An isometric shooter with gorgeous steampunk looks and tense coop play. A genuinely atypical SNES success.
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Category
Action1 player12+
Description
Cooperative shoot-'em-up with two adventurers battling enemies across varied settings. Published by Beam Software, released in the USA in 1994. Two simultaneous players, multidirectional shooting and varied power-ups. American version of The Bitmap Brothers' Chaos Engine game.
The US edition of the Bitmap Brothers' Chaos Engine, handled by Beam Software and issued in an NTSC run notably larger than the PAL one. The isometric steampunk classic keeps its charm, but the US version never carried the cult weight it holds in Europe, the studio's home. The loose cartridge stays common; interest centres on a pristine complete copy or a graded sealed one, the clean US cardboard box holding most of the value.
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A run and gun from the Bitmap Brothers, The Chaos Engine plunges two mercenaries into a Victorian steampunk world of gorgeously detailed metallic settings. The game shines in co-op, with its multidirectional aiming, intricate level design and unique industrial atmosphere. The high difficulty and a slightly stiff pad handling call for perseverance. A great name in European action gaming, to recommend for fans of two player run and gun and of the Bitmap Brothers aesthetic.
