Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal

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a game by RealTime Associates, and Acclaim
Genre: Action
Platforms: PC, Playstation, GameGear, GameBoy
Editor Rating: 4.6/10, based on 4 reviews, 7 reviews are shown
User Rating: 8.5/10 - 4 votes
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See also: Iron Man Games
Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal
Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal
Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal
Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal

MAKING METAL

Over a year in the making and nearing its final stages, Marvel Comics' IRON MAN and Valiant Comic's X-O MANOWAR appear in HEAVY METAL, one of Acclaim's most ambitious video game endeavors to date. By utilizing the full capabilities of their Motion Capture Studio (the same studio used in the making of the Batman Forever video game, and other games such as Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball and Alien Trilogy), Acclaim is bringing IRON MAN and X-0 MANOWAR's comic book universes to revolutionary digital life and bringing the metal titans together for the first time.

Located in their Glen Cove, NY headquarters, the Motion Capture Studio is the jewel in the crown of Acclaim's technological empire. The black rubber stage with its four high resolution, black-and-white cameras was the scene for the human modeling of HEAVY METAL'S punching, kicking, running, flying, and jumping movements. Captured on film via reflective sensors on actors' black rubber suits, hand-drawn comic art by veteran artists Bart Sears and Dave Johnson, was wrapped around the digital framework of the fighting movements. The end result is movement so lifelike, so fluid, you'll be running for cover. The same treatment was applied to YELLOW JACKET, BLACKOUT, ABSORBING MAN, GLADIATOR, the SPIDER ALIENS and a galaxy of other villains.

Through the use of completely rendered CGI and SGI computer graphics, both the characters and backgrounds have a highly-detailed, 3-dimensional appearance. HEAVY METAL takes this revolutionary technology to previously unreachable levels of realism. You'll never look at video games the same way again.

SPARKS WILL FLY

Out of all this technology comes the meat of any self-respecting video game--the gameplay! From the small but riveting demo that I played, I can tell you that IRON MAN/X-0 MANOWAR: HEAVY METAL delivers. You'll get to rampage your way through seven levels ranging from the R&D lab of Stark Industries to the South American rain forest and the New York subway (not to mention Arnim Zola's living castle)--each with its own different environmental effects. But you'll need more than just a quick trigger finger and a hard right cross to make headway in HEAVY METAL. Only by using strategy to complete your missions will you be able to reach the secret final bonus level: an apocalyptic, one-on-one battle between IRON MAN and X-0 MANOWAR!

It's a given that heavy weaponry is a crucial element of IRON MAN/X-0 MANOWAR: HEAVY METAL. IRON MAN'S arsenal includes Laser and Proton Blasts, Visible Light Beams, Repulsor Blasts, and Force Fields, while X-0 MANOWAR relies on his Ion Cannon, Cellular Disrupters, Iron Sword, Armadillo Mode and Illumination Omni beam. And on top of this fearsome firepower, each metal warrior will be able to punch, jump, speed-run and soar through the danger-laced skies!

FORGING AHEAD

IRON MAN has completely new armor exclusive to this game (also featured in the crossover comic book from Marvel and Acclaim).

HEAVY METAL also features full-motion computer animation, similar to the groundbreaking technology featured in the movie, Toy Story, and a hard-driving rock music soundtrack.

BOTTOM LINE

This game may well set a new standard in Super Hero action video games. Until then, you'll just have to be content to know that IRON MAN/X-0 MANOWAR: HEAVY METAL will be simply the most thrilling, immersive and technologically astonishing game of the year.

Think you can handle that?

Download Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal

PC

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Playstation

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
GameGear

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP
Gameboy

System requirements:

  • PC compatible
  • Operating systems: Windows 10/Windows 8/Windows 7/2000/Vista/WinXP

Game Reviews

A great comic book doesn't always translate into a great game. In the case of Iron Man, a mediocre comic-book hero translates into an apt, enjoyable, but not terribly complex, game.

Decent side-scrolling action, including tussles with tons of bad guys and platform-hopping galore, make the game enjoyable. Lifeless enemies, easy levels, and corny bosses water down the fun.

Good rendering on Iron Man and Manowar help, as do simple, clean backgrounds. Solid explosions also contribute to the Fun Factor, but the absence of good sound or music is noticeable.

A good rental, Iron Man will not get a medal for its mettle, but it's a pretty heroic effort nonetheli.

ProTips:

  • Always shoot Mo the background to find power-ups and triggers.
  • Look for breaks in the roof or ceiling. They're usually the only access to other areas.

