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A side-scrolling dream come true

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 8 / 8
Date: May 27, 2001
Author: Amazon User

There's a reason why this game is held in such high regard among true blue shooter fans. Einhander has the trappings of a legendary game within its genre. Dazzling graphics, tight control, outstanding music and sounds, and a strong variety of weapons. They're all here, but that's not where the fun stops. There's also an art gallery that grows as the quality of your performance increases and an intriguing story, much different from the usual "an evil alien empire wants to destroy humanity, let's send one fighter pilot to stop all 500,000,000 of them" fare. In Einhander, you're on a suicide mission and you're painfully aware of it. Beautiful!

Einhander's visuals are beyond reproach. The backgrounds are vibrant and detailed without being garish or distracting, especially stage five. Ship designs are cool all around, and every enemy, from the mightiest boss to the lowliest peon, goes out in a blaze of glory when you destroy it, instead of merely blinking out of existence or disappearing in a bland red puff.

On the audio front, the sound effects are excellent. Launching rockets, shattering neon signs, and, of course, explosions. All well done. The intentionally emotionless female voice that addresses you after each stage is very credible, and the German commands you hear during boss encounters lend a terrific sense of atmosphere to the game. Moody and catchy techno tunes provide the musical backdrop and, for the most part, complement the corresponding areas perfectly. The operatic female vocals at the beginning of stage one clash very effectively with the destruction that ensues and let you know your ears are in for a treat from the start. And, the music for the sixth stage end boss (after the rocket with the time limit) is so rousing, you won't even care when he kills you 20 times in a row.

Eight special weapons are readily available and there's something for every taste, from the heat-seeking Wasp ("You can run, but you can't hide!") to the lightsaber-like Blade ("I don't need no Force to kick your sorry butt!") to the no-nonsense, wallop-packing Cannon ("JUST DIE!!!!"). Plus, there are four others (each a sort of variation on one of the ubiquitous eight) hidden throughout the game.

Einhander's developers hit the nail squarely on the head (pun absolutely intended) where the challenge level is concerned. The game can get pretty rough, but it's the GOOD kind of rough. No shields or defensive power-ups are available (one of the game's very few flaws) so one hit will kill you, but it has to be solid, direct impact. Enemy bullets that travel at 2 MPH and just barely graze the little ball on the top of your radio antenna don't count. The last two bosses are tough to beat, and some of the earlier ones aren't exactly a cake walk either, but the only one that I think crosses the line between "challenging" and "frustrating" is the robotic ape mid-way through stage five. Oh, how I despise that banana-chewing abomination!

You get three lives per credit and nine continues for a total of 30 lives, though you'll earn an extra life or two along the way when you attain a certain score. However, there is one point in the game...the rocket you approach from behind...where, if you fail to defeat it within the given time limit, it's GAME OVER no matter how many lives or continues you have left! So, unless you want to see the "bad" (or should I say "worse"?) ending, I'd advise you to get yourself killed if it looks like you're not gonna get the job done in time. Then, you'll get another shot at it.

If proof was ever needed that 2-D games can still be plenty of fun, Einhander is that proof. I revel in the fact that it outshines many more modernized games on all fronts despite the old-fashioned 2-D gameplay. The only exception is the Wasp missile being able to seek and destroy on-screen enemies that have yet to align with your ship (and certain objects in the background, too...that's a hint). Some might complain about the lack of a two-player mode, but in my opinion the gloomy suicide mission aspect of the game would be jeopardized if it weren't played solo. With three ships to select from and no shortage of secrets (including two additional ships), the replay value is strong, but even if that weren't the case, you'd want to play it again and again anyway, because it's crafted with such tender, loving care and, on many levels, it's flawless. I have no qualms about calling Einhander one of the all-time great games for the PlayStation. Square would be well advised to re-release it (along with Final Fantasy Tactics and Xenogears). Don't hesitate to grab a copy if you come across one, as I for one am NOT selling mine!

Alloy Butterfly

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 3
Date: May 27, 2002
Author: Amazon User

Einhander is the most impressive game in its class. Awesome graphics coupled with a fantastic array of weapons, arcade style handling, and outstanding, challenging objectives make it THE first choice for anyone interested in aerial combat.

The Einhander ship is a blue, jet-propelled weapons-handler that looks similar to a butterfly. The reason it's called Einhander? It has gunpods. "Einhander" in German means "one hand." In addition to its mounted machine gun, it has gunpods capable of taking on up to three special weapons. A few of these: Wasp, a compact and effective guided-missile launcher, Vulcan, a gatling gun capable of extreme rates of projectile discharge, and a devestating cannon.

