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Platinum Studios announced the release of Sol Cresta, a vertical version of the reel shooter, on February 22, 2022, which is now available on NS, PS4 and PC (Steam). Since the editorial board of "Fami Tong" has the honor of playing the finished version in advance, this time we will bring you a review of the game of this game. In addition, the author has been galloping in the battlefield of the shooter for nearly 40 years, whether it is vertical or horizontal version of the work almost all played, so it can be regarded as quite proficient in this way, this time the author will realistically state their play feelings.
You can feel the flavor of "new classic arcade machine" everywhere
Sol Cresta is both a vertical scroll shooter and the debut of Platinum Studios' new series, NEO-CLASSIC ARCADE. At the same time, this work is also after "Moon Fighter" and "Condor One", "Cresta · Saga", the final chapter of the work. From these imposing propaganda slogans, it can be seen that this work does not seem to be a simple sequel or reboot... I tried not to expect too much, and launched the game after taking a deep breath to calm down.
The title screen caught my attention the words "INSERT COIN (S)" in the center and "CREDIT 00" in the bottom right. Game centers in Tokyo and Osaka have free arcades to try, and I believe someone must have tried to play on the frame. Even though this is the latest home console game, it has a strong "ported from arcade" feeling, and even if it is placed in the center of the game, it will not have any sense of violation.
Let's start by looking at the main menu. Before playing the main line "MISSION", let's first look at the options for "SPECIAL" and "OPTION".
SPECIAL
In this option you can view "ACHIEVEMENTS", which means that you can browse the so-called achievements, and as you play more and more, you will add "SOUND TEST" and "CARAVAN MODE", some of which are achievements that are unlocked after completing certain conditions.
OPTION
The items that you can set in the options menu are as follows:
Displays the settings
Game settings
Key settings
A guide to play
Initialize all settings
Language settings
In the display settings, there is the ability to rotate the display direction 90 degrees to the left and 90 degrees to the right, respectively. In addition, you can turn on/off the scan line (*) and set the concentration of the scan line. This is also a detail that can feel the "PORT OF ARCTA game portability" of the CRT era... How meticulous it is!
※ Simulates the effect of the scan line of the picture tube.
Game settings check the initial number of players, expansion settings, and volume. For those who want to play Loose, there is an option to increase the initial number of players up to 6 people. In the volume options, you can set the main, BGM, SE, and voice volumes individually.
The usage guide is carefully designed in a 3-page instruction card style (※). This work is full of many meticulous elements, and this alone is enough to prove it.
※ Instruction manuals attached to frames in arcade games.
The language can be set to Japanese or English. When set to English, the options in the options menu and subtitles in Story Mode will be changed to English, but the voice will still be in Japanese.
Despite the variety of elements, it is enough to understand "How to play" and "formation attack" at first
After reading through the guide, I finally chose "MISSION", followed by "ARCADE MODE", which is a mode where you can enjoy a pure shooter game, and "DRAMATIC MODE", which is included in Sol Cresta Dramatic DLC or Sol Cresta Dramatic Edition.
This time I tried to play Sol Cresta Dramatic Edition, so I chose to play arcade mode and story mode. The difficulty levels are as follows, and I chose NORMAL for both.
Arcade mode difficulty
VERY EASY
EASY
NORMAL
HARD (initially not selectable)
？？？ (Initially not selectable)
Story mode difficulty
▲ Now, let's go! The following images are screenshots in story mode
The fun of separation and integration is unparalleled!
Our airframe is machine One , Amaterasu. The game begins with the base destroyed by the enemy and only one battleship escaping. First of all, enemy planes appeared one after another like testing the waters. These are split aircraft that have appeared in the prologue of "Moon Fighter", and the familiar feeling comes to mind, and the author unconsciously smiles. A "Sol Medal" appears after shooting down an enemy aircraft, which can be collected to strengthen the body and increase the maximum value of the "SP Meter" (described later).
