A great strategy game with an exciting pace
User Rating: 9 | Herzog Zwei GEN
Herzog Zwei is a very unique mix of game-play styles, especially for a game released in the early era of the Sega Genesis, a console whose software library at the time was composed by-in-large of platformers and two-dimensional shooters. (Oh how I dearly miss those days) Herzog Zwei instead is an action-oriented real-time strategy game/top-down shooter hybrid, and one of the biggest sleeper titles that is on offer for Sega Genesis. The game is developed by Technosoft, who is best known for their exemplary Thunder Force shooter series. Game-play/Play-mechanics: Herzog Zwei is comprised of eight stages, the objective in each stage is to destroy the base that is on the opposite side diagonally from you on the square play-field. The map area is pretty large so the distance between the two bases is vast. The player is able to use funds to deploy various kinds of units to defend the base and also to attempt to capture neutral sites, which can then be used for further deployment. In the process, the player directly controls a jet fighter which can transform into a ground-mech. The computer opponent has all of the same units as you do, including the jet/mech, if your or the computers jet is destroyed, than it returns to the base for a backup, which allows for valuable time to conduct operations undisrupted. The main goal is to capture neutral and enemy bases and deploy your units to destroy the opponents home base; only the units can inflict damage on the base, not the jet/mech that the player directly controls, the player can only damage the individual enemy units and the opposing jet/mech, so it is necessary to position and organize units properly to attain success. Once the basics are learned, the menus are very user-friendly, and the main jet controls just like a good 2D shooter. There is a variety of terrain to deal with from stage to stage which keeps the game-play fresh, and as a two-player game Herzog Zwei is a great time. Herzog Zwei is very accessible as a strategy game since the action is up-tempo and nothing takes all that long to accomplish, so the game moves at an exciting pace.
Visuals/Artwork: Herzog Zwei has a very clean look going for it, and a variety of colorful backdrops and environments on display. The visuals do not push the Genesis on a technical level but as strategy games go Herzog Zwei has an attractive presentation. There are also a handful of still screens used for game-endings which are very artistic and in the style of fine paintings.
Music/Sound: I don’t believe that there has ever been a game made by Technosoft that had anything less than outstanding music, and Herzog Zwei is one of their finer efforts from a music-composition standpoint. The game is full of upbeat and head-bobbing melodies, mainly done in the style of heavy, stylized techno. The excellent soundtrack makes it very easy to keep coming back to the game and contributes to the games’ considerable replay value. Herzog Zwei is one of the most enjoyable strategy games for a 16-bit console, and it has long reached the status of being a timeless classic.
