A vastly improved mapping system shows the location of the player's ship and key landmarks, as well as letting him set his own courses. The five ship views are actually useful, the new weapons system gives players complete control, and even Skylar, the ship's computer, is much less obnoxious than before. Plain shaded polygons are used on the terrain and landscape, while buildings, enemies, and installations are rendered with animated and static texture-mapped polygons. Scrolling and screen refresh is fast and smooth, while special effects dotted throughout the game add to the appeal. Finally, a few full-motion video sequences are briefly used, complimenting the game without being tiresome over time.
Sound effects are nice, though there's nothing spectacular.
Explosions, weapons, and the War Griffon's engines tend to dominate, and chimes are used when items are recovered or devices are activated. Best is the unintrusive music, ranging from soft rock to New Age to ominous drumbeats. The tunes change according to where the player is, and they're all nicely done and welcome. Summary Battlemorph is a wonderful sequel to Cybermorph , building on the ideas of the original with much more diversity and depth. Complex worlds, detailed layouts, and top-notch graphics and music make this a game that quickly draws the player into its own reality.