Battle Garegga (1p)
Graphics-8 Sound-8 Control-8 Challenge-(8.5) Story-?
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8 Fun-(8) Originality-5
Overall Score-7.5
+ Very intense and fast paced, 3 planes (+ 2 hidden ones) to choose from, you can customize each plane (set speed etc.)?, great bosses, decent variation, 2-player mode, lots of options (screen modes (3-5 are useless though), training to hard mode + edit mode, hit box options), you can watch someone 'super play' it to learn the more advanced mechanics (getting a higher score), smart bombs (dffierent for each ship, these nullify enemy bullets), secret planes (easier to access in this version through the options), remixed soundtrack option (sounds great, you can even adjust sfx volume), fairly deep scoring system for competitive play (which isn't explained by the game at all unfortunately), the game gets harder as you upgrade your weapons (limiting your upgrades is key to scoring higher and by extension surviving the game - unless playing on easier modes), mania mode in this version (autofire, gun drone cycling options), the game hands out bomb ammo when you die (20 small ones = half a full bomb), change gun drone formations (by the press of a button, the drones also attack through a separate button to your main gun), variable rapid fire rates (used for scoring higher by controlling your rank), dying causes and explosion (the shrapnel does decent damage to larger enemies and nullifies bullets), hidden power ups/points
+/- Advanced scoring methods involves suiciding (you have to keep your life stock low to control your rank (rank determines how hard the game gets) and having as few lives as possible when dying gives you a better rank) as well as bombing regularly (destroying scenery and finding medals = more points) and conserving ammo (like in Zanac, shooting more makes the game harder), english options menu exists but is tucked away on second page of options and marked in japanese), strange way of getting the special shot upgrade and special gun drone formations (again not explained - you have to miss a certain amount of power ups then pick up a specific one)
- The game expects you to play for score - playing as you might usually do in shooters makes the game much harder to beat, hard to see some bullets (shrapnel from killed enemies make things even worse, you can make bullets somewhat more visible in the options (exclusive to this version) but only the ones targeted at your plane), somewhat dark graphics, the more you die the harder it becomes to keep going (like in Gradius, this is helped somewhat by the game handing out bomb ammo), some attacks are pretty much impossible to dodge (you need a special attack/bomb for certain occasions), repeats bosses and enemies a lot, some planes are too slow, no way to adjust plane speed in-game, you'll need an online guide to learn about the rank system (necessary for playing properly or for score competition) - it isn't explained and your rank isn't even displayed by the game
Level Design-7.5 Frustration-8 Fun-(8) Originality-5
Overall Score-7.5
+ Very intense and fast paced, 3 planes (+ 2 hidden ones) to choose from, you can customize each plane (set speed etc.)?, great bosses, decent variation, 2-player mode, lots of options (screen modes (3-5 are useless though), training to hard mode + edit mode, hit box options), you can watch someone 'super play' it to learn the more advanced mechanics (getting a higher score), smart bombs (dffierent for each ship, these nullify enemy bullets), secret planes (easier to access in this version through the options), remixed soundtrack option (sounds great, you can even adjust sfx volume), fairly deep scoring system for competitive play (which isn't explained by the game at all unfortunately), the game gets harder as you upgrade your weapons (limiting your upgrades is key to scoring higher and by extension surviving the game - unless playing on easier modes), mania mode in this version (autofire, gun drone cycling options), the game hands out bomb ammo when you die (20 small ones = half a full bomb), change gun drone formations (by the press of a button, the drones also attack through a separate button to your main gun), variable rapid fire rates (used for scoring higher by controlling your rank), dying causes and explosion (the shrapnel does decent damage to larger enemies and nullifies bullets), hidden power ups/points
+/- Advanced scoring methods involves suiciding (you have to keep your life stock low to control your rank (rank determines how hard the game gets) and having as few lives as possible when dying gives you a better rank) as well as bombing regularly (destroying scenery and finding medals = more points) and conserving ammo (like in Zanac, shooting more makes the game harder), english options menu exists but is tucked away on second page of options and marked in japanese), strange way of getting the special shot upgrade and special gun drone formations (again not explained - you have to miss a certain amount of power ups then pick up a specific one)
- The game expects you to play for score - playing as you might usually do in shooters makes the game much harder to beat, hard to see some bullets (shrapnel from killed enemies make things even worse, you can make bullets somewhat more visible in the options (exclusive to this version) but only the ones targeted at your plane), somewhat dark graphics, the more you die the harder it becomes to keep going (like in Gradius, this is helped somewhat by the game handing out bomb ammo), some attacks are pretty much impossible to dodge (you need a special attack/bomb for certain occasions), repeats bosses and enemies a lot, some planes are too slow, no way to adjust plane speed in-game, you'll need an online guide to learn about the rank system (necessary for playing properly or for score competition) - it isn't explained and your rank isn't even displayed by the game