Give this one a chance
This game does not present itself in a super-flashy, flamboyant way. Okay, maybe it starts off a LITTLE dramatically (the opening scene), but once you begin the first level, you'll notice that you only take control of a cop armed with a handgun.
Once you complete the first two stages, THEN you get the super-cool cyber suit, compatible with some awesome weapons. Reminds me a bit of Robocop, but I never noticed that till someone else ponted that out (the blond main character resembles Peter Weller).
What makes this game such a classic is its simplicity, and at the same time, its difficulty. I mean, I've only beat the whole thing on "Easy", on my VERY last life. It becomes addicting because you want to push on and fight the bigger, badder bosses in the later levels; the game keeps you wondering what's next.
GRAPHICS: 7/10
Being an early Genesis title, "Eswat" doesn't push the system to its limits. However, it doesn't contain cheesy, grainy, pixelated graphics, either. The sprites animate well, though they are not terrible fluid. The bosses are absolutely HUGE, which is a big bonus. The attacks look nice and bright. Also, the backgrounds help to create a dark, unpredictable atmosphere.
SOUND: 8/10
Much of the sound effects and music sounds VERY similar to "The Revenge of Shinobi", another earlier Genesis title. That doesn't surprise me, both being made by the same company around the same time. The sound effects sound OK; nothing particularly special, but not terrible. The music helps to keep up the pace of the game, and the boss music is nothing short of catchy. In fact, you'll probably catch yourself humming it after playing the game a few times.
DIFFICULTY: 9/10 (HARD)
This is one of the Genesis' harder titles, which just makes it more interesting, despite the fact that a few later levels (and bosses) will, pardon my French, piss you off. However, after a few tries, you'll eventually get the hang of it and maybe even enjoy the sometimes unforgiving boss fights. If you think you are a hard-core old-school gamer, challenge yourself on the "Hard" mode!!! I dare you to!!!
GAMEPLAY/ CONTROLS: 8/10
The gameplay is mostly pretty simple, especially in the first two stages. Basically, you walk from left to right, blasting any baddies you come across, and make it to the boss, hoping to destroy him (or it). However, there is some depth to the stages. For example, in Stage 5, there are a few "flying" sections where you must use your jetpack to fly to your target, all while trying to conserve fuel, kill flying enemies, and dodge electrified floors. Simple gameplay combined with very challenging bosses equals lots of old-school fun!!!!
OVERALL: 8/10 (NOT AN AVERAGE)
In conclusion, I thought this game was severely underrated, making it even MORE enjoyable because it was never overhyped or over-advertised. The rich-yet-simplistic gameplay, coped with an intimidating difficulty and some catchy tunes makes this game a must-buy for old-school games, and anyone who appreciates a hefty challenge.
Check around for it!!!