Jet Force Gemini
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| Jet Force Gemini | |
|---|---|
 Corrected version of the NA release cover. |
|
| Developer(s) | Rare |
| Publisher(s) | Rare |
| Engine | Enhanced Diddy Kong Racing |
| Release date(s) | NA October 11, 1999 EUR November 2, 1999 JPN December 1, 1999 |
| Genre(s) | Third-person shooter |
| Mode(s) | Single player, multiplayer |
| Rating(s) | ESRB: Teen (T) |
| Platform(s) | Nintendo 64 |
| Media | 64-megabit cartridge |
Jet Force Gemini, or Star Twins (スタ・ツインズ?) in Japan, is a science fiction third-person shooter game for the Nintendo 64 developed and published by Rare that was released on October 11, 1999. The single-player mode consists of several levels in which the player assumes the role of the Jet Force Gemini as they try to stop the evil plans of the bug dictator Mizar. The game is unique in that it employs the rare cooperative style of gameplay, where two can play the story mode at once. Multiplayer modes can be unlocked, including the traditional death-match and survival matches. Also available in multiplayer are racing games, as well as the firing range mode, which is similar to a rail shooter game. Jet Force Gemini shares elements with platform games, first person shooters, and run and gun games.
Contents |
[edit] Main characters
- Juno — The first playable character. A human male whose parents were killed by space pirates who invaded his home station. He has the ability to walk through magma safely. He is named after 3 Juno, the third asteroid to be discovered by humans.
- Vela — Juno's twin sister and the second playable character. She has the ability to survive in water indefinitely. She is named after the constellation Vela.
- Lupus — the third playable character. The twins' wardog who is outfitted with a gun mounted on his armored back and jets on his feet that allow him to hover for a short period of time. He is named after the constellation Lupus. Later in the game he's fitted with something that seems to be a small tank's base.
- Floyd — A robot who used to serve under Mizar before being shot by drones for insubordination. A player using the second controller can control Floyd to assist the first player by shooting an unlimited amount of weak energy blasts, but he must follow the first-controller character.
- Mizar — The ruler of the Drones and the main villain of the game. He is named after Mizar, a star in the constellation Ursa Major.
[edit] Storyline
The game begins with Juno, Vela, and Lupus witnessing an attack on Goldwood by Mizar's forces. Soon afterwards, their spaceship is attacked and invaded by drones. Since they're the last Jet Force ship left (the fleet being destroyed by Mizar), they decide to not to wait for orders and act on their own. The three abandon ship and go off their own separate paths to stop the invasion and confront Mizar. In the beginning, Juno is the only playable character, following a set path towards Mizar's Palace. As the game progresses, Vela's and Lupus' paths to Mizar's Palace can be unlocked, as well as a cooperative mode when the player fixes Floyd. The game progresses as the chracters travel to different planets and spaceships, defeating Mizar's forces.
After reaching Mizar's lair, the three finally confront Mizar and defeat him. However, Mizar escapes to a nearby asteroid, were he sets course to impact with Earth. King Jeff, the leader of the Tribals, can help the Jet Force team by providing an ancient starship that can quickly catch up to Mizar's asteroid. However, the team needs to locate several vital parts scattered throughout the game, as well as rescue all the enslaved Tribals. Also, King Jeff upgrades the characters with Jetpacks that allow the characters to fly, if they can find fuel for witch gives the team new armor. From this point on, the player can play with Juno, Vela, and Lupus on any level. Lupus's armor ia a type of caterpillar tracked vehicle. The armor removes all damage from falls, can float with pontoons and keeps the ability to fly.
After all the Tribals are rescued, and the parts found, the Jet Force team, along with King Jeff, goes to Mizar's asteroid. After a rough landing, Juno fights through Mizar's army and finally confronts and defeats Mizar himself (who is actually a robot controlled by King Jeff's brother, Barry). However, to save Earth, Floyd sacrifices himself to destroy the asteroid. Afterwards on Earth, the Jet Force team are honored for their accomplishments.
