Review scoopings 5/5 · Jun 13, 2024
"Pick Your Weapon!" Excellent, Reinvigorating Run N Gun Shmup
Preliminary: Lol the way you blast your way through everything, door sewer gate elevator whatever.
So far I'm surprised I like this. I have grown tired of the run n gun genre mostly, and dual-joystick (well, quasi-dual-joystick) shooter often causes me headaches with emulation (not the game's fault), but this has something alluring about it. I'm already through 2 levels …
Preliminary: Lol the way you blast your way through everything, door sewer gate elevator whatever.
So far I'm surprised I like this. I have grown tired of the run n gun genre mostly, and dual-joystick (well, quasi-dual-joystick) shooter often causes me headaches with emulation (not the game's fault), but this has something alluring about it. I'm already through 2 levels and haven't had to cheat or abuse savestates yet (just savestate at start of level type scenario). Some weird screen transitions but for the most part, this might be worth pushing through all 9 levels.
This was very hard to put down. That's a good sign. We will see if I get time to play it more later, yay for a good 1989 game! And one I can just pick up and play, no need for boss strategies (yet... I'm only on stage 3 of 9... I hope the difficulty doesn't get too high tho I'm sure it will since it's late 80s)
Day 1
"Pick A Weapon!" haha. It has the platformer niceties I expect from late 80s like mid-jump movement, pretty fluid with crouching down going prone etc., jumping to ladders. And I like how, when you get hit, it isn't always instant death, instead your Keys and Upgrades fall around you so you can even re-collect those sometimes. The music of the stage with the waterfalls in front of the action (I think stage 4?) has a great melody part.
It's definitely getting harder but thank goodness for infinite coins ;) and spawning right where you were
Oh jeez they got the whole family mom dad sis grandma grandpa. And yessss I love how later you literally collect your whole family yet it still says "Pick your weapon!" I believe I'm at the final boss? And I love how the game is difficult but it hasn't felt tacky or cheap or overly frustrating. I feel like it's hard for me to give anything other than 2, 3, or jump all the way to 5 star. But this certainly seems like it could be one! Enlivened my trust in gun n run shmups!
Omg yessss great ending screen with the whole family and tune. And great credits song too! That credit song just bumped the Sound to a 9 for sure.
Look: 8.5/10 For the most part, just functional. What I would expect from late 80s arcade games. High quality for sure. But got an extra oomph with that great ending screen ha. You know me and my sunsets/sunrises.
Sound: 9/10 Amazzzinnnggggg ending tune and credits jingle. But also I never once felt compelled to turn down or off the Sound. And several standouts throughout. That waterfall one also had an outright amazing/sentimental sound that could warrant a 10 some day if I build nostalgia for this.
Play: 9/10 Finally, a late 80s action shooter that is difficult without being un-fun. Of course, the death mechanic/coin mechanic helped with that but still. Even without that. It always felt doable, understandable from a level design POV, etc. I was going to give it an 8.5, but it's been so long since I loved a shmup or run n gun, it deserves recognition.
Feel: 9/10 Instantly loved. Drew me in. I couldn't put it down!
Attachment: 9/10 I think this is one I will show my brothers. And even if not, if I ever return to late 80s arcade games, this'll have to be on the list!
Overall: 8.9/10
Completion: Main Story
Playtime: ~50 mins
