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BioMetal (video game)
Encyclopedia
BioMetal is a single-player horizontal scrolling shooter game released on June 1, 1993 for the Super NES
(SNES). The game features six different weapons to combat the BioMetals, an extraterrestrial
race determined to destroy the human race. The gameplay is very similar to that of the R-Type
series, with the final boss even greatly resembling and behaving similarly to that series' iconic boss enemy Dobkeratops.
BioMetal is unique in that its soundtrack
for the European and US versions was entirely created by techno group, 2 Unlimited
(the selections used for BioMetal were remixes of songs from their 1991 album, "Get Ready!
"). The Japanese version of the game featured an entirely different soundtrack.
A sequel called BioMetal Gust was released for the Sega
Saturn
in 1997, included with the Dezaemon 2 pack.
"BIOMETALS" is increasing rapidly and will have the Milky Way completely taken over within 32 hours. So the Halbard's crew, young pilot Kid Ray and biologist Anita (a possible reference to the names of the two lead singers of 2Unlimited, who provided the music for the US/European version of the game), along with their fleet, WASP, are assigned to eliminate the hostile threat on UP457.
The graphics have Giger
-esque quality, which was a popular style during the late 80's/early 90's. The in-game effects use a lot of mode-7 raster effects and some impressive parallax scrolling.
Super Nintendo Entertainment System
The Super Nintendo Entertainment System is a 16-bit video game console that was released by Nintendo in North America, Europe, Australasia , and South America between 1990 and 1993. In Japan and Southeast Asia, the system is called the , or SFC for short...
(SNES). The game features six different weapons to combat the BioMetals, an extraterrestrial
Extraterrestrial life
Extraterrestrial life is defined as life that does not originate from Earth...
race determined to destroy the human race. The gameplay is very similar to that of the R-Type
R-Type
is a side scrolling shoot-em-up arcade game produced by Irem in 1987. The player controls a space fighter named R-9a "Arrowhead" to defend humanity against a mysterious but powerful alien life-form known as "Bydo", which was later discovered to be not entirely alien in origin...
series, with the final boss even greatly resembling and behaving similarly to that series' iconic boss enemy Dobkeratops.
BioMetal is unique in that its soundtrack
Soundtrack
A soundtrack can be recorded music accompanying and synchronized to the images of a motion picture, book, television program or video game; a commercially released soundtrack album of music as featured in the soundtrack of a film or TV show; or the physical area of a film that contains the...
for the European and US versions was entirely created by techno group, 2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited
2 Unlimited is a Dutch Eurodance/Hi-NRG act formed in 1991. The project was the brainchild of Belgian producers Jean-Paul DeCoster and Phil Wilde, and was fronted by a Dutch duo, rapper Ray Slijngaard and singer Anita Doth. During five years of enormous worldwide popularity, the act scored 16 chart...
(the selections used for BioMetal were remixes of songs from their 1991 album, "Get Ready!
Get Ready!
Get Ready! was the first album released by 2 Unlimited. The album reached #17 in the Netherlands and #37 in the UK. Despite the moderate chart success, 2 Unlimited was one of the few Dutch bands which set out to conquer the world and even gained access to the difficult American market...
"). The Japanese version of the game featured an entirely different soundtrack.
A sequel called BioMetal Gust was released for the Sega
Sega
, usually styled as SEGA, is a multinational video game software developer and an arcade software and hardware development company headquartered in Ōta, Tokyo, Japan, with various offices around the world...
Saturn
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
in 1997, included with the Dezaemon 2 pack.
Story
It's the year GC 232 (Galaxy Century Year 232). A huge war that had begun years and years before has divided the Milky Way and all of its natural resources have been exhausted. The Milky Way Galactic Council is forced to send a fleet of starships to a nearby planet by the name of UP457 in search of any resources that can replenish the ones lost during the battle. However, during this mission, the fleet is destroyed by a race of half machine, half animal aliens referred to as "BIOMETAL" by the Galactic Council. One of the Council's super computers then calculates that the number of these"BIOMETALS" is increasing rapidly and will have the Milky Way completely taken over within 32 hours. So the Halbard's crew, young pilot Kid Ray and biologist Anita (a possible reference to the names of the two lead singers of 2Unlimited, who provided the music for the US/European version of the game), along with their fleet, WASP, are assigned to eliminate the hostile threat on UP457.
Overview
Weapon power-ups are gained by destroying pods and picking up the released power-ups, which cycle through the various weapon types as in Raiden. Some weapons cancel each other out. The player also has a shield in the form of four spinning orbs that circle around the ship when the engaged. Charge power is drained when the shield is active. The shield can be used as protection against enemy fire.The graphics have Giger
H. R. Giger
Hans Rudolf "Ruedi" Giger is a Swiss surrealist painter, sculptor, and set designer. He won an Academy Award for Best Achievement for Visual Effects for his design work on the film Alien.-Early life:...
-esque quality, which was a popular style during the late 80's/early 90's. The in-game effects use a lot of mode-7 raster effects and some impressive parallax scrolling.