And in the formation of enemy aircraft, as long as the red enemy aircraft is shot down, the item "Sol Emblem" will appear. After picking up the props, the second machine "Moon Reading" and the third machine "Susanoo" will come to help. "Sol Medal" and "Sol Emblem" will fall to the bottom of the screen when they appear, but can be automatically absorbed by getting close to them. Although these mechanisms are very ordinary, they can make people enjoy them, and I can't help but want to praise them.
Another important item is the "Formation Fragment", which changes color and jumps upwards after each bullet hit. It may be a little difficult to understand just by looking at the text, but you can think of it as a bell in Soldier Bee. There are 6 formations in this game (plus a total of 9 formations with only two airframes), which is very powerful. In addition, there is no red triangle formation in this game (??? Fragments, which the player can automatically acquire by gathering fragments from 5 other formations.
Of course, you can play as you please, but I decided to prioritize the easy-to-use inverted triangles (triangle formations) and side-by-side formations (moon formations), and the rest of the formations that have not yet been achieved. Adjusting the color of the shards while fighting enemies can be easily anxious and angry, but it's also fun.
▲ Shoot the fragments and choose the formation you want to take, of course, you can also stick to the style of "as long as it is not a obtained formation"
As I got used to the basics, the number of enemy ground objects increased. "X" type ground objects are very common in Condor One... (If you emphasize nostalgia too much, it is difficult to attract young readers, so I will relent in it later.) Reintroduced, this X-shaped ground object appears to have been made of a material that could not be destroyed by the bullets of Machine One. So the author tried to rearrange the formation, let the third machine take the lead, and finally succeeded in destroying the enemy with the drill bit shooting of the third machine.
▲ There is an indestructible enemy, and since that is the case...
▲Separation completed
▲The third machine took the lead and was completed in combination
▲ Successfully destroy the enemy, use your drill to shoot straight into the sky!
I think this separation and combination operation is the fun of this game, because the operation separation and the combination of the key is the same, so it is very simple to play. Not only that, but it also goes into slow motion when separating, so you can calmly change the order of the body. At first, I started by slowly confirming and operating, but after a little skill, I was able to quickly form the formation I wanted, and the fun was doubled. Slow motion when separating does not have any obvious drawbacks, and can also be used to dodge enemy bullets, which should be adjusted by the production team to improve the comfort of play.
Formation attacks with significant effect
As I progressed through the game while trying out various formations, the boss of Level One appeared with a warning gig. Although normal battles seem to be able to win, since I fell below the screen, I chose to shoot one of the formations from below the diagonal to attack the "Laser Array" to easily destroy the enemy. Launching a formation attack consumes the SP scale on the left side of the screen (up to 3 circular scales), but each time you attack the enemy, you will increase the scale, so don't hesitate to use it boldly, after all, this thrill is not covered!
▲In the story mode, you can also have a dialogue with the enemy "シュクラー". The personality of the enemy is also very rich, and people can't hate it
▲ Eat me a laser attack!
Along the way, I tried a variety of formation attacks. The "Moon Formation", which is very strong above and below, is very useful, but since it cannot attack enemies on the left and right edges of the screen, it is necessary to pay attention to distinguishing between uses in fierce battles.
▲The moon formation is powerful and easy to use, but it has dead ends
▲ The vertical arrangement of the "whirlwind array" is effective against enemies on the left and right
A warning performance reappears on the screen, with a huge battleship operated by the enemy "ブリハス" appearing. The other side fired a considerable number of bullets, and although the author was suppressed by this force, he was still struggling to fight back. If you only read here, you may misunderstand "Was the initial level so difficult...", but in fact, this game is designed with various counterattack methods. Although it is possible to use slow motion to avoid when separating, the opportunity is rare, and the author decided to use the killer weapon of formation attack to clear the enemy.
▲ Scientific ninjutsu... No, this is the Firebird of formation attack. It is invincible during launch and deals damage when touched
▲ The enemy battleship fired the "plasma super cannon" and had to launch the firebird again. It's an uphill battle, but the winner is justice
The boss of the first level was successfully defeated, but before it was finished, the enemy's equipment "ヴァイクン" was still waiting for the end. Although ヴァイクン will shoot some bullets, it has little resistance compared to bosses such as シュクラー and ブリハス, which has little resistance and can be destroyed effortlessly and passed the first level.
