Review #586: Nintendo 64 Memories: Jet Force Gemini

 Did anybody call for the exterminator?

Part 1: The Flashback
 I followed this game for a long while, y'know before the characters' designs were finalized and Juno was still sporting the red helmet. As a matter of fact, I think I was surprised when I saw the cover art and Juno and Vela looked nothing like they did on the few screenshots I had seen.
 I think I finally got this game on Christmas, and boy oh boy, did I play the hell out of the game. I never managed to complete it, and I didn't this time around either, but it's not because the game is bad, au contraire, but rather because despite how GOOD the game is... I just don't feel like searching for every Tribal.
 I think the upgrade-mid game was one of the neatest surprised in a game yet, suddenly all your characters got cooler-looking armors, more abilities and the ability to go to any previously explored planet. It was freeing and, well, fun. It's a shame that the game hides the true ending behind having to rescue every Tribal!.
 The game also had a multiplayer component, I dabbled a bit in Co-Op, but found it very lame, but spent a lot of time in the VS. modes. Fun times, fun times....

Part 2: Today
 Surprisingly, the game has held up quite well. As with most N64 games the camera is an issue, no doubt about it, but you can work around it with the R button to quickly, and awkwardly, snap it behind you. Aiming is a bit tough, but it might be my old analogue stick, and moving is a bit more slippery than I would've liked, but it's alright.

 As a third-person shooter, Jet Force Gemini delivers in high octane action by spades. You can play as any of the three heroes(Juno, his sister Vela or their dog Lupus) and they each have a unique ability. Vela can dive underwater, Juno can resist lava and Lupus can hover for a while. Initially, each character has their own set of levels before arriving into Mizar's Palace, once they meet up and you defeat Mizar, for the first time, you can pick any character and travel back to any previously visited planet, even planets that were visited by other characters.

 The shooting is where the game really shines: few shooters are THIS gratifying. You'll have to face an army of alien ants, and nothing feels as good as landing shots. The audiovisual feedback is just so perfect, shoots feel squishy when they hit flesh, and metallic when they hit walls and the copious amounts of blood and dismemberment just add to how rewarding it feels. You'll do yourself a great disservice if you don't play the game with the rumble pack! The only area where the shooting falters is on the bosses, which are very poorly designed. You have to shoot at specific parts during specific motions while being restricted to moving either left and right. They aren't very fun.

 I'm quite tolerant to backtracking, I do love metroidvanias. And, initially, this game does it quite well. You defeat Mizar, and now you get neat jetpacks, the ability to turn into ants while stepping on certain panels and the ability to go anywhere. And while you're not given any hints, now you can gather the five-colored keys with every character and go through doors that used to be locked, into new areas and even new planets(Even if they are a bit on the smaller side). It's great, and I had fun going back into new areas. What isn't very fun is being forced to rescue every single Tribal, cute bear-like aliens enslaved by the ants. If you're close to the end of a stage and you accidentally kill or get a Tribal killed... you have to redo the entire stage. Some areas require a specific character in order to rescue every Tribal, since it has to be done in one go. Best part about it? There's no way to know on which areas or planets you've already rescued the Tribals on, so you have to keep track by yourself. It's just not fun.

 Even if you're not planning on rescuing every Tribal, the game is very easy to recommend thanks to how well it has aged. The shooting is fun and feels better than in most shooters you can find nowadays, even if you have to come to terms with the aiming.
 8.5 out of 10