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Title: Fatal Rewind
Author:Psygnosis
Rom Player: Gens
Reviewer: Dr. Boogie
Synopsis: Now, when I talk about video games based on game shows of the future, what do you think of? Smash TV, of course. Perhaps you even think of Megarace. If you think of Family Feud and Jeopardy, stop right now. The point is that in the future, the big selling point of all game shows will be copious amounts of violence. Man, I can’t wait. Anyway, one game you may not be thinking of when the topic of futuristic game shows is a little gem called Fatal Rewind.
The setting is in the bowels of a deserted island. Being the sole contestant in this contest, you are placed inside a small mech (that’s robot for you laymen out there) and must make your way to the top of each level. Ah, but there is a catch: the island itself is sinking, and in each level, you begin at the bottom, just inches from rising water that will spell “doom” for you should you fall into it. Even better, you must overcome dozens of simple puzzles, as well as a legion of suicidal enemies. And, as an added bonus, every level begins with you being told to “get ready to die!”
After that uplifting message, things begin. Since the water is so very near you in the beginning, you get a good ten seconds to move out before it starts steadily rising. Ten whole seconds! Unfortunately, in the later levels, that ten seconds is just not enough. One wrong move and you will have lost the ten seconds you needed to snatch up an important item absolutely necessary for you to advance in the level. After something like that, all you can do is wait for death to come…
Assuming all that goes well, and you make progress into the level, strips of enemies will warp in a la Galaga to fly into you. As in many scrolling shooter, destroying all of the ones in a single strip will relinquish a powerup, in this case, a small health bonus. Of course, depending on how you handled the enemies, that bonus may be helpful, or too little too late. Often, it is that later, especially when the water is at your heels and you are hauling ass to make it to the top in time.
As you may have ascertained by all the stuff I just mentioned, this is not an easy game. In fact, it can be inhumanly difficult at times. It’s ok though because the game only gets that difficult on occasion; the rest of the time, the game is merely impossible, so the difficulty balances out. The enemies themselves aren’t that difficult to deal with, but more often than not, you will wind up plowing into them and taking massive damage while you try to escape the rising water. Worse still, a wrong move can land you on a platform surrounded by water so that all you can do is sit there impotently until the water claims you.
The other major detraction is the music. Now I actually like the music, as it is one really long song that loops continuously, and has a nice electronic sound. The problem with the music, however, is that it is incredibly loud. Seriously. You might be asking yourself, “so why doesn’t he just turn down his TV/computer speakers?” You cocky son of a bitch! You don’t know anything about me! Ahem, what I meant to say is that if you were to play another game and set your speakers at a loud enough setting and then put in this one, your ears would be split by the loudness of the music. With the exception of Jungle Strike, the music is the loudest I’ve ever heard in a Genesis game.
Still, though, that would be the best game show ever! I’ll bet at the end, you wouldn’t wind up with all those damn Super Toasters like in Smash TV. Actually, come to think of it, the actual prize for winning is never really discussed. I wonder why that is? Oh yeah, I remember; it’s practically impossible to win in a single sitting. Regardless, you should at least download this one. Just keep your finger on the save state button and get ready to die.
Best Cheats: Nothing Entered
Game Play: 6
Graphics: 7
Music/Sound: 7
Originality: 9
Overall Rating: 7
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