Mass Destruction (Sniper)
Genre: Action
Developer: NMS Software
Publisher: ASC Games

Graphics
Unlike the PlayStation version of Mass Destruction, this Saturn rendition runs at 60 frames per second, thanks to the background being drawn by the VDP2 chip. Indeed, the Saturn has no problem rendering a variety of polygonal buildings, windmills, oil drills, and speeding boats, along with some of the coolest looking algorithmic pixel magic explosions ever created, even if the art direction is a tad generic.

Sound
A crystal clear Red Book CD audio soundtrack graces this game, and it delivers a blood pounding techno soundtrack. Like the art, many of the tracks are rather generic, but a few of them do a good job of creating a sombre mood. The game is continuously filled with bullet fire sound effects, and thankfully they aren't grating. The macabre screams and yells of killed soldiers are notably well done.

Gameplay
Take the open stage, objective-oriented levels from the 16-bit "Strike" games, the explosion filled tank action from "Fire Power", mash them together, and you have Mass Destruction! The control scheme works well, with the shift buttons controlling the turret rotation, and the stage and enemy layouts are varied and interesting.

Overall
Mass Destruction accomplishes what it sets out to do, for better or worse: create the single player mode that "Return Fire" should have had. It's definitely "check your brain at the door" territory, although many of the levels are quite challenging in the harder difficulties.

Sniper's verdict: