Preliminary: I wasn't in love with it, but I was already on Round 2 and it was manageable. The first boss was a bit frustrating but a cool design and I figured it out without consulting the StrategyWiki which is nice (tho didn't love the surprise death when it explodes after its first phase heh). I like the voices :-p And the way there are many maps so I can see where more people to save are.

Look: 8/10 And again, I was able to figure out the 2nd boss without any help. Didn't even have to use a savestate. I assume the difficulty level will increase soon. Cool, "gross" bosses.

Sound: 8/10 Functional, neat voice, nothing spectacular but it did show a nice attempt to create an evil alien-y feel

Play: 9/10 Thank goodness there's no friendly fire. I confirmed the Laser was my favorite weapon, tho I initially liked the Look of the flamethrower it wasn't as functional. Yay that some(? all?) of the enemy projectiles can be shot away, I know I always note that but I love when shmups and action games include that. As I also always note, I'm never a fan of time limits in action games. Tho at least this one (as of Round 5, and there's only 6 rounds) allows you to beat the game without worrying about time limits. As for going for all comrades or highest points, that allows for an extra challenge. So I think the time limit factor was done right. It's all quite linear and straightforward, despite acting like it might be a complex space station maze. I never had to refer to the StrategyWiki map even at the end of the game, nor for the boss mechanics. But that's a good thing: it was clear from the Look of the bosses. That doesn't make it "too easy", that means it was made well imo.

Feel: 9/10 Tbh I was just playing to finish: I'd get the necessary number of comrades, not search around for more points or comrades or power-ups, then figure out the bosses. It had been a while, especially with games getting more developed and complex into the late 80s, since I'd played just a pick-up-and-play classic arcade feeling game. Wait, did I just discover an easter egg on my own, is that Flicky?! Flicky is one of my favorite pick-up-and-play-arcade games from when I was first getting into arcade games 2 years ago!!! Cute!

(Note that I wish I had taken time to get the Laser power-up like I did at the last boss, I might start at least using the StrategyWiki for that factor because that would've helped so much here.) (Welp, I beat the game without resorting to using the map for certain power-ups. Nice)

I love a lot about this game. I love the "Go to the exit" voice; I love the relatively forgiving death mechanic; I love that there is no ammo factor to the special weapons (tho picking up another weapon replaces it, and you lose special weapons between rounds, but don't worry--a la Castlevania, each stage is stocked with what you need to succeed); and I love the fast-paced straightforward gameplay most of all. The Sound wasn't strikingly good, you could tell they were trying to make the creepy vibe everyone talks about tho it was too Sega-vibrant (and I mean, Flicky was there!) and pretty for me to consider it creepy besides the enemy sprites, thus the Sound wasn't as striking or as fitting as others may see it. But that's literally the only minor criticism I can think of about the Feel. The Look and the Sound didn't quite cumulate into the Feel you could tell they were going for.

Attachment: 9/10 Gotta love arcade games for those last-second dodges and fire-backs. This game was a great pick up and play and it's just what I needed. That's the type of game I'm more comfortable recommending or having ready to play for guests/family. They don't wanna deeply analyze Deadly Towers or Kid Icarus mechanics and shops, they wanna just pick up a game and see what these retro games I've been playing are about. Fun! That's what I play for. And this one's the right Feel. Ironically, most reviews about this game are focused on the Look and creepy aspect. While I love that, that surprisingly wasn't what hooked me to the game. Instead it was the straightforward, approachable yet still challenging, fun gameplay. Yay!

Oh, turns out there are 7 Rounds? And this must be a final boss stage? Great, I only have 1 life left before game over :-X I was over here proud I didn't use StrategyWiki or savestates, but hopefully I didn't set myself up for disaster here. Here goes nothing. Yeah, I had to use a savestate at the start of the battle, because it took many tries (with only one life, straight to Game Over) before I got dodging the whirlwinds down. Surprised they didn't also add projectiles, thank goodness they didn't. Cuz once you get dodging the whirlwinds down (basically stand at center and time your run to either side right), it's really just more about being patient than difficult. At last I beat the final boss and had the nice jingle at the end

In usual arcade game fashion, it re-cycles back at the beginning, presumably with a higher difficulty. Great game! Classic arcade gameplay right here. And at least it had a nice jingle/image to celebrate beating it, even if it does re-cycle. Definitely give it a try! One I will return to to show my brothers and others.

Completion: All 7 unique Rounds Score 411, 400 Playtime: ~40 mins