Gradius vs Trevor McFur – Saving the Universe Your Way

Two Schmup Classics..? Does Trevor McFur stand a chance in the (crescent) galaxy?

Gradius III is an exceptional side scrolling shoot ’em up (shmup) that has a well deserved reputation due to how incredible it is. Music is outstanding. Each song is iconic, fits the mood of each stage, and are incredibly complex for what the SNES was capable of. The levels are all very distinct and have great variety, are vibrant, and a pleasure to look at. Power-ups are very satisfying and strategic in approach. The player has to carefully consider whether a shield to prevent the one hit kills takes precedence over weapon upgrades; the brave versus the reserved. The game rewards persistence and strategic planning, as it is quite difficult, but definitely satisfying if you can complete it. Everything about this game is so well-balanced, and carefully orchestrated, making it an absolute pleasure to play.

Since I do not own an Atari Jaguar, nor do I ever plan on owning one, I am not going to be able to write about this game based on playing it. But when Bruiser, the commander of the Leftover Culture Review HQ asks that we look at a game, we take that suggestion to heart. He even looked at this game a couple years back. However, I based this article on this longplay of the game, not his review. The graphics seem alright, but rather funky and obtuse in spite of the contrast and detail. Music doesn’t exist. Supposedly this is something that the Jaguar often stuggled with. There is a comment in the linked video that references how the Jaguar version of Doom has the entire soundtrack in its code, but it would make the game glitch too much, so it is not present during gameplay. Powerups don’t seem very satisfying. Finally, there doesn’t seem to be much strategy used to get through these redundant levels. I imagine deaths come due to players being caught off guard from boredom, rather than due to challenge like in Gradius.

Don’t get me wrong, lacking difficulty isn’t always a bad thing, as I seem to be eluding to. Take another side scrolling shmup called Parodius. I recently received a copy of Gokujō Parodius Da! Deluxe Pack (I can’t read Japanese, that’s what I am told the name is), which is one of the many games in the Parodius series. The name is not coincidentally close in name to Gradius, the title combines the words parody and Gradius to arrive at that. The Parodius game I referenced has a lot of great qualities: vibrant levels, a number of characters, an exceptional sountrack, hilarious bosses, there are so many wonderful features. But much like Trevor McFur, this game is quite easy. The first time I played Parodius I was able to beat it. I put the difficulty up and tried a different character, only to beat it again (the level after the credits had me use a few continues mind you). I didn’t mind how easy the game was, since everything else about the game was so exceptional. I couldn’t help but want to play it again and experience the wonderful adventure again and again. Trevor McFur just seems like a chore to even finish, probably the opposite reason as to why you play games in the first place.

 

But, depending on your mood, this may be one of the aspects that can make Trevor McFur a superior game when compared to Gradius III. Imagine you are sick in bed, you have nothing to do all day, except for maybe what some movies and play some games. When you are sick, there is no way you’re going to be able to devote the attention and care needed in order to beat Gradius III, the game is brutally difficult. Unless you are a shmup lord, Gradius III won’t be beaten even in the best of conditions. It requires so much dedication.

Trevor McFur on the other hand, players can go through so passively. The lacking music and necessity to play with such care would make this perfect to play when you’re not at your best. It probably would feel good to escape your sickness and be able to immerse yourself in a game that can actually be beaten.

So if you’re not feeling up to beating Gradius, but you want to relax and play a shmup, maybe Trevor McFur is your kind of game. Being easy isn’t a bad thing when saving the universe is the task at hand. That’s a pretty daunting task, why not make things easier on yourself?