N2O: Nitrous Oxide

Review

by Skyler Miller

Sometimes you just want to pop in a game and start shooting. No complicated instructions, no fancy movies, no convoluted storylines. You want fast-paced action, and you want it fast.

At such a time, N2O: Nitrous Oxide is just what the doctor ordered. Your mission is simple: Fly a ship called a tunnel runner into "nitrous oxide filled" tubes containing mutated insects such as beetles, mosquitoes, flies and wasps. You've got to rotate around the tubes, stabbing the fire button as fast as you can to destroy the nasty bugs. For each bug you kill, your runner increases in speed.

The tubes themselves are psychedelically multicolored, with ever changing patterns and landscapes. The game's visuals are both relaxing and intense at the same time. The swirling colors and designs are hypnotizing, but the non-stop energy of the game keeps you on your toes. Think Tempest on acid.

Going hand in hand with the visuals is a kickin' soundtrack by The Crystal Method. Their electronic sounds perfectly complement the gameplay, and the music is continuous throughout the game, not even stopping between levels. As a bonus, you can also listen to the disc on a regular CD player.

Another nice aspect of N2O: Nitrous Oxide is the ability to customize your ship. You have the option of tailoring your runner's shape, color and texture to your liking. The shape you select affects the braking and turning speed of your runner, while the color and texture customizations are purely aesthetic.

While the 3D renditions of the bugs are fairly poor and sound effects are almost non-existent, it is the fun gameplay and soundtrack that makes the game worthwhile. It harkens back to a time when there was no such thing as full-motion video or polygon graphics. A game had to grab you in other ways. So, while N2O: Nitrous Oxide is a product of 1998, its heart is unmistakably in the '80s.