Chitei Senkuu Vazolder / Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth (FC) (1991)
Publisher: Sofel and Asmik

Review by Faididi and Co.

Lots more dramatic and exciting than Vernes' underworld

Story: Above Average

Several unusual geological anomalies shake up Earth, so explorers and their special Vazolder (VZR) vehicles are sent below the surface to investigate. Unfortunately, these VZRs have disappeared and lost contact with the surface, so now Moby and her crew will take another VZR to do some rescue work.

There's plenty going on in the story, and the cast of characters is huge. As Moby and her friends drill deeper into Earth, they'll discover two underworld races that are warring with each other, and the plot really picks up as the crew reluctantly gets dragged into this conflict. Perhaps the best part of the story is the character interaction in one of the game's modes. By speaking with different people aboard the VZR, Moby can work out tactics to use against the bad guys. The dialogue there is dynamic, because the crew members' reactions will depend on what others have said, which is really cool. The only serious problem lies with the game's abrupt end, when several issues are left strangely unresolved. At least the translations in the English versions are done well, if you can forget the mandatory corny lines here and there.

Gameplay: Above Average

Published by Sofel and Asmik, Chitei Senkuu Vazolder (Wurm: Journey to the Center of the Earth) is the rare action game that successfully combines elements from several different genres into a coherent, story-driven package. The 5 acts, each one containing several scenes, are played in a variety of modes, including side-scrolling, vertically scrolling, first person, and platform action modes. There are infinite credits, and the heroes' progress can be recorded with passwords.

Most of the time, the heroes are piloting their VZR in the side- and vertically scrolling modes. The versatile VZR can shift between a tank form, a hovercraft form, and a fighter jet form. Depending on its form, it can fire different weapons, including spread guns, laser cannons, homing guns, wave cannons, and mine launchers. The VZR can't suck up a lot of damage before it blows up, but it can recharge its shields by expending fuel, which is also used to power the VZR's special weapons.

Most of the bosses are fought in the first person mode, which consists of two phases. The battle phase is where the heroes simply pound the bad guy while dodging returning fire. The text adventure-like conference phase, however, is the best part of this mode, as Moby spends a limited number of turns consulting with her team and choosing which weapon to use. The crew members offer bits of advice that reflect their personalities and experiences. For example, the analyst, Locke, always takes the effort to study the enemy's defenses for any possible weak points. The weapons tech, Mike, prefers that Moby shoots first and asks questions later. A native of the underworld who eventually joins the group might contribute more knowledge about the bosses. What's really cool is how the characters sometimes make mistakes or disagree with one another, requiring Moby to weigh each piece of advice.

The last mode is the platform action mode, where Moby goes out on her own to explore. She can walk around freely, jumping over obstacles and using her blaster pistol to shoot enemies. Of all the modes, this one is the least impressive, because it's unchallengingly simplistic. But, hey, at least the wimpy bad guys and the lack of bottomless pits here make the scenery easier to enjoy.

Controls: Excellent

No matter what mode you're playing, the controls are responsive. The VZR handles well, and switching its weapons and forms is very easy, thanks to the highly intuitive menu system.

Graphics: Above Average

The characters are drawn small during the VZR side- and vertically scrolling scenes, but everything can be clearly made out with the help of the bright colors. The VZR shifts forms fluidly, and evil mutants squirm and wriggle as they glide through the air. The animations suffer a bit during the platform action and first person scenes, but the characters there are drawn larger. In any case, the backgrounds are beautifully rendered. They vary radically in appearance, ranging from common caverns to ancient ruins to flourishing cities. The different rocky minerals have fascinating hues and patterns, and the game grows even more eye-catching when the heroes visit underground jungles, oceans, and islands.

Audio: Excellent

The noises of the VZR's drills winding up and of the rock walls crumbling as the heroes dig through them are really nice, but all the weapons sound the same when fired, and the enemies go out with a quiet poof. What's much better than the sound effects, though, is the music. Except for the cringingly mawkish main theme, the tunes are often inspired and do a wonderful job at conveying the magnificent vastness of the exotic subterranean landscapes.

Overall: Above Average

Chitei Senkuu Vazolder neatly meshes together the elements of many different action genres. While its ending leaves much to be desired, its smooth combination of its varied gameplay modes, dynamic dialogue scenes, colorful graphics, and great music makes this a worthy journey for those who wish to explore the depths of its exciting sci-fi fantasy world.