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When it comes to shoot ’em ups of the 16-bit era, specifically for the Super Nintendo and Genesis consoles, I’m of the mind the Genesis has the better library. The thing is though, the Genesis has an abundance of shmups and most of the ones I’ve played are pretty good. The Super Nintendo has its fair share as well but for a while I was under the impression most of them aren’t on the same level as those on its rival system with some exceptions like Space Megaforce for example. I believe the genre benefits from the faster processor in the Genesis. Nevertheless, there are some notable titles in the genre released for the Super Nintendo and one I’ve heard about over the years is Firepower 2000 so I finally decided to check it out for myself.
Developed by SCi Games and published by Sunsoft, Firepower 2000 was released for Super Nintendo in November, 1992. Outside the United States, it’s called Super SWIV and it’s the sequel to SWIV, released for computer platforms like the Amiga, MSX, and Commodore 64. Firepower 2000 or Super SWIV was also released as Mega SWIV for the Mega Drive in 1994. I know some fans don’t like the name change for the US release and now that I know it’s a sequel, I can understand that more but if I’m being honest, I actually like it. Firepower 2000. It sounds intense.
The manual comes with about two and a half pages covering the game’s story. I’ll give you the condensed version. On a remote island in the mid-Atlantic, an underground race is building a military force with equipment they’ve stolen from all around the world. They’ve got drones and war machines programmed to eliminate all opposition and this force is so large it could be considered a super power. But not all hope is lost. Apparently, we have found the most likely location for their base and this is where you, the player, comes in. You’re given control of the only military vehicles with enough power to take on this army, a helicopter and jeep. You must penetrate their defenses and destroy them.
Firepower 2000 is a vertically scrolling shoot ’em up that does support two players. However, I played through it solo. Like others of its kind, you move through levels, blowing away enemies and bosses for points. What makes this game stand out is the two vehicles you have access to, the helicopter and jeep. They handle differently which does affect your strategies and approaches to certain situations, giving the game a lot of replay value. Despite the focus on these two vehicles, there’s actually more. In one level you will be forced to switch to some kind of fighter jet and in another, if you’re driving the jeep, you’ll switch to an attack boat. It is worth mentioning that Firepower 2000 is brutal. It’s a tough game and will require practice to master. Memorization is crucial for survival.
One thing I really like about Firepower 2000 is that you’re not restricted to navigating around only the terrain immediately visible on screen. While you are pushed vertically, you can move left or right to the edges of the screen and the game will scroll in those directions, revealing more of the environment. I just think that’s neat. The levels are bigger than they appear. Before jumping into the gameplay, you must select your vehicle and control scheme. The jeep obviously moves along the ground and is equipped with a turret that you can aim in any direction and you must aim it before firing. The jeep is not obstructed by air enemies but can be obstructed by buildings and other ground obstacles. It can also jump short distances. Unfortunately, it can get stuck behind things which can be annoying at times. Other than that, it’s a lot of fun to drive. The helicopter flies through the air and can only fire in one direction. It’s not obstructed by ground obstacles and enemies and can easily reach any part of the environment. It basically reflects the typical shoot ’em up experience and I think I prefer the jeep simply because of its ability to aim all around.
Like other games in the genre, you earn points for destroying enemies and reaching certain scores does reward you with extra lives. Lose all your lives and it’s game over. Until you can memorize and master the levels, you should probably get used to seeing those words often. Both vehicles can fire bullets and acquire additional weapons from pickups. There’s Permanent Weapons and Special Weapons. You can switch between Permanent Weapons at any time and even power them up by acquiring them multiple times. However, dying does reduce the power levels and eventually strip the additional ones away until your left with only bullets. Permanent Weapons have infinite ammo and all them prove to be useful. Special Weapons are basically your super powerful weapons that can help you in a pinch and using them consumes ammo, so to speak. Weapon pickups are revealed by destroying certain things and there other pickups including Stars and Bubbles. Stars are dropped by destroying certain foes and award bonus points. Bubbles are shields that provide protection for a limited time. With a shield equipped, acquiring another triggers an explosion of some kind that will clear the screen of foes. You can also shoot the pickup for the same result.
There’s only six levels and they are distinct. You’ll move through a jungle, desert, river-bed, military air base, around volcanoes, and finally, the enemy complex. Enemies come in different vehicles and types including tanks, different kinds of aircraft, drones, war machines, and turrets. Most of the threats come from the top down but sometimes foes will appear from below or behind you. Every level does end with a boss and defeating them will mostly come down to pattern memorization. I think my biggest complaint with this game is that some of these bosses can be a bit spongey. Specifically the boss of the air base level. Even the river-bed boss can drag on. However, and I want to be clear about this, this depends on the weapons you have. I guess playing with a friend can help speed the battles up, too. But when playing solo, if you reach a boss with only your default bullets, not even powered up, some of them just take way too long to bring down. I think I spent close to twenty minutes fighting the air base boss. Just the boss. That doesn’t include the preceding time spent navigating the level to get there. I watched some playthroughs online which confirmed my point. Bosses are spongey if you don’t have any powerful weapons so my advice, don’t lose them.
I really like the look of Firepower 2000. The visual presentation is colorful and there’s plenty of visual and environmental variety across the six levels. Your vehicle, enemies, and bullets are always clear so it’s easy to see what’s going on and I just like the bold look of everything. It gives the action a kind of chunkiness and explosions look and sound satisfying. Even when your vehicle is destroyed, it looks and sounds great. The action is backed by some intense and jamming tunes that I feel help add to the intensity of the gameplay. On the technical side, I’m happy to say I did not encounter any major issues.
I had a great time with Firepower 2000. In fact, I think it’s one of the best shoot ’em ups for the Super Nintendo. It looks, sounds, and feels great and is a lot of fun. Like other games in the genre, it offers tons of replay value just from the scoring and trying to master the game. But the multiple vehicles definitely add an interesting layer to the experience. They handle differently and basically have their own obstacles so your strategies will differ depending on the vehicle you choose which only adds to the replay value. I think playing with a friend is probably the ultimate way to experience the game but even playing solo proves to be a wonderful time. It’s a game that will require patience from the player but that’s not uncommon for the genre. If you take the time to truly master it, it can be very rewarding.
I absolutely recommend Firepower 2000. I think it’s a must-play for fans of the shoot ’em up genre. As of this review, you can find cartridges on eBay for a decent price so I would suggest nabbing one if you think this looks fun because it is. You can blast your way through levels in one of two unique vehicles and you don’t have to do it alone. It’s a very cool game and one that will kick your ass so prepare yourself for death. The story basically makes it clear the odds are stacked against you and it certainly feels like that when you actually play it so any and all success will feel immensely rewarding. Definitely check it out.