VectorMan

VectorMan is a run and gun game developed by BlueSky Software and published in 1996 by Sega for the Genesis and the Sega Mega Drive. The title was also released in compilations of Sega for other consoles.

The Californian company BlueSky Software is also responsible for other installations such as Ninja Gaiden, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Jurassic Park. Because of its graphics and style of play, it is known that this entry was conceived to compete with Donkey Kong Country. On the other hand, Vectorman received a sequel in 1996 called VectorMan 2, also for the Genesis and Mega Drive.

In a dystopic future, humans left their home planet to colonize others. During that time, they left a series of robots called "orbots" to clean up Earth. Due to a nuclear missile accident, Raster, the Earth watcher, goes insane and calls himself the ruler of the planet.

The star of the game is VectorMan, a cleaning robot. When it returned to the planet after a cleaning mission, it discovered that Raster, now self-proclaimed Warhead, controlled all the other robots. On the other hand, the dictator threatens to kill all the humans who want to return to the planet he now leads. The main character is immune to its control because it was not on Earth when the accident happened. Thus, VectorMan embarks on a mission against the tyrant and the chaos he created.

The game is composed of 16 levels, in which there are boss fights and several bonus levels, which totally change the gameplay during that section. Although it doesn't differ from the classic platforms, it has several features that make it a fascinating entry. First of all, the hero is malleable, so depending on the situation, it can take different forms, like a drill or a bomb. Also, the character can adapt to aquatic environments or fight with certain bosses. Then, there are the typical characteristics of this type of adventure, such as various weapons or power-ups that will improve Vectorman's chances during its journey.

The title uses pre-rendered 3D model graphics, a tool that was in the spotlight due to the success it had with its competitor on Nintendo. The technology and the opaque or rusty colors are the protagonists during all the levels, where even the aquatic scenarios are full of machinery. To continue with this idea, the music is composed of electronic rhythms with a low volume. This is done so that it does not invade the scene and mixes with the robotic environment it inhabits.

All this culminated in a perfect score from the critics. Balancing the 4 reviewers that judged the title, it received an average of 8.5/10. The strongest points of the entry were the graphics and the large levels that are featured. For this and many more reasons, VectorMan is considered one of the most essential Sega titles and a must-play for any gamer.