Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact (1999)
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Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact (ゴジラジェネレーションズ マキシマムインパクト Gojira Jenerēshonzu Makishimamu Inpakuto) is a rail shooter video game developed by General Entertainment for the Sega Dreamcast, released on December 23, 1999. It is a sequel to the previous year's Dreamcast game Godzilla Generations and roughly follows the events of the Heisei era. It features overhauled graphics and pre-rendered and in-game cutscenes.
Opening
The opening cinematic begins with text stating "Sega Enterprises. LTD. presents" and a grayscale image of what appears to be a close up of a cell before it introduces the title of the game, Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact. Godzilla swims in the deep ocean, presumably making his way towards Japan. In a city, MBT-MB92 and MBAW-93 Maser Cannons form a defense line alongside MGR-IInd and multiple soldiers on the ground. ASTOL-MB93s fly overhead. More jets surround a special transport aircraft containing SMG-IInd, as well as a vehicle resembling the Super X. Godzilla's eye opens and suddenly the monster is in a city, flames surrounding him.
SMG-IInd can seen in what is presumably a deactivated state as MGR-IInd rolls into view, as several soldiers run around, some of them forming a line. SpaceGodzilla, in what seems to be his Flying Mode, descends from the sky and a quick shot of Destoroyah overhead. Godzilla rampages through the city and the military retaliates. The opening sequence ends with Godzilla shooting his Atomic Fire Breathe into the sky, which parts the clouds.
Gameplay
Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact is vastly different from its predecessor Godzilla Generations. Unlike Godzilla Generations, Maximum Impact doesn't feature any alternative game modes. The game consists of multiple levels divided into two stages: the Destruction Stage and the Boss Stage.
The Destruction Stage begins by showcasing an in-game cutscene of Godzilla rampaging through the stage's setting before giving control to the player. In the Destruction Stage, Godzilla automatically walks forward through the map and is incapable of backtracking. The player can control Godzilla to destroy buildings and Self-Defense Force units that appear on screen by either walking through them or using his Atomic Fire Breathe. Doing so will earn the player points which are tallied up at the end of the stage; Godzilla's remaining health also contributes to this.
After the Destruction Stage ends, the player is greeted by a loading screen featuring the monster they are challenged by and the Boss Stage begins. After an in-game cutscene introducing the monster, the player is tasked with defeating them. Unlike the Destruction Stage, Godzilla is able to move around freely. After Godzilla defeats the enemy monster, the next level will begin. A unique feature of this game revolves around its targeting system; enemy monsters will receive visible battle damage on the areas of their bodies that Godzilla targets the most. For example, if Godzilla consistently targets King Ghidorah's central head, it will eventually be blown off. Another example is flying enemies such as Destoroyah being forced to the ground if Godzilla destroys their wings by consistently targeting them.
If Godzilla' health bar reaches zero in either stage, the player will have to restart that particular stage. The difficulty setting changes the amount of enemies Godzilla encounters in the Destruction Stages. Each level progressively gets more and more difficult.
Located on the upper left-hand side of the screen is a radar which allows the player to see incoming enemies, projectiles, and monsters. On the bottom right-hand side of the screen is Godzilla's Health Bar and Energy Gauge. Located to the left of that is the points the player has earned so far throughout the level. When fighting a monster, their health bar will appear at the top of the screen in the center.
Controls
Details of the controls:
- Moving the Analog Stick/D-Pad will move Godzilla left and right in the Destruction Stages, whilst in the Boss Stages Godzilla can move around freely.
- Pressing the Start Button will pause and unpause the game.
- Pressing the Y Button will change the game's perspective.
- Pressing the B Button will cause Godzilla to perform an evasive move.
- Pressing and holding the A Button will cause Godzilla's energy gauge to fill up, during which a lock-on indicator will appear on the screen. If the A Button is released, Godzilla will fire his Atomic Fire Breathe in a straight line. The player can use the Analog Stick/D-Pad to lock onto a target and aim Godzilla's Atomic Fire Breathe. He shoots the target in the order in which they were targeted. If Godzilla's energy gauge is filled up all the way, Godzilla will instead fire his Hyper Atomic Fire Breathe which destroys buildings and Self-Defense Force enemies around him as well as doing more damage to its target.
- Pressing the X Button will cause Godzilla to roar.
Stages
Stage 1-1
Godzilla enters Osaka and the player is tasked with getting him to the end of the Destruction Stage.
Stage 1-2
In this Boss stage, the player is tasked with defeating Biollante.