While we don't have any solid statistics to back it up, it is somewhat assumed that most people who like comic books also like video games. Therefore, it is only logical that companies make games based on comic books. Acclaim does just this with their latest game, Iron Man/X-0 Manowar in Heavy Metal. Whew! That's one heck of a name.

Heavy Metal marks a first in the video game industry. It is the first time a game has been made based on comic characters from two different companies. Iron Man is from the Marvel universe and X-0 Manowar is from Acclaim comics. Regardless, they have teamed up to fight evil and, well, to make a game.

At the start of the game, you can choose to play as either Iron Man or X-0 Manowar. The differences between them are minimal, so it mainly comes down to a personal preference.

You and a friend can team up in two-player simultaneous play. The both of you can even play as the same character, so nobody fights over who can be Manowar.

The game is divided up into multiple missions, and before each one, there is a briefing as to what you need to do to clear the level. The plot usually involves typical comic book-style action, so there's plenty of bad guys to conquer.

Of course, to take out those bad guys, you'll need some sort of weapons. Both characters are armed with a laser gun that is upgradeable with power-ups earned by defeating enemies. There is even the ability to shoot into the screen to take out villains in the background.

You also have punch and kick moves when firepower isn't necessary. As a last line of defense, there is a special weapon that lays waste to anything that gets in its way.

Another special feature is the ability to fly. You see, each hero is equipped with a booster that has a limited fuel supply. When you double jump, the booster jets will kick in and you'll begin to hover. From this point, you can maneuver yourself around the screen until the fuel runs out. Luckily, the jets will gain their energy back when you don't use them.

In addition to having their special weapons and powers, Iron Man and Manowar will have to go up against their worst enemies from the comics. Fans will tremble with fear when they face the likes of Yellow Jacket, Mr. Hyde, Mistress Crescendo and the dreaded Spider Aliens.

One can easily get lost in all of the game's features, causing them to forget about the graphics. The SGI-ren-dered graphics have a dark, gritty look to them that are true to the comic book feel.

Those of you who have played other recent Acclaim games such as Batman Forever and Frank Thomas Big Hurt Baseball will be familiar with the animation technique used in Fleavy Metal. It uses Acclaim's advanced motion-capture technology that makes the characters move more realistically than usual.

As an added challenge, there is an artificial intelligence feature that makes the game more difficult the further into the game you get. This should insure that nobody breezes through the game.

With so much to offer, Iron Man/X-0 Manowar should have something to please comic book fans of all ages.

Gamer's EDGE

As stated in the main text, the differences between Iron Man and X-O Manowar are very slight. Still, there are a few minor differences that may sway your decision of who to play as.

Both characters have the basic Laser Blaster and punch moves. There are a few moves that are character-specific.

Only X-O Manowar has the ability to block. This allows him to defend himself against enemy lasers. Iron Man cannot block, but he has the added ability to kick. A variation to this move is the flying kick that is executed while he is running.

Iron Man also has the ability to shoot in both directions at once. This is especially useful if he is surrounded by enemies.

Iron Man's special laser is wider than X-O Manowar's, which comes in useful against foes who try tojump over your beam. However. X-O Manowar can gain a power-up that allows him to do his special move more than the average once per life.

Both characters have their own pluses and minuses, so the best bet is to try out both characters and determine which of their powers you prefer to take advantage of. It's all up to you.

Iron Man/X-O Manowar in Heavy Metal is just another is a long line of thrown-together, mindless fighting games. This one, courtesy of Acclaim, is particularly subject to the pitfalls of this kind of game. As a rule, fighting games do not have a plot to speak of or any point, really, other than pure action. Now that works in some cases, but not here. Iron Man fails to make an impression for two simple reasons. First, it is too severely simple to learn and master to interest fans of the fighting genre for more than a few minutes. At the same time, it offers nothing of interest beyond the mind-numbing, repetitious gameplay to pull in fans of other genres.

One has to wonder when this genre will finally kick its last power kick and sail off into tomorrow. It is pretty unfathomable that companies keep porting fighting games, which belong in the arcade, to the PC, hoping that fans of the arcade version will run out and buy these poor translations to play at home. The question is ... why would people buy them? Historically, the PC environment is not well-suited to this type of game. Small screens, keyboards and mice just can't replicate the arcade atmosphere very well. Unless you have some quality game pads and a 21" monitor, you'll just be wasting time and money with something like Iron Man (well, you would be then, too). But what is most baffling about this particular game is its lack of decent multiplayer support. The only multiplayer option is a tandem play setting for the regular levels ... no head-to-head mode whatsoever. Why even look at a game like this unless you can duke it out with your friend? Isn't that the point? All in all, Iron Man leaves an unpleasant taste in this reviewer's mouth. I need to load up Red Alert or something to wash it out.

