A cozy living room decked out with a CRT television, stacks of NES carts, and some posters of Mario, Mega Man, and Link on the walls. RetroGamer84 and GamerFan are settling in for an afternoon of gaming excitement with their favorite system—the Nintendo Entertainment System.

Alright, GamerFan, I’ve been waiting all week for this. Metal Storm. Time to take down that rogue military supercomputer. Ready for some gravity-defying action?

Absolutely! The concept of flipping gravity is intriguing. I hope it lives up to the hype I’ve read in *Nintendo Power*.

Oh, definitely. Did you know that Metal Storm was developed by Tamtex, a subsidiary of Irem? They’ve got a solid reputation, especially with R-Type under their belt. This should be a treat.

Irem knows their way around intense shooters, that’s for sure. Plus, the setting is such a throwback to all those futuristic action movies we love. Let’s start this mecha journey, shall we?

They boot up the game, and vibrant 8-bit visuals accompanied by a rousing chiptune soundtrack fill the room.

This opening level is doing a good job setting up the gameplay mechanics. The M-308 Gunner controls smoothly, and that gravity flip feature is immediately handy.

It’s striking how quickly the game throws challenges at you. I appreciate the level design—it’s complex but fair. And look at those parallax backgrounds!

Indeed! The gravity flip is like a game within a game. Mastering when to flip is absolutely critical. And these enemies—look at that variety. From ground units to ceiling crawlers, it keeps you on your toes.

Speaking of which, *Nintendo Power* mentioned that flipping gravity is not just a gimmick but pivotal for dodging enemies and negotiating traps. They were spot-on.

A particularly challenging section: the two gamers have to time their gravity flips precisely to avoid spikes and reach a high platform.

Right, now for some high scores. Pro tip here: take things slow and learn the patterns. Enemies and traps are consistent, so memorizing their routines can save a lot of lives.

Absolutely. Also, watch out for power-ups. The flame shot and barriers are lifesavers. Keeping them can be the difference between life and restart. And don’t forget—we’re aiming for that true ending. Saving the computer core is a must!

Time passes, and with focused effort, they reach the final boss room. (Spoilers ahead!)

Okay, the moment of truth. This boss is no joke. I read that the final challenge isn’t just about evasion but also quick adaptability to the changing gravity environments.

Right! The computer core’s different attack phases mirror all the hectic strategy we’ve used up to now. Each flip has to be precise.

The climactic battle ensues, with flips and shots timed to perfection. Finally, the core is destroyed. The CRT screen goes black, then displays a victory sequence.

We did it! Ending in sight. It’s such a rush watching the M-308 walk away from that explosion. Classic ’90s conclusion!

What a ride. The combination of fast action, the unique gravity mechanic, and superb level design makes Metal Storm a standout in the NES library. Definitely a game to revisit.

And to anyone diving into this—patience and practice are your best friends. Oh, and keep an eye on Tamtex; Irem’s subsidiary might bring us more gems. Trust their sci-fi brilliance!

It has everything: distinct mechanics, challenging difficulty, and wow, those graphics for an NES game! It’s clear why it’s a collector’s piece now.

They power down the system, sharing a satisfied nod. Time well spent in 1991, with a game that will be talked about for years to come among NES aficionados.

Next time, maybe we tackle something a little different—back to Legend of Zelda or Final Fantasy?

A tempting offer, but first, let’s get our hands on the latest *GamePro* issue. Who knows what other treasures await?

The screen fades to black as the duo continues discussing future gaming plans, both reveling in the golden era of the NES.

You can also read the Villain View for Metal Storm here!

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