Stage 2-1
Godzilla enters Tokyo and the player is tasked with getting him to the end of the Destruction Stage.
Stage 2-2
In this Boss Stage, the player is tasked with defeating King Ghidorah.
Stage 3-1
In this Boss Stage, the player is tasked with defeating a horde of Mothra Larvae that emerge from a Temple. These Larvae will slowly crawl around to reach broken pillars for cover and attempt to use their Web Attack on Godzilla, which will stun him and interrupt the charging of his energy gauge. If hit by Godzilla's Atomic Fire Breathe and not defeated, the Larvae will find a different pillar to shoot from. After a certain amount of Larvae are defeated, the next stage will begin.
Stage 3-2
In this Boss Stage, the player is tasked with defeating Mothra's Imago Form. The setting of this stage is the same as the previous.
Stage 4-1
Godzilla enters Chiba and the player is tasked with getting him to the end of the Destruction Stage.
Stage 4-2
In this Boss Stage, the player is tasked with defeating SMG-IInd.
Stage 5-1
In this Boss Stage, the player is tasked with defeating MGR-IInd.
Stage 5-2
Godzilla enters Fukuoka and the player is tasked with getting him to the end of the Destruction Stage. Massive Crystals are located all around the stage. Instead of the usual helicopters, fighter jets, and tanks attacking Godzilla, crystals are propelled at Godzilla, presumably SpaceGodzilla using his Homing Ghost ability.
Stage 5-3
In this Boss Stage, the player is tasked with defeating SpaceGodzilla.
Stage 6-1
Godzilla enters Haneda and the player is tasked with getting him to the end of the Destruction Stage. In this stage, ASTOL-MB93 Maser Attack Aircraft appear instead of the usual Helicopters. Additionally, multiple large missiles are fired at Godzilla.
Stage 6-2
In this Boss Stage, Godzilla is tasked with defeating the Super X III.
Stage 6-3
The final stage of the game. In this Boss Stage, Godzilla is tasked with defeating Destoroyah. After Godzilla deals a certain amount of damage to Destoroyah, he will fall to the ground and divide into multiple Crawling Forms. During these segments of the stage, the player must use Godzilla's Atomic Fire Breathe to prevent the Crawling Forms from reaching Godzilla and dealing damage. The Crawling Forms will eventually recombine back into Destoroyah's Perfect Form.
Characters
Playable
Unplayable
- Biollante
- King Ghidorah
- Mothra (Larva and Imago)
- SMG-IInd
- MGR-IInd
- SpaceGodzilla
- Super X (opening cutscene and loading screen)
- Super X III
- Destoroyah (Perfect Form and Aggregate Form, referred to as "Crawling Form" instead)
Self-Defense Forces
The Self-Defense Forces are a human military faction that will attack Godzilla. Helicopters, tanks, and jets will spawn in the Destruction Stages and deal damage to Godzilla, stunning him and interrupting the charging of his energy gauge. In the Haneda Destruction Stage, ASTOL-MB93 Maser Attack Aircraft appear in place of helicopters. Additionally, multiple large missiles are fired at Godzilla throughout the Haneda Destruction Stage.
Ending
The ending cinematic picks up after the final battle with Destoroyah. It begins with air rising up from the ground, which later turns into the Self-Defense Forces shooting at Godzilla until he is seemingly defeated. Godzilla then charges at the screen and opens his mouth before the screen turns black and the credits begin.
Release
The game was released only in Japan on December 23, 1999 and is the second of only two Godzilla games on the Dreamcast.
Reviews
Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact was given generally more positive reviews than its predecessor. The graphics were improved with more detailed textures but still suffering from "bad fogging and draw-in". IGN describes the music as "classic Godzilla fare", explaining the music and sound design are greatly improved from the previous game. The gameplay is criticized for being slow and not giving much control to the player. A common complaint is the "lock on" feature not being effective as the game requires the player to still aim their attacks in addition to locking in on an enemy. IGN gave the game a "painful" score of 2.5, saying that while the game is better than the original, only a "super obsessive fan" would play past the first few levels.[1]
Gallery
- Main article: Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact/Gallery.
Trivia
- The bosses in this game appear in the order of the movies they appeared in.
- The boss designs are based on concept art for the Heisei films.
- The Super X appears in the opening cutscene for the game. Additionally, it reappears in the loading screen for the Super X III Boss Stage.
References
This is a list of references for Godzilla Generations: Maximum Impact. These citations are used to identify the reliable sources on which this article is based. These references appear inside articles in the form of superscript numbers, which look like this: [1]
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