Imagine a video game brawl fest so huge, it requires not one, but two comic book superheroes. Imagine no more: For the first time ever, Iron Man and X-0 Manowar will join forces in this action game. The plot pits the two main characters against Baron Zemo and Mistress Crescendo, two nefarious foes bent on recovering the Cosmic Cube-the most powerful object ever made by man.

This time, it's the video game players-not the comic book writers-who will determine whether the superheroes succeed in their mission. A player can go solo in the mission, or in Contra-like style, two players can play simultaneously.

Fortunately, both superheroes enter the fray with much needed special abilities. Both have special jump jets that let players jump and float in mid-air. The heroes' powers include potent attacks, such as when Iron Man unleashes from his chest an energy beam as tall as he is (also impressive is the glowing lighting effect on the backgrounds when the ray goes off). For the most part, both characters have equal ability levels, so there's no apparent fighting advantage to picking one hero over another.

In addition, players can choose to shoot their enemies from afar, or beat them to a pulp up close through hand-to-hand combat.

Adding to the 3-D impact are polygon-drawn buildings and other structures such as power lines or towers blended into the backgrounds. As the players walk past these buildings, the building perspectives change correspondingly to create a more convincing 3-D environment.

The special effects include sprite scaling, used prominently for some of the Boss characters-some take up a good third of the screen. To make the animation more fluid, Acclaim applied its motion-capture technology to create the movements for the main characters and some of the enemies.

The game features more than 30 levels, ranging from forests to downtown city streets. In one stage, the characters must battle in the surrealistic realms of cyberspace. A few even have the heroes in flight instead of the standard walkaround stages. Some of the stages are vast, offering players wide areas to explore in all four directions at the start.

Other levels sport continuously moving screens that force the players to stay on the move or die, such as a Boss' fight sequence in which players must avoid a mechanical drill robot as it slides down a long, rocky pit.

Sure, superhero games seem to come a dime a dozen to console machines, but this title has enough variety and graphic pizazz to push it above the standard superhero fare. It'll find a permanent place in your collection.

  • MANUFACTURER - Acclaim
  • THEME - ACTION
  • NUMBER OF PLAYERS - 1 or 2

Metal guys make a lot of noise when they fight, so you can imagine how much noise they make when they team up. Acclaim Entertainment, Marvel, and Acclaim Comics have teamed up to bring us a comic and a game, based on the antics of Iron Man and XO Man O War. Sadly, the game itself isn't quite as exciting as the comic book. You do get the chance to control your favorite heroes as they make their way through (you guessed it) a side-scrolling world of danger and intrigue. It's also full of explosions and bad guys. Making combinations of both is pretty much the point of the game.

There are regular footsoldiers to deal with, as well as medium-sized boss creatures and a lot of jump-ing (flying?) around.

The graphics are OK, but nothing to write home about, and the sound effects are only marginally better. Iron Man fans would be better off waiting for the cool-looking 32-bit versions. There's only so much you can accomplish with a Game Gear.

Graphics - 6

Sound/FX - 7

Gameplay - 6

Rating - 6

On a roll,Acclaim delivers what might be another major winner. Iron Man X-0 Manowar: In Heavy Metal is the first video-game crossover of two different comic super heroes.

Iron Man and Manowar must battle the evil Baron Zemo and Mistress Crescendo to ensure that these two dastardly devils don't get hold of man's most deadly creation: the Cosmic Cube.... Far-out man!

This side-scrolling action game is far from run-of-the-mill. With plenty of SGI-rendered sprites and backgrounds, soms great object-scaling, rotation and distortion techniques, the game is visually stunning. Another really nice effect is with the lightsourcing, which makes the screen come to life and the game jump out and grab you. Add to that the music of alternative rockers, Filter, and you've got a great game that's sleek and ready to kick butt.

For those of you who get really excited about comic books, I'll also tell you that Acclaim and Marvel will be releasing a crossover comic book before the game, to whet your appetite.

Snapshots and Media

Playstation Screenshots

GameGear Screenshots

GameBoy Screenshots