[edit] Development
Juno and Vela were originally designed as younger and more child-like. They were later changed to their more mature versions. However, a similar set of childish models can still be played with via an in-game cheat.
Jet Force Gemini does not support the 4MB Expansion Pak, although Rare had considered the possibility.[1] This lead to some confusion as the box cover for the original release stated that it did support the Expansion Pak. Nintendo provided a quick-fix to the mislabeled covers by providing stickers declaring its rumble pak compatibility and fixed later printings of the boxes.[2]
Jet Force Gemini was originally planned for release on August 31, 1999, but was pushed back to September 27 in order to give the programmers time to polish up the game.[3] It was then pushed back even further to October 11 due to manufacturing delays.[4]
Jet Force Gemini was localized as Star Twins in Japan due to Nintendo's opinion that "Jietto Fōsu Jieminai" (the Japanese pronouciation) was too hard to pronouce.[5]
4Kids Entertainment obtained the rights to merchandising both Jet Force Gemini and Perfect Dark toys, movies, and other recreational products, but nothing seems to have been done with the deal.[6]
[edit] Critical response
Jet Force Gemini generally good reviews from critics, but not as high as Rare's other N64 shooters: GoldenEye 007 and Perfect Dark. IGN gave Jet Force Gemini an 8.1/10, earning it an Editor's Choice award.[7] GameSpot gave the game a 'great' review of 8.8/10.[8] It has an overall score of 8.3/10 at Gamestats.com.[9]
[edit] Trivia
- All of the main characters' names (except Floyd's) are related to astronomy.
- Floyd was originally named Pyxis, the Compass of the celestial Argo, but his name was changed because Rare thought "Floyd the Droid" was amusing. Floyd is also the name of the player's robot sidekick in the game Planetfall.
- The game was much more cartoon-like in its first stages of development. The characters had large heads and were young children.
- Mr. Pants (who appears hidden in the game) is a Rareware inside-joke of sorts; an informal symbol of Rare.
- At one point in the game two large interlocking rings are visible. This is probably an homage to Diddy Kong Racing where this symbol first appeared.
[edit] References
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/067/067176p1.html
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/071/071167p1.html
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/068/068517p1.html
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/069/069415p1.html
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/071/071299p1.html
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/074/074253p1.html
- ^ http://ign64.ign.com/articles/153/153862p1.html
- ^ http://www.gamespot.com/n64/action/jetforcegemini/review.html
- ^ http://www.gamestats.com/objects/003/003862/
[edit] External links
- Nintendo.com information
- DMOZ.org directory
- GameFAQs information
- GameRankings information
- GameSpot information
| Banjo-Kazooie games | Banjo-Kazooie • Banjo-Tooie • Grunty's Revenge • Banjo-Pilot • Banjo-Kazooie 3 |
|---|---|
| Battletoads games | Battletoads • Battletoads (Game Gear) • Battletoads & Double Dragon • Battletoads in Battlemaniacs • Super Battletoads |
| Conker games | Conker's Pocket Tales • Conker's Bad Fur Day • Conker: Live & Reloaded |
| Donkey Kong games | Donkey Kong Country / Land • Donkey Kong Country 2 (GBA) / Land 2 • Donkey Kong Country 3 (GBA) / Land III • Donkey Kong 64 • Diddy Kong Racing (DS) |
| Perfect Dark games | Perfect Dark (GBC) • Perfect Dark Zero |
| Killer Instinct games | Killer Instinct • Killer Instinct 2 • Killer Instinct Gold |
| Sabreman games | Sabre Wulf (GBA) • Underwurlde • Knight Lore • Pentagram • Mire Mare |
| Jetman games | Jetpac (Refuelled) • Lunar Jetman • Solar Jetman: Hunt for the Golden Warpship |
| Other games | Blast Corps • GoldenEye 007 • Jet Force Gemini • Star Fox Adventures • Grabbed by the Ghoulies • Kameo: Elements of Power • Viva Piñata • It's Mr. Pants |
