Locomalito & Gryzor87's side scrolling shmup, "Super Hydorah" is in every way a tribute, or homage if your prefer, to similar oldschool arcade experiences. It plays very much like the classic Gradius series, and features the signature shmup power-up system reminiscent of a series like that. It is a hardcore scored based shoot' em up in which learning patterns, secrets, and surviving through multiple enemy filled stages is a must if you hope to top the local leaderboard. While the game is fairly straightforward in gameplay in that you'll be tasked with killing waves of statically placed enemies, collecting the power-ups left in their wake, and acquiring new weapons from bosses to progress further it does host a mild story of it's own about a space pilot fighting for humanity against an alien threat. As pilot Delta Lance you'll be taking your Unit 87 combat fighter to face the Meroptian threat at the command of your colonel. A story setup that is squared away instantly in an initial launch cutscene. You are fairly much thrust into the heat of intergalactic battle with basic weapons, and a ship that can be upgraded via randomized power-ups of a select variety. As you down enemy craft, and alien life forms you'll sometimes reveal power-up items in the form of turbo boosts, single use super weapons, shot upgrades, and shields among other things. The end goal is simple, but is also an unforgiving multiple path driven fight for survival that will take you from right to left, and up and down in automated fashion across the game's sectioned off stage inclusive universe.
Aside from the nod to Gradius-like shmups via visual design, and the level layout therein,"Super Hydorah"does it's own thing by offering up a unique power-up system, three types of individually optional and unlockable weapons as well as secrets hidden in each, and every stage. The power-up system itself includes separate HUD meters, and icon inclusive counts with the turbo, and shield power-ups being placed apart from the obtained gun upgrade meters. The additional weapons choice menu that is in place outside of the HUD and in-game allows you to select (pre-stage), and use new types of gun and bomb based weaponry which are gained by defeating end stage bosses. Along with all of this is the secrets which come in different forms including that of stranded astronauts that you can pick up on contact, and the traversing of tight pathways that players would normally avoid. The stage playthroughs alone are very challenging in that your ship, outside of obtaining an extra shield, is a one hit wonder. You get hit a single time without a shield, and you'll have to start over at the beginning/boss fight if you have the lives to spare. Each stage is short lived with environmental obstacles abound, and enemies scattered about in static (non-changing) positions/waves allowing you to learn and memorize their positions and patterns for a cleaner playthrough the next go around.
Stage playthroughs within the game ultimately rate you on your performance in a military style, and award you accordingly. For example you can earn a "Bad" to "Perfect" stage score with bonus points, and a military badge ranking for your efforts, or lack thereof. This along with the secrets found are showcased later on through the intermittent stage selection screen, and the ending pop-ups after a stage is completed. Endgame ranking, which is also of importance, tallies up how many continues you chose to take before finally giving into the "GAME OVER" countdown. In each playthrough you start off with 3 lives, but can earn more via power-ups, and possibly score. Once those lives are lost you'll see the 'GAME OVER' screen, and be given an infinite number of continues with which to complete the game's many stages. The catch is that there are three different endings you can get based on your decision to continue. This includes a "Good", "Bad", and "Glorious" ending making replay a proper incentive for those looking to perfect their playthrough, and get that perfect leaderboard highscore. I should also clarify that when I say "playthrough" I mean that you will battle through single stages that house lesser enemies, and a boss or bosses at the end. Stages are selected in an after stage screen that shows off points of interest along with their titles in a sort of point to point constellation display. You cannot backtrack as the game is meant to be a straight through event, and supposing you miss a secret along the way there is no going back to get it until the next try. Stages that are marked as complete, and have had their secret discovered will be marked with a star icon.
For those of you wondering this game can be played locally with up to two players, and in two separate two player modes. That having been said I was only able to sample the singleplayer mode. I did read the in-game instructions though, and it seems the co-op two player modes might have a revive mechanic at play allowing you to help your partner come back in for another chance. There's that, and what is titled "2 Player Bot Chase" which I unfortunately could not sample due to the lack of a second controller/player. Beyond the singleplayer campaign, and two player co-op the developer also offers an arcade option with a switch for CRT scanlines. This can be set in the main menu's "Options" menu for those of you looking to enjoy the game through the lens of nostalgia. Those of you concerned about your leaderboard standings will find the usual three letter initials claim to fame as well as a listed score, and your badge ranking. Only the top 10 scores make the listing though so perfecting your playthrough, and avoiding continues is definitely in a players' best interest if they want the bragging rights.
