Game #1342: Powerslave Exhumed

 Mummies, guns and a whole lot of flying.

 I've been meaning to buy Powerslave for a while now, but I was unable to find the PS1 port/remake at the right price and complete in box... well, I'm in luck, since Powerslave Exhumed is a hybrid release that aims to mix together the best elements of the PS1 version alongside the best elements of the Saturn version.

 This is a very interesting beast, as the game looks on the outset as a classic Doom clone set in Egypt, with the 3D environments and sprites for your guns and enemies.... but it's actually more akin to a Metroidvania. Sure, you are finding keys on every level to open up door while you defeat enemies by circle-strafing around them.... but you'll also be unable to reach certain exits until you find the proper power up, be it resistance to lava and poison, gliding or even flying.

 The game has a very fast pace, enemies regularly drop red and blue orbs, the former restoring health and the latter restoring ammo. Ammo in the game is called "weapon power" and every weapon has their own power gauge, and you pick which weapon to restore power to by picking up the blue orbs while having said weapon equipped. It's not a bad take, and while you'll probably run out of ammo at some point you probably will have enough on another gun. Plus, there are plenty of items that fully restore your ammo... if you find them.

 The map is not very good, it shows you which levels have exits you haven't found, but that's about it. Missing health upgrades, abilities or transmitter pieces, the latter which only affect the ending you get.... well, you are out of luck. A few times I had to consult a guide to figure out where to go next or how to get a power up, turns out the "bomb-jump" mechanic is not just a bug, but something you must use in order to reach some upgrades, which was a bit annoying since nothing in the game tells you about this technique. And near the end of the game, there's a "puzzle" in which you must walk through a differently colored floor to deactivate some lasers. You've never needed to do something like this before, or after, which makes it come out of left field. That said, for the most part, the game is fine, and if you remember landmarks and obstacles better than me, you can probably make your game through the game without reaching for a FAQ.

 Powerslave was probably something very unique back in the day, not that I'm saying that it has aged badly, but rather I think the ideas the game has are a bit ahead of its day. And it is a fun time, I liked the Egyptian setting, and the shooting was pretty decent, if a bit rudimentary. It's a good game.

 7.0