This is a game you have to see for yourself. Unfortunately, I haven't seen it at any local video stores, but you can trust my words: This game is worth it. Buy it, borrow it, whatever. Give this game a try.

PSX Classic

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 3 / 5
Date: September 25, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Hands down, the best side scrolling shooter ever. I still play this on my PS2. You know a game is a classic when no stores can get it and people are selling it used for $....

Legendary Shooter

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 2 / 2
Date: November 03, 2002
Author: Amazon User

This game breath-taking graphics, superb detail and lots of interesting features. This game is also crampacked with loads of
awesome mouth-watering action and adventure, also with the fact that there is exactly 12 awesome weapons and 3 sleek designed fighters for complete anilhation and don't stop there for there is 2 more radical fighters such as a police car from the first level. Features include: 3 difficulty modes, a 100-picture gallery, 5 file options, 5 fighter selections, 12 weapon choices,
and 4 configure options.

THE must own game

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: February 12, 2001
Author: Amazon User

This game is the best! I can't tell you how great it is! There are 12 weapons to equip your ship with,7 of which you have to unlock. There 3 ships in the beginning and to extra ones. The graphics are superb, with explosions everywhere and not a hint of slowdown.The only thing this game lacks is a 2 player mode, but it's still a perfect game in every way. YOU MUST BUY THIS GAME!

This game is beautiful!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: October 11, 2001
Author: Amazon User

I had played the demo of Einhander before I bought it, and was hooked from the start. The battles with the bosses are incredible, and when you're going through them the first time, they're rather unpredictable (even reading an FAQ didn't totally prepare me for what I was getting into!) I love the graphics and the music (I highly recommend hunting down the soundtrack, composed by Kenichiro Fukui.) I'm so glad I bought this game (wish it was still available so others can have the chance to play it) and I'm not giving up my copy for anything!

Eat your heart out space invaders

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: January 08, 2003
Author: Amazon User

I'm 30 and miss the days of glory when arcade shooters ruled the world. This game seduces you with its kick butt graphics and outstanding game play. It is all you could every want from a shooter, except 2 player option, I would never sell my copy to anyone and will probably play this game when I'm 60. If you like Raiden, you will adore this game.

Shooter Bliss

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: June 06, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Rating: A+
You would honestly think that any game made by Square, in the era right after they relesed Final Fantasy Seven would have gotten more recognition than this game did, but unfortunately it did not, easily becoming an underground type sensation that few could argue, is not only one of the classic shoot-em-ups on the Playstation, but one of the best Side scrolling shooters of all time. Taking place in the all too distant future, we find ourselves jumping into the helm of three vastly different ships, which upon receiving different weapons, mount themselves on your ship in different ways depending upon which ship you have chosen. Each level is vastly different from the next, and each boss requires a methodical and increasing harder approach to defeat it, learning the patterns and timings of each boss is a must if you even want to get past the third level. With secrets galore and 2 unlockable ships (if memory serves me correct), the game is loaded to the rims with extras that will keep you glued to your tv for hours, wondering how in the hell this game is so addicting. Well in one sense the exceedingly difficult gameplay, drives you to want to see what the next level has to offer, while the actual process of figuring out the best route through each stage, while acquiring the best weapons to be used against each boss comes down to a science, and literally you have to become "One" with the controller, and basically let your senses take over, as this is probably right up there with Contra: Shattered Soldiers in terms of overall difficulty. But let me tell you the second you step foot into the final stage in the midst of an all out war against you, and only you, this game turns the world on you as you battle in space and fight off against one of the hugest RoboTech inspired bosses ever. Phenomenal music accompanies this blissful experience, as the pounding techno music even made me import the soundtrack from Japan, as I just could not get enough of the game and its music. It is unfortanate that the game never really made the waves it should have stateside, as I'm sure Square's reluctant to release a sequel, due to the games lackluster sales, but then again it just moves it right up there with Radiant Silvergun (probably THE best shooter of all time), in terms of one of those games you mention to someone, and there either like "What game?" or "Oh my friggin' God that game is so amazing." Praobably one of the best games you've never heard about or will get a chance to play, good luck finding it, and even greater luck trying to master it and beat it. Impeccable.

WoW!!

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 3
Date: August 17, 2001
Author: Amazon User

Yes! WoW!! Don't be fooled by the first few levels, the intense dodging comes in the second half. If you have a gameshark or any cheating device, DOUBLE CANON ROcks!!

The Second Greatest Game Ever.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 0
Date: February 15, 2006
Author: Amazon User

Why is "Einhander" the second greatest game ever made for any system? It has some of the best game-play, depth, sound FX, fun-factor, presentation and replay value. For more detail, please see my review of "F-Zero GX" where I compare and contrast these two amazing games with some other great console games.

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