About 14 months ago I reviewed the game Star Tropics (a Nintendo original). In the review, I activated my first spoiler alarm to talk about the ending. However, I contemplated not having to do that at all, since the sequel takes off right where the last one ended (with aliens and a villain by the name of Zoda). Not only is he seen early on in the sequel, but the game is even named after him. So let’s follow up with Zoda’s Revenge: Star Tropics 2 for the Nintendo Entertainment System.
The game’s plot completely changes the formula of the last game, but is a direct continuation of its ending. Our returning protagonist Mike receives a telepathic message from the princess of the alien race he rescued (not activating a spoiler alarm for this review, or else it would be constantly on in regards of the original Star Tropics). She tells him that it’s possible for them to find their way back to their home planet, but Mike will need to gather the Tetrads (who are shaped like Tetris blocks). She then gives him a clue to how to help Dr. J translate a mysterious book he found. However, once Mike reads a phrase from the book, he is flung back through time. He eventually meets up once again with Zoda, who is trying to collect the Tetrads himself.
This is where the formula for the game drastically changes, as each level now has a very different theme since Mike is jumping across history. One level may be the Stone Age, then we go to ancient Egypt and later on the wild west. You meet many historical figures, such as Cleopatra and Leonardo DaVinci on Mike’s journey. But you also run into Sherlock Holmes and King Arthur. It just bugs me when people try to play them off as factual history (though, I guess you should take this game a little “tongue-in-cheek”).
Most of the gameplay elements have been left intact, but there are a few big differences from the last game. First off, instead of just having the Yo-yo (which got upgrades in the original Star Tropics), you end up collecting a variety of weapons, starting with a caveman axe. Beyond this, you also get a psychic energy move, which has a longer range, but is weaker than your other “main” weapon. I found this make it so there are less temporary weapons to find and use, but I never really liked those anyways.
But the really big change would be the removal of the “grid” system. You can now move diagonally and “in-between” squares. This makes moving around easier and the game less “stiff”, but gives it more of a platform focus than RPG-adventure. Now this split the fans. Some said that it changed the formula too much while others enjoyed this and said it fixed a problem. My thoughts? Good or bad, it was NESSECARY. Zoda’s revenge was released as the second to last NES title (right before Wario’s Woods). The Super Nintendo was out and strong at the time, so my theory is Star Tropics needed to prove that it could be as good to make the leap, and part of that would have been losing the grid (I mean, you can even move diagonally in Link to the Past). Sadly, if my theory was right, it would have been too late: new gamers into the SNES would have passed up such a late NES game, and some of the old fans willing to stick with it might have been discouraged by such a drastic change.
Zoda’s revenge is basically a victim of bad timing, in the sense that it was just too little too late. I don’t think it’s the change in game play that killed the series, since Zelda 2 also changed drastically. It also feels like sequels such as Ghostbusters 2: though it seems it should be better, there’s just something that rubs the fans the wrong way. But I guess the big question is: is it better than the original, and the answer is no. Because of that, a lot of people fall to the default that it must be worse. However, to me, the plot is tounge-in-cheek fun, the game play is changed, but is still great and works all well together. Star Tropics 2 isn’t better, but I don’t think it’s much worse; it’s just a very different game. I’d still like to see the series make a return one day, but for now I’ll just keep on enjoying the original 2. I give Zoda’s Revenge; Star Tropics 2 for the NES 8.5 levels out of 10.
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