Game:

Time Trax (1994)

Category:

Let's Play

Duration: 53:14

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Here is my Full playthrough of Time Trax on Normal Mode done live on IGTV.

Follow me on instagram @CabinSNES_fever to join me live or via my reviews and uploads to witness me take down all the games currently in my SNES colleciton, following on from having already beaten all 234 licenced UK releases for the NES. I only use original carts, no cheats & no save states.

REVIEW:
-You remember Time Trax right? Me neither, but that didnt stop Malibu Games from converting this short lived TV series into a game. An even bigger surprise is that it isnt awful, offering reasonable platform run'n'gun gameplay at a more relaxed pace than some of its peers.

Sadly what most similar games boast in firepower, Time Trax fails to deliver, with our hero only wielding a forgettable 'pew pew' type laser gun, which acts to temporarily stun an enemy leaving them vulnerable to melee. Its a far cry from the high tempo action of Contra. However the inclusion of a 'Bullet Time' slowdown mechanic (predating both The Matrix & Max Payne), gives another dimension to gameplay, proving useful in difficult encounters, especially of the 'beginner trap' variety and boy does this game revel in those!

Compared to other titles, Time Trax is a relativity easy game, registering almost all its challenge from that delightful 'unforeseen hazard'. There's a clear attempt to deliberately camouflage traps into the scenery as early as the first stage, tho after navigating the factory level, with its tireless assault of bricks & barrels, you'd be be forgiven for assuming it couldn't get any worse, only to then be dealt the biggest kicking yet via the hilariously unfair army of microscopic spiders, invisible snakes & other nightmares that make up the Jungle stage! 'Here, have a spike in your face!'

Mercifully the hardest sections are short lived, much like the overall game; registering 8 short stages, 2 of which are strictly bosses.

With aspects already mentioned culminating in a less than perfect experience, thanfully where the gameplay excels, is in exploration. With no time restriction, its encouraging that exploring each stage is rewarded with uncovering many hidden items and secret areas. Each level holds the letters SELMA & EXTRA providing a health or life bonus if completed. It does alot to help gameplay from growing stale.

If 'acceptable' is your benchmark for gameplay, then look no further. If you're after something with a little more wow factor, then grab those binoculars & keep looking. There's definitely better out there.

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