Gravity Power (Amiga) - Let's Play 1001 Games - Episode 77 (Part 2)
16OK actually THIS is Gravity Power... as it turns out...
If you liked this video consider supporting the series ► https://www.patreon.com/GamingJay1001
Follow me on Twitter ► https://twitter.com/GamingJay1001
Check out the website ► http://letsplay1001.com/
Check out the book ► http://www.amazon.com/1001-Video-Games-Must-Before/dp/0789320908
I'm Gaming Jay: Youtube gamer, let's player, retrogaming fan, and determined optimist... Join me in this series while I try out EVERY game in the book 1001 VIDEO GAMES YOU MUST PLAY BEFORE YOU DIE, before I die. The game review for each game will focus on the question of whether you MUST play this game before you die. But to be honest, the game reviews are just for fun, this series is more about the YouTube gamer journey. Let's try out those classic retro games we grew up with, have fond memories of, or heard of but never got a chance to try! And with that said, the game review for today is...
Gravity Power
Released 1994
Developer(s) Bits
Platform(s) Amiga
Genre(s) Shooter
Jay's Thoughts
Gravity Power was rated as one of the best Amiga games of all time. So imagine my surprise when I loaded it up to find a decent but mediocre gravity-based shooter. Only... I wasn't playing the right game. OK so the genesis of Gravity Power goes as follows: Gravity Force/Power is a series of gravity-based shooters wherein you fly around unique levels and, well, shoot things. Gravity-based means that you're constantly being pulled downward by gravity, unless you thrust against it, and if you hit the ground with any force you die. So Gravity Force was the first game created which included a single-player campaign in addition to multiplayer modes. Gravity Force 2 came later and was a 2-player-only game that included tons of maps on which you could try to kill and humiliate your friends. Amiga Power magazine commissioned the developers of Gravity Force 2 to rebrand the game as Gravity Power and then proceeded to give the game out for free along with their magazine. So... when it came time for me to try the game? Well my first effort I ended up accidentally playing Gravity Force. Sigh...
Briefly, Gravity Force is an OK shooter but the gravity mechanic is a real pain in the butt. Maybe I'm just terrible at these kinds of games, but it was really hard to make any progress in this game or take care of enemies because of the constant pressure of being pulled towards the ground (which does kill you in 1 hit). In the game you have to fly around a series of caverns and collect boxes which you then must fly back to your based. Or, you apparently can just die after you collect all the boxes in a level, and it will move you on to the next level. Go figure.
Gravity Power I tried briefly, as it is technically a 2-player game and long-story-short I was flying solo. I did check out the game modes though and try flying around the levels and once again the gravity mechanic was quite difficult to deal with. So much so that I had trouble killing my stationary opponent and would frequently crash and die right in front of him! Talk about being your own worst enemy.
I will likely return to Gravity Power at some point and play it with a friend or two so I can get a real taste of the multiplayer mode but from what I've played so far, I just can't get over the gravity mechanic in the game. Which is too bad because I actually think the competitive gameplay in Gravity Power seems quite enjoyable, especially with all the customization options they give you. However, I suspect that when I do go back to play it, both me and my friend will be killing ourselves as much or more than we will be killing each other.
I know there are people out there who grew up with this game and really like the gravity mechanic in the game, and if you're one of those people kudos! As someone who's never tried this before I just had a hard time with it.
➙ Must You Play It?
If you can get a friend then Gravity Power looks to be a fun, competitive shooter with tons of customization options. If you're flying solo though, Gravity Power is two players, so you have to skip it, and Gravity Force is really just a little too hard and simple by today's standards I think.