Hyper Iria
 

 

 

  

   "Hyper Iria" is a side-scrolling action title based on the direct-to-video miniseries, "Iria: Zeiram the Anime", which in turn was based on a live-action 80's movie entitled simply "Zeiram". In the original film, a mysterious and deadly alien being crash-lands on the planet Earth, pursued by the female bounty hunter Iria and her computerized partner Bob (a human who's consciousness had to be uploaded to a hologram after his first battle against Zeiram). With no dialogue or known origin, the relentless Zeiram is a wonderfully disturbing villain, able to spawn his own grotesque creatures from stolen genetic material. The anime takes place back in Iria's home galaxy, telling the story of her early days as a hunter and first bout with Zeiram.

 

   True to the anime, the game pits Iria against not only a reoccuring Zeiram, but a whole horde of his slimy, mutant children. Unfortunately, while the game is nice-looking and ocassionally fun, the stages are laid out in senselessly massive, repetitive labyrinths without anything resembling a map to guide your way.

 

 

 

   Punching and kicking are actually Iria's best attacks against most enemies, but she can enter a stage with up to three guns and three types of special equipment, all buyable from the main menu. Though limited in ammunition, guns are invaluable in dispensing bosses, and the various bombs can be amassed by the hundreds with ease.

 

 

   Before each mission, Iria chats with Bob (in Japanese) on her personal flight machine, and will sometimes have to blast her way through swarms of strange flying objects in a shooter sub-game. These objects drop some mildly useful items and occasional cash, but the large, hovering white things can fire an instant-death energy beam.

 

 

   Bob the computer will speak to you (through text) throughout each level, but since I can't read Japanese, I have no idea how helpful he probably is.

 

The Enemies

(Info and official names on mouse-over)

 

Bliey: flies in a wavy pattern, dropping energy balls. Bliey: flies in a wavy pattern, dropping energy balls. Bliey: flies in a wavy pattern, dropping energy balls. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Burb: a cool-looking insectoid with a silly name. Hops and slashes. Jem: an anemone-like crawling thing that spits prickly yellow spheres. Jem: an anemone-like crawling thing that spits prickly yellow spheres Jem: an anemone-like crawling thing that spits prickly yellow spheres Jem: an anemone-like crawling thing that spits prickly yellow spheres Jem: an anemone-like crawling thing that spits prickly yellow spheres Jem: an anemone-like crawling thing that spits prickly yellow spheres

Zolo: very basic, walking enemies.Zolo: very basic, walking enemies. Zolo: very basic, walking enemies. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Drub: more powerful than the Zolo, with a tendancy to charge. Evelul: a basic flying enemy that regularly changes its elevation. Evelul: a basic flying enemy that regularly changes its elevation. Evelul: a basic flying enemy that regularly changes its elevation. Evelul: a basic flying enemy that regularly changes its elevation.

Lieva: a really neat-looking, jumping enemy that can take a lot of damage. Lieva: a really neat-looking, jumping enemy that can take a lot of damage. Lieva: a really neat-looking, jumping enemy that can take a lot of damage. Lieva: a really neat-looking, jumping enemy that can take a lot of damage. Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra" Shag: the most most common enemy, able to both run and jump. A pink variation is called "Spikra"

Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Tobol: rolls around in ball form, then quickly unfurls and attacks! Really cool looking. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Fald: a punching, dashing, laser-firing security drone. Purple ones are called Gimry. Neil: slower, tougher robots with energy cannons. Neil: slower, tougher robots with energy cannons.

 

"Gunts"

 

 

   A tough little enemy that dashes, slashes, leaps and can withstand a ton of damage, the Gunts is either very rare or completely unique, as I encountered one only in a special room of the final stage. It is not, however, an official "boss", since it has no special music and you can still leave the room without killing it. If you look closely, it actually has two mouths, but one is on the other side. Terrible name, though.

 

THE BOSSES

 

 

Mizna

One of two bosses in the same mission, Mizna attacks either by whipping with his retractable tentacle or spitting pellets from his cluster of gooey tongues. SEXY.

 

Agzen

   A monster directly from the anime, the multi-faced Agzen shares its stage with Mizna. It attacks by releasing several killer bouncy-balls before squeezing itself into a larger, equally bouncy ball of death.

 

Obolzo

   My favorite for this game, Obolzo nevertheless makes himself a major pain in the ass. In a stage very nearly as frustrating as the final, you must locate and destroy three of Obolzo's smaller, masked polyps, which creep along the ceilings of three well-hidden storehouses and attack by dropping smaller blobs. When these are defeated, you can backtrack to the area where you first arrived and find a newly unlocked chamber where Obolzo's central mass awaits. An oozing heap with pretty, pretty eyes, it doesn't really do much of anything but sit there and spit energy beams while you're attacked by its last ceiling-blob.

 

Cooderun

   Nothing more than a huge, robotic gun with legs. Cooderun attacks either by shooting or dashing, and occasionally leaps into the air. Nothing special, really.

 

Zeiram I

   Actually the boss of mission one, but you can play the first four missions in any order. This partially-regenerated Zeiram is in transit aboard a starship, having been ordered for use as a weapon. Though unable to move, he can throw fireballs from his fist, shoot from the small barrels in his chest, or attack with tentacles from the floor. When defeated, it will set off the ship's destruct sequence. Ooh, real original, Zeiram.

 

Zeiram II

   Encountered in the same mission as Cooderun, Zeiram will inevitably escape this brief tussle. He attacks with a downward slam, upward slash or a jump-kick depending on where you are.

 

Zeiram III

   After wandering aimlessly through a confusing sewer to reach him, this battle is extremely disappointing. Zeiram will chase you down a long hall and into a small chamber with no exit, but fights exactly like he did in the previous battle with his humanoid form. This time, he'll finally fall to his knees and explode.
 

 

 
 

 

AIM / Yahoo: Scythemantis

Email / MSN: bogleech@hotmail.com

 
1