The Verdict ...
At $19.99 this game is a bit of a reach in regards to value. Don't get me wrong though. It is a very good shmup with a high quality presentation. The problem, as I see it though, is that the modes it offers and the features it has seems to be a bit bare bones in comparison to what other similarly priced games include. I guess if you consider that it is a cross-buy game, and if you have a PS Vita and a PS4 then the price could be justified. At $19.99 I think the price is a wee bit steep outside of that justification though. Good shmup, iffy price. Might be worth it to hardcore shmup enthusiasts who would like a proper challenge akin to those challenges from back in the arcade days.
Aside from the nod to Gradius-like shmups via visual design, and the level layout therein,"Super Hydorah"does it's own thing by offering up a unique power-up system, three types of individually optional and unlockable weapons as well as secrets hidden in each, and every stage. The power-up system itself includes separate HUD meters, and icon inclusive counts with the turbo, and shield power-ups being placed apart from the obtained gun upgrade meters. The additional weapons choice menu that is in place outside of the HUD and in-game allows you to select (pre-stage), and use new types of gun and bomb based weaponry which are gained by defeating end stage bosses. Along with all of this is the secrets which come in different forms including that of stranded astronauts that you can pick up on contact, and the traversing of tight pathways that players would normally avoid. The stage playthroughs alone are very challenging in that your ship, outside of obtaining an extra shield, is a one hit wonder. You get hit a single time without a shield, and you'll have to start over at the beginning/boss fight if you have the lives to spare. Each stage is short lived with environmental obstacles abound, and enemies scattered about in static (non-changing) positions/waves allowing you to learn and memorize their positions and patterns for a cleaner playthrough the next go around.
Stage playthroughs within the game ultimately rate you on your performance in a military style, and award you accordingly. For example you can earn a "Bad" to "Perfect" stage score with bonus points, and a military badge ranking for your efforts, or lack thereof. This along with the secrets found are showcased later on through the intermittent stage selection screen, and the ending pop-ups after a stage is completed. Endgame ranking, which is also of importance, tallies up how many continues you chose to take before finally giving into the "GAME OVER" countdown. In each playthrough you start off with 3 lives, but can earn more via power-ups, and possibly score. Once those lives are lost you'll see the 'GAME OVER' screen, and be given an infinite number of continues with which to complete the game's many stages. The catch is that there are three different endings you can get based on your decision to continue. This includes a "Good", "Bad", and "Glorious" ending making replay a proper incentive for those looking to perfect their playthrough, and get that perfect leaderboard highscore. I should also clarify that when I say "playthrough" I mean that you will battle through single stages that house lesser enemies, and a boss or bosses at the end. Stages are selected in an after stage screen that shows off points of interest along with their titles in a sort of point to point constellation display. You cannot backtrack as the game is meant to be a straight through event, and supposing you miss a secret along the way there is no going back to get it until the next try. Stages that are marked as complete, and have had their secret discovered will be marked with a star icon.
For those of you wondering this game can be played locally with up to two players, and in two separate two player modes. That having been said I was only able to sample the singleplayer mode. I did read the in-game instructions though, and it seems the co-op two player modes might have a revive mechanic at play allowing you to help your partner come back in for another chance. There's that, and what is titled "2 Player Bot Chase" which I unfortunately could not sample due to the lack of a second controller/player. Beyond the singleplayer campaign, and two player co-op the developer also offers an arcade option with a switch for CRT scanlines. This can be set in the main menu's "Options" menu for those of you looking to enjoy the game through the lens of nostalgia. Those of you concerned about your leaderboard standings will find the usual three letter initials claim to fame as well as a listed score, and your badge ranking. Only the top 10 scores make the listing though so perfecting your playthrough, and avoiding continues is definitely in a players' best interest if they want the bragging rights.
The Verdict ...
At $19.99 this game is a bit of a reach in regards to value. Don't get me wrong though. It is a very good shmup with a high quality presentation. The problem, as I see it though, is that the modes it offers and the features it has seems to be a bit bare bones in comparison to what other similarly priced games include. I guess if you consider that it is a cross-buy game, and if you have a PS Vita and a PS4 then the price could be justified. At $19.99 I think the price is a wee bit steep outside of that justification though. Good shmup, iffy price. Might be worth it to hardcore shmup enthusiasts who would like a proper challenge akin to those challenges from back in the arcade days.
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