
Finally, one of the most noteworthy aspects planned for Defender is a two-player co-op mode. This feature alone is something unique from Rogue Leader and an enticing thought.
Midway’s focus for Defender is to recreate an intense arcade feel while pulling this classic series into the 3rd dimension. Not too many specifics are known yet regarding just how close Midway intends this Defender to be to its original, but the following is the game description for the original Defender:
MISSION: DEFENDER
Aliens from a distant solar system are swarming over the planet Humanis.
They're kidnapping Humanoids and mutating them into a permanent part of the alien force. Their mission is to transform all of the Humanoids before destroying the entire planet. First, they infest the planet with Landers which close in on the planet, abducting the Humanoids.
Then the attack intensifies. Baiters, Swarmers, and Bombers terrorize the
skies. And then, when you least expect it. a deadly Pod collides with your Spaceship,
and blasts you to pieces.
YOUR MISSION
As Captain of the Spaceship Defender, your mission is to destroy the alien force and save
the Humanoids. Your speed and skill have earned you this heroic mission. When Humanoids are abducted, you'll have to destroy the Lander and catch the falling
Humanoid before safely returning him to the planet below.
Moreover, the original Defender had you doing a lot of rescuing of Humanoids from landers. This required you to shoot the lander – all while being careful not to shoot the hostage – and then catch them as they fell from the lander…all while avoiding enemy fire and kamikazes.
We don’t know whether this gameplay aspect will make a return, but here is what we do know…
Defender Key Features:
- A New View Perspective – Defender is fully 3-D and is played from a third-person chase camera perspective. This gives the player the ultimate in speed and control as they pilot their ship to victory against the alien invaders.
- Instant Action – The controls in Defender are straightforward, making it intuitive to pick up the game and start Defender training. Weapons are precise and advanced players can use special tactical maneuvers via button combos such as barrel rolls, reverses, etc.
- Plan Your Attack – The new Defender starts where the old left off. In addition to having humans to save and aliens to kill, there are tanks and other ground units to position (both defensive and offensive) and bases to defend. Now humans become more than just a body to save – they are a resource to manage.
- Multiple Game Modes – Single-player campaign mode and two-player (co-op) campaign mode.
- Ship Upgrades – Upgrade your ship in between missions – receive upgrades for lives saved.
During missions, players can earn multiple power-ups including: shields, advanced weapons, engine enhancements, hyperspace technology.
- Advanced Weapons – Utilize more than 30 explosive weapons to aid in squashing aliens and accomplishing missions such as fast lock missile launcher, salvo missile launcher, fireball launcher and gas launcher.
More when it’s available. Editor in Chief Mike Schneider, signing off.
- 6.20.2002 |
 |
|
.gif)
