(This review is for the arcade version)

Preliminary: After playing about 5 mins, wow--what amazing Sound and Look. Truly excellent and inimitable. I've never been a fan of these scrollers where you go back and forth and have a weird sort of constant propulsion, but so far the controls haven't been a huge barrier. The difficulty is a bit of a barrier, I will definitely have to be exploiting savestates. And I wasn't sure what the goal is--it seems to kill every enemy in the area? Either way, the Look and Sound are so remarkable it's worth giving this an earnest playthrough, especially since shmups have become quite a favorite genre. That being said, somehow, despite the amazing Look and Sound, I didn't feel compelled to immediately start playing it in full. I set it aside not really drawn to it. Maybe cuz it's nice out, maybe cuz I might do some ToA, maybe cuz I need to do some more research on what the goals and mechanics of this game are... But either way, that's surprising considering its qualities, the fact there is a set ending (and seems to be a plot twist at the end heh), and the controls hadn't been as much a barrier as I expected.

What's the name of that game that came out 85 or so that started this back and forth scrolling trend that people love? I mean, I realize Defender really started it but there was a popular microcomputer or console game that emulated that mechanic and started a bunch of copycats. (I just tried to find it for 30 mins lol it doesn't really matter, anywayyyy)

(Just read up, oh wow very cute idea of the "shop" with "money" you get from killing enemies)

Look: 8/10 Wow. I love the "bases" flopped on the ground after you defeat them lol, cute touch. The settings, the backgrounds, the colors, the enemies like the walking eggs, the Parts Shop intro screen, it was impossible to get screenshots tho.

Sound: 8/10 Wow. I could say omg so many times. Omg the Shop music (and its Look).

Play: 8/10 As per usual with quality arcade games, though 86 had been a bit disappointing with this--very responsive controls, tight last-minute dodges and back and forth shooting, and, thankfully, not a tacky limit with shooting pace like having only one bullet at a time--mash that fire button as fast as you can! Without a time limit in levels, I got a bit hooked for a bit collecting money from enemies lol.

Ok wait aren't bombs a bit OP? And you have unlimited amount? Nice. I was on my first boss and dang was it hard. I had to savestate at the start of the boss and keep trying till I was successful. I like that there seems to be consistent behavior where the colors show how much more damage the boss or enemy has to take? I went with my theory that I had to shoot into the or at the mouth of the first boss. Not sure if that's right but I finally got it down. And got access to my first Shop! Cute way they have the balloon labeled and great music and Look for the shop!!

Oh boo, I got the 7 way power up but it has a time limit. I found the 2nd stage and the 2nd boss easier tbh, but maybe I was just getting the hang of things. I checked out the strategy wiki so I know which Shop items have limits etc. They recommend the Jet Engine upgrade, but nothing faster. Makes sense since I'm already a mess with controls in games ha. And it seems all the weapon upgrades are either time limited or, in the case of the Bomb ones, number limited. Don't seem worth it imo except maybe once I know a stage is so hard that I need the Smart Bomb etc. Otherwise, my plan going forward into the remaining 6 stages, is to just buy the Jet Engine upgrade and extra lives.

Pro-tip: bombs help a lot with the 3rd boss. Who, honestly, was easier than the first boss again imo. Predictable patterns are nice. Cute mechanic to that boss, too.

Feel: 8/10 I decided to invest in some Smart Bombs too. I realized that limited numbers is good, though I should've only bought one at a time. My main beef was, then I couldn't also use just normal Bombs in the meantime--it was sorta "all or nothing". And I had gotten used to using normal Bombs for when I'm too close but wanna get one last shot on a base before turning around or dodging.

Holy crap, the Jet Engine upgrade changes the game drastically! I be ducking and dodging, swerving between bullets! Such tight controls and good collision masks! As one should expected from arcade games after all..

Just beautiful setting after beautiful setting. The background of the world with the ball-constructed arms is so amazing. My fire button thumb was starting to hurt but I was finding the game more and more fun.

Attachment: 8/10 Omg! The music for Polaria!! But the difficulty level was rising really fast... So many unique enemy mechanics! And omg that snowman boss was no joke! And omg! The bullet hell that is Mockstar! I know bullet hell is inevitable in later levels of all shmups, and I was nervous when it'd truly begin. But this music! And the Look! It keeps me going.

Welp, returning to this now. Only a couple worlds left, including the boss world. And indeed, strategywiki said how insanely hard Mockstar is and that you really should use a 7 shot. I have the money--I should've bought it! I pushed through and finished the level, but only thanks to a copious number of savestates ha. Now I know to def buy a 7 way upgrade for last normal world, cuz uh, it's almost done! (Ugh but this boss at Mockstar is a headache, it's moving so fast! I assume it matches your engine upgrade? Cuz no way the slow one could beat that.

On my third play session, I was on Pocarius. Almost done. I exploited the 7 way shot big time for the level itself, and the boss seemed so easy at first! He was red, almost dead. But then he was reappearing so fast it was close to impossible to hit him! And when you die you lose your upgrades.... so I don't know if I'll be able to beat it!!! I keep getting it so close, it's super red but without the fast speed... Yeahhhh, after I used up all my lives, kinda feeling burnt out with the difficulty aspect of the game. But it makes sense. This is the final boss before the pseudo-level of the "boss run." Because of the amazing Look and Sound, plus the high-quality arcade controls and mechanics (even if it got too difficult for me), maybe I will commit to replaying this from the start some time! If I do return to it to try this boss again (hopefully this time with the fast Jet Engine again and realizing that this isn't an easy boss! So don't slack the first few rounds! Cuz if you die and lose that you're kinda screwed! I wish a Shop would show up, but I'm low on money anyway...).

Wellll, it was hard to resist and did return to it. The fact I returned says a lot. Plus now that I understand the mechanics and the Shop items better, I was flying through, tho still having to abuse savestates to an extent.

Omg! I finally did it! 3 game overs later, I beat that darn Pocarius boss. Jet Engine or higher is absolutely essential tbh. Holy crap this final world, this boss rush, MY FINGERSSSS. This is not the relaxing retro backlog I pictured lol. How in the hell is anybody supposed to beat that very final version of the final boss jeez. it tracks you down at such a fast rate. Regardless of that god awful, overly hard final boss, still, save a lot of money for the boss rush. You're gonna need it. As for the final version of the final boss... this is ridiculous. The speed it tracks you makes it impossible to get a shot in. You basically need the Rocket Engine (I even had the Turbo Engine and 7 Way Shot leftover....). Seems I may have to concede. Even with savestating at the start of that final version, like 100 tries later (probly more), it just feels impossible. The only video I've found online of someone actually defeating it is with the Rocket Engine trapping the snake. Like with the break-apart-box boss, I find that bad game mechanics: don't make a necessary boss impossible without a certain upgrade. Ruins the fun of seeing if skill will win. I'm not positive this final version of final boss requires Rocket or Turbo Engine, but the break-apart-box surely requires at least Jet Engine, and that's enough to feel tacky (tho relatively affordable in the game). People online claim Turbo Engine is even required for the break-apart-box 2nd version in boss rush.

Yep, I finally concede. Hate when I don't quite finish a game. It likely would've been a 5 star, if it didn't celebrate difficulty so much and upgrade-necessary mechanics.

Completion: To final version of final boss Playtime: ~ 3 hours