MY BRAINS ARE GOING INTO MY FEEEET

Bienvenidos,

Let's see if I can keep this one short, m'kay? Its a small game and there is only so much to say.

Torus Trooper is a freeware schmup developed by Kenta Cho. The best way I can think to describe it is a cross between F-Zero X and Gyruss. Its goal is simple: get a high score in the two minutes allotted. This period can be extended by defeating bosses and beating levels. You obtain points while going fast and killing stuff; that is really all there is to it. The action takes place on the inside of an endless, undulating tube which you can move laterally about. You have two weapons, the normal spread shot and a charged attack that slows you down but can destroy enemy bullets and gets a combo multiplier. I'll be honest here, I don't actually pay attention to the scoring because it is secondary to the experience.

This is the fastest game I have ever played. When on extreme mode, you can literally go too fast to play. It is fun to see how long you can last going 10,000 km/h, but it won't ever be more than a couple of seconds, if you are lucky. At times it becomes a hypnotic experience, utilizing only wire frame graphics with neon colors. (This is where I would compare it to Rez, if I had played Rez) The music, while not "good," enhances the trance-like tone.

The hit detection is a bit wonky; because the game is so fast, I can't seem to figure out where the vulnerable area is. You will die far less than would appear plausible, with enemy bullets seemingly passing right through your ship. This becomes a problem because when I did die, I could not understand what was different from all the times when I thought I had lost but didn't, and felt cheated.

Still, it is an entertaining, if shallow, diversion and it is difficult to say no to free. Google Torus Trooper for best results and don't forget to GO FAST!

Don't ever give up, my son,
James McCloud