Dolphin Blue (2003)

I played a port that made the game run on a Dreamcast. So this isn't actually the arcade release.

Dolphin Blue was a game I found in many YouTube videos, I saw many people use it to test low end hardware and upon seeing it I was interested. I mean, you play as a guy or girl that rides a dolphin and fights an army, that's original.

The Flipper

The game's graphics are beautiful. The 2D sprites are very well done and they have an art style that's very unique. Whoever was in charge of the art direction deserves praise, Sega had them do a work that could be on a movie.

The gameplay is pretty similar to Metal Slug. You can shoot up, down, left, right and you have a great variety of guns; machineguns, missiles, grenades, etc. All guns are useful and have different properties, except the basic gun because it barely does damage. Also you have a special attack and in the sections where you play with the dolphin, you can make the dolphin attack your enemies.

The game is very intense. Enemies and bullets are everywhere and force you into always being careful; you swap sections a lot and the enemy variety is great since you fight melee enemies, enemies with the same guns you have, turrets and mechs.

The world is pretty interesting because it happens on a post-apocalyptic alternative world that survived the destruction of a civilization. I would love to see an anime or show about this.

The lame

The game is impossible to beat without continues. The game will have you killed because of the sheer amount of bullet hell; you can't dodge everything. Quarter eater after all.

The music is not as intense as other games from its kind, like Metal Slug. I can't remember a tune from the game at all.

Overall

Dolphin Blue is a fun arcade game that's worth to be in a collection. I can't recommend it enough, I wish I could give it 3.5 stars.