Squaresoft did a great job of adding replay value to this game. I guess if you really enjoy spending more time watching cut-scenes than playing the game, you should add 15 points to the score because you will love this game. Granted, the cut-scenes were very well done and were an integral piece in moving the story along but I just found my attention drifting away. It is very difficult to get into the flow of the game when you have a two to three minute fight sequence and then stop and watch a five minute cut scene before another two to three minute fight sequence. Cut-scenes are okay if they are used sparingly however, The Bouncer is more cut-scenes than fighting. The fighting portion of the game was pretty fun but here is my knock on The Bouncer: the cut-scenes. The game would choose which enemy to attack for you, which could be troublesome from time to time. My only complaint with the fight sequences was that there was no way to lock onto a particular enemy. I was really impressed with the variety of moves available and loved the RPG element of opening up new moves as well.
Each of the three bouncers has a different set of moves but they all have standard punch and kick attacks. There are a number of bad guys on the screen and you engage them in hand-to-hand combat. Like I mentioned above, the fighting is very reminiscent of Final Fight or Double Dragon. This is all great but I have yet to answer the question of how the fighting actually plays. Unfortunately, they were only a minor detour and you join up with the other bouncers in short order. These branches were actually the best part of the game because they tended to be more action and fewer cut-scenes. As you progress through the game, the story does branch out for a short time where you are the only bouncer playing. You control the bouncer you select and the computer controls the other two. The majority of the fights have all three bouncers involved. This character growth added an RPG element to the game, which was a very welcome addition. The required amount of Bouncer points goes up each time you raise a core stat requiring more points to raise the skill the next time. These Bouncer points are accumulated until you have the required amount to advance your core stats or learn new moves. During the fights, as you kill enemies, you are awarded Bouncer points. One of the best features of the game was the ability to advance your character's core stats (life, power, and defense) as well as learn new moves. Each of them has different moves, attack power, amount of life, and defensive abilities. The cut-scenes are movies that are used to drive the story forward.Īs each fight scene starts, you are given the option to pick which of the three bouncers you want to use in that particular fight. The fight scenes are reminiscent of the old classic games like Final Fight or Double Dragon. Basically, as I've outlined, this mode can be broken up into two very distinct categories: fight scenes and cut-scenes. Enter another area, pick a bouncer, fight a few more bad guys, then watch a lengthy cut-scene. After dispatching the relatively easy bad guys, you'll watch another lengthy cut-scene furthering the story. You have the choice of which bouncer you want to control and use to fight the sequence. You will fight your way through evil dogs, robots, special agents, and other enemies until you get your chance to fight the head of the Mikado corporation and stop him from unleashing his true plans.Īfter watching a lengthy cut-scene setting up the story, the game begins with Mikado's special agents kidnapping the girl and leaving behind a few minions of evil to try to take out the three bouncers. Along the way, you will discover why Mikado is so interested in this girl. Meanwhile, Mikado's special forces kidnap a girl at a local bar and it is up to the three bouncers of the bar to rescue her and foil the evil plot. It seems the Mikado Corporation has created a satellite system that will convert harmful space energy into useful energy on the planet. The storyline has a very Squaresoft theme to it, taking place in a futuristic setting. The bad news is that it could have been so much more than it ended up. The good news is that The Bouncer is a step in the right direction. With the release of Driving Emotion Type-S and now The Bouncer, it appears that they are taking the steps necessary to ensure that they are not labeled a one-trick pony. Squaresoft is one of the greatest videogame companies of all time, having virtually redefined the entire RPG genre.
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