So for whatever reason you've stumbled across this site, read about the HyperScan, and now burn with a fiery desire to own this weird little game system or to gift it to a friend or loved one (after all, who wouldn't like to get a poorly reviewed video game system as a present? That's what I thought!). But you have a problem--Mattel stopped making the HyperScan back in 2007.
What to do, what to do?
Unless you own a time machine--and if you do, let's be honest, you probably don't need a HyperScan for entertainment--you'll have to turn to the Web. Both Amazon and eBay have an assortment of HyperScan consoles, controllers, games, and game cards for sale. A lot of what you'll find is used, naturally, but it's not impossible to find new items. In fact, I just bought some Spider-Man game cards that came new in the box.
A word of warning, though: Some eBay sellers will try to up the price by claiming the HyperScan is "rare." It's not that rare, and you shouldn't spend a ton of money for the system or games. On Amazon, it's listed new at somewhere around $25, which I consider a reasonable price; you can pay even less if you buy used.
The only exception is the Spider-Man game, as it is legitimately a bit hard to find and therefore worth more money. Even so, don't spend more than $40 or so on it.
Happy shopping!
This is an online space for fans of Mattel's HyperScan video game
console. The HyperScan was introduced in 2006 and discontinued in 2007.
Spider-Man is mine! Mua ha ha ha!
Snagged a copy of Spider-Man off eBay and am now waiting for the booster pack of cards I ordered separately. My HyperScan game library is complete!
I haven't played it nearly enough to give even an abbreviated review, but I have played enough to say whether it meets my main criterion for a Spider-Man game: is it fun to web swing? And the answer is yes. It's very, very fun to web swing.
Actual review coming soon!
I haven't played it nearly enough to give even an abbreviated review, but I have played enough to say whether it meets my main criterion for a Spider-Man game: is it fun to web swing? And the answer is yes. It's very, very fun to web swing.
Actual review coming soon!
The big question: Why?
Why do I have a HyperScan? Why did I go through the effort of setting up a blog all about this flash-in-the-pan console?
The short version: Heck if I know. The longer version: I blame Virtual Boy.
When I was but a wee pup, in the winter of '95, I received a Virtual Boy as my big Christmas present. I remember that I'd seen them in the stores before then and thought they looked cool, but I don't remember if I'd specifically asked for one. At any rate, I got my parents to set it up and started playing immediately.
Virtual reality! Nifty!
It was very mid 1990s. Oh, how foolish we were.
But I digress. I liked the system fine but never fell in love with it the way I had with my NES and Super Nintendo. Fortunately, I never had the headache or eye strain issues that some gamers had, but I did experience what was for me the main problem with the system--it was too big to be portable, and it was too self-contained for more than one person. I was used to my entire family gathering 'round the old t.v. to play a game or sometimes just watch one person play; you couldn't do that with the Virtual Boy.
I played it on and off through the year and eventually sold the system when I was in grad school and (1) had no money and (2) had no free time to play games anyways. But owning and playing and defending and, even, not hating a system such as the Virtual Boy does something to you. Like root for the underdog. Like seek out the obscure and the notorious.
Like want to buy a HyperScan.
The short version: Heck if I know. The longer version: I blame Virtual Boy.
When I was but a wee pup, in the winter of '95, I received a Virtual Boy as my big Christmas present. I remember that I'd seen them in the stores before then and thought they looked cool, but I don't remember if I'd specifically asked for one. At any rate, I got my parents to set it up and started playing immediately.
Virtual reality! Nifty!
It was very mid 1990s. Oh, how foolish we were.
But I digress. I liked the system fine but never fell in love with it the way I had with my NES and Super Nintendo. Fortunately, I never had the headache or eye strain issues that some gamers had, but I did experience what was for me the main problem with the system--it was too big to be portable, and it was too self-contained for more than one person. I was used to my entire family gathering 'round the old t.v. to play a game or sometimes just watch one person play; you couldn't do that with the Virtual Boy.
