When I first played this game back when it came out, I absolutely hated it. I felt the controls were awkward, the camera was terrible, and the game itself just wasn’t all that fun. Now, several years have passed since then and I found myself playing it again for this review...And while I can still see why I hated it so much, time has changed my opinion of the game a little bit.
First off, Heavy Metal: Geomatrix is a fighting game, for those unaware, that is similar to Power Stone in that you are roaming around a 3D environment during the battle. The difference here is that you’re using a lot of projectile weapons like guns, rocket launchers, flamethrowers, or even control over a satellite that drops bombs down on the enemy. There are also swords and the option to use your hands and/or fists...But if you want to do the most damage, grabbing guns and the like in the level to use are your best bets. The concept is kind of neat...And an absolute blast if you’re playing multi-player with some friends...But it has some flaws to prevent it from being the great game it had potential to be.
The biggest problem I have is the lack of replay value. There is almost none. There is nothing to unlock. The only reason to play this game more than a few times is for the fun you may have when battling against a few of your friends, or to spend a few minutes playing Chaosmatrix mode, which I’ll talk about later. The controls aren’t quite as bad as I remember from the first time I played...They still do feel a little awkward, but it’s nothing you won’t get used to after a few battles. If you’re still having problems, you can always change the button configuration in the ‘Options’ menu, too. There are some other issues, as well...Like how locking-on doesn’t always seem to work, the pains of throwing punches when you’re actually trying to pick up a weapon, and how the camera likes to go crazy every now and then...But those are pretty self-explanatory and don’t really need explanations.
But, with those flaws, there is some good here. The action, while loaded with over-the-top weapons and such, does require some strategy. If you go into every match head-on, you’re going to lose. The head-on approach works occasionally, but for the most part you’re going to want to pick and choose where and when to attack. This makes the game feel less repetitive since you’re not simply rushing in, mashing buttons, and then moving to the next person. The over-the-top weapons also add some fun to the game...Stalking your opponent with the satellite feels pretty neat in the middle of a battle. Also, like I said earlier, if you can wrangle some friends together to play this, you’ll have an absolute blast...Nothing tells a friend that you care more than a seven-hit combo from a flamethrower.
There is a different mode aside from Arcade mode, as well, that might add a little replay value to some gamers. It’s called Chaosmatrix mode. This mode reminds me of the VR missions from Metal Gear Solid as the mode is basically the same thing, just with a different style of goals to reach. You’re in a room that looks very much like the VR mission rooms, and you have to perform an objective within the room before heading to the exit, which much like in Metal Gear Solid, is a tube of light. I’m honestly not really sure why this mode was added, as it’s really not all that fun and it’s also not very long...But it is interesting and may add some replay value to folks who enjoy the game, but are looking for a little more to do.
Graphically, the game is alright. It’s not the best looking game on the Dreamcast, but it doesn’t look terrible, either. The graphic-style and everything all fit the gameplay and everything perfectly, however, and the graphics are in the upper class of Dreamcast games...Which makes sense, as it was amongst the last of the titles released in North America. Audio-wise, this sounds like a Capcom fighter. The sound effects in the menu and such all kind of remind me of other fighting games that came out of Capcom’s development studios. During fights, Geomatrix plays licensed music by Megadeath and a few others...So if that’s your style of music, you’ll likely love the soundtrack. If it’s not, then you may be reaching for the mute button as you play.
Overall, Heavy Metal: Geomatrix isn’t nearly as bad as I had originally claimed it to be. I still think it’s one of the worst fighters on the system...But with competition like Marvel vs. Capcom 2, Street Fighter III, Soul Calibur, and Dead or Alive 2, being one of the worst fighters on the Dreamcast isn’t necessarily a horrible thing. If you liked brawling with your friends in Power Stone but are looking for a game loaded with explosions and the like, with a darker tone to it, then this game might be for you. Heavy Metal: Geomatrix is definitely not amongst the best fighters that Capcom has put out, but it has a charm to it that may keep you playing anyway. Even with its flaws, Geomatrix is fun to play, but a lack of replay value does hurt it a bit. However, if you like fighters, but want something a little different, give this game a try, you might just like it. - Ape
September 13, 2001
July 12, 2001
April 12, 2002
