Title: Shadow Squadron Released: 1994 Genre: 3-D Shooter Developer: Sega  Publisher: Sega  Regions: USA, UK, Japan Availability: Uncommon

Also known as Bullet Fighters. Released as Stellar Assault in Japan and Europe. There is some confusion regarding the different titles. Stellar Assault was listed as the title on release rosters in early 1994, but the name was changed to Shadow Squadron for its American debut. Sega reused the name Stellar Assault for the Sega Saturn sequel (when was only released in Japan.)

A 32x exclusive. This little-known 3-D shooter is the best game of its type on the 32x, and one of the finest titles in the 32x library. Shadow Squadron is similar to other space shooters like Colony Wars and the Wing Commander series in that it allows for complete 3-D movement through space, unlike some "rail" shooters like Star Fox or Panzer Dragoon that confine you to a predetermined environmental path. The feeling of absolute control is just incredible, much more immersive than the flawed presentation of similar 32x shooters like Star Wars Arcade and Star Trek. Gameplay is simple and direct, consisting of straight-forward combat missions involving a variety of enemy craft, including quick-moving fighters, various stellar arrays, and hulking dreadnoughts that fill up the entire screen. Your radar tracks the position of every enemy craft, and a unique targeting system lets you determine the position and time-distance of all targets. You can fly solo or with a friend acting as a gunner, utilizing either a cockpit or a behind the ship view. There are two ships from which to choose, both with their own strengths and weaknesses. The various polygonal models are mighty impressive and exhibit no pop-up whatsoever, though the graphics tend to be a bit bland due to a complete lack of texture mapping. Shadow Squadron is one of the few titles that really utilizes the 32-bit hardware, and most gamers will be quite impressed with the graphics and total absence of slowdown. You even have the option of changing the entire color scheme! The soundtrack, on the other hand, is less of an asset and more of a liability. Intense, action-oriented shooters generally require a musical score that matches the action, not a cart filled with light, keyboard-pop elevator music. The explosion-filled sound effects are more appropriate, helping to ease the pain of the mediocre soundtrack. Shadow Squadron's biggest flaws, aside from the music, are the high difficulty level (you have a limited number of continues) and the general lack of mission variety, though these faults are easy to overlook when you're closing it on a massive starship that's firing huge energy bursts straight at you. Shadow Squadron rates very highly, right up there with DarXide in terms of graphics and overall playability. One of the few must-have 32x games.
 
 

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