I played it on and off through the year and eventually sold the system when I was in grad school and (1) had no money and (2) had no free time to play games anyways. But owning and playing and defending and, even, not hating a system such as the Virtual Boy does something to you. Like root for the underdog. Like seek out the obscure and the notorious.
Like want to buy a HyperScan.
Mini personal review: Ben 10
Ben 10 is a 2D side scrolling platformer based on the cartoon series of the same name and, among a game library filled with fighters and beat-'em-ups, this game stands out due to its different genre. I'm a huge platformer fan, so it's little surprise that Ben 10 is my favorite of the four games I've played (still waiting to get my hands on Spider-Man).
What I like: It's got more in-depth game play. You're jumping, running, fighting, and solving puzzles to complete each level. Plus, there are several different levels, with different visuals and bad guys and game objectives. The background visuals have a nice cartoony look to them. Also, the Ben 10 theme song is a really catchy bit of retro-style surf rock.
What I don't like: Constant card scanning. Ben morphs into different aliens throughout any given game level, and you have to scan the character card for each time you want him to morph. Unless the console and its scanner is placed right next to you, it can get tedious. Also, while the background visuals look pretty good, Ben himself (and other characters) look pretty blurry. Last but by no means least, the game controls are pretty inconsistent and unforgiving--you'll suffer a fair number of cheap deaths from falling down bottomless pits because the game doesn't think you jumped exactly right even though you're pretty sure you did jump exactly right.
Even given the draw backs, though, I've had a lot of fun playing through this game, and I definitely think it has the highest replay value of the four I've gotten my hands on so far.
What I like: It's got more in-depth game play. You're jumping, running, fighting, and solving puzzles to complete each level. Plus, there are several different levels, with different visuals and bad guys and game objectives. The background visuals have a nice cartoony look to them. Also, the Ben 10 theme song is a really catchy bit of retro-style surf rock.
What I don't like: Constant card scanning. Ben morphs into different aliens throughout any given game level, and you have to scan the character card for each time you want him to morph. Unless the console and its scanner is placed right next to you, it can get tedious. Also, while the background visuals look pretty good, Ben himself (and other characters) look pretty blurry. Last but by no means least, the game controls are pretty inconsistent and unforgiving--you'll suffer a fair number of cheap deaths from falling down bottomless pits because the game doesn't think you jumped exactly right even though you're pretty sure you did jump exactly right.
Even given the draw backs, though, I've had a lot of fun playing through this game, and I definitely think it has the highest replay value of the four I've gotten my hands on so far.
Mini personal review: X-Men
I've decided to begin a series of mini-reviews of the HyperScan games and other components of the system. Today I'll be covering X-Men, the game that came packaged with the console.
Of the four games I've seen and played (all but Spider-Man so far), X-Men far and away looks the best. While the other games feature graphics roughly on par or slightly superior to the Super NES,X-Men looks about equivalent or slightly superior to the PS1. Music is so-so; it's vaguely trance. Gameplay is about average--I didn't notice any significant delay or difficulties, especially in comparision to the other available HyperScan titles.
You can play in a tournament, train in the Danger Room, or play against a friend. If you play against a friend, you'll want to check your character cards before you get to the match--I ended up choosing a much higher level character card when I played against my partner, and it wasn't a fair fight at all.
Of the four games I've seen and played (all but Spider-Man so far), X-Men far and away looks the best. While the other games feature graphics roughly on par or slightly superior to the Super NES,X-Men looks about equivalent or slightly superior to the PS1. Music is so-so; it's vaguely trance. Gameplay is about average--I didn't notice any significant delay or difficulties, especially in comparision to the other available HyperScan titles.
You can play in a tournament, train in the Danger Room, or play against a friend. If you play against a friend, you'll want to check your character cards before you get to the match--I ended up choosing a much higher level character card when I played against my partner, and it wasn't a fair fight at all.
Short version? If you played and liked Mortal Kombat, you'll probably like X-Men. (The game even includes finishing moves on the cards, ala Mortal Kombat.) Plus, this game is the best that anything's ever looked on the HyperScan.
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