▲ The purpose of each level is to destroy this ヴァイクン, and shoot at the center to defeat it
▲ The final screen through the first level
Each level resets the booster element! Experience a different kind of growing fun
When I got used to the system, I started to conquer the second level. The first level can be enhanced until all formation attacks are obtained, but these enhancements are reset at the beginning of the level (but not weakened when shot down).
Perhaps this system takes into account the "fully enhanced numbness" and "weakened despair" in general shooters. It is not excluded that some people like to choose to reopen when they make mistakes, so they will have different opinions with the author, at least the author enjoys the process of gradually strengthening their body.
In the second level, there are tricky enemies and indestructible terrain, and the author gradually feels a little difficult to deal with. In addition to the formation attack, I also tried to use the "command shot" that was continuously launched through the combination of the joystick and the button, and the "charge shot" that was launched by holding down the button. Interestingly, charge firing changes depending on the "docked second airframe".
For example, when taking the no. 1 machine as the main output, whether it is in the order of the no. 1, no. 2, and no. 3 machines, or in the order of the no. 1, no. 3, and no. 2 machines, at first glance there is almost no difference, but if you encounter the situation of "because there are too many enemies and there is no time to aim", it is best to put the second machine in the second position.
Characteristics of charge attacks
Machine 1 is located in position 2: it fires forward a powerful stout laser "メガレーザー".
Machine 2 is located in position 2: it continuously releases "フルバースト", which can fire a large number of autotrace missiles at the same time.
No. 3 Desk No. 2: "Gigadrill" is a person in front of the desk body that injects out.
Both charge shots and formation attacks consume SP slots, but are more convenient because they can be used with major shots.
Incidentally, formation attacks consume an entire round SP slot, while charge shots consume only one-third of the SP slot. This is where people struggle to use, but the number of annoying options is where the real fun of this work lies.
▲Gigadrills Erased People And Hard-1000s
▲If you shoot at the pale glowing body "ソルボール", the SP meter will accumulate rapidly. In addition, ソルボール can be destroyed by formation attacks
▲Although the author cannot skillfully use the command to shoot, because it does not consume the SP meter, it is more convenient to use when attacking the side or back
As you advance through the second level with frequent charge fire, a medium-sized Boss "M-Alpha" warship about the size of your own body will appear. The author used a variety of means such as lasers and collisions to attack, and finally won after a hard battle. Since this is a very meaningful enemy, it is recommended that players who are curious about the world setting and plot of this game play in the story mode.
▲Although he ate a lot of bullets, he finally succeeded in defeating the enemy
The second half of level 2 requires careful passage through terrain lined with moving walls while blocking things like electromagnetic barriers. Since the scrolling speed is a bit fast here, the author is very nervous, and uses the slow motion of separation to move forward carefully.
As we entered the vast terrain, an unknown plane dressed in invisible camouflage appeared to cover the author's plane. Considering that spoilers will be involved, I will not elaborate on it here, and the plot structure that gradually reveals the mystery is also one of the charms of this game.
▲ Stealth camouflage may be difficult to see, but this unknown aircraft is located in the lower left of its own fuselage. If you are a player who knows Condor One, you should be grinning at the outline of the plane and the barrier behind it
The boss of level 2, ラフー, will appear from the back of the screen. I was forced to struggle to move the huge figure around the screen, but by the time I came here, my formation and SP scale were well stocked so I could take advantage of the formation attack to beat it.
▲ All the shields are dropped, and the enemy will continue to chase until the first machine is killed. Good risk, but so far there have been no mistakes
▲Weikhun Tsugung 2nd
The play starts after you've cleared the level?! Refreshing scores is also very hot!
Now for you to introduce the elements that have not been mentioned so far. Although red, blue, and yellow supply containers containing Sol Emblems and formation fragments appear in the game, these can be destroyed by the main guns or formation attacks of the same-color aircraft. It's also fun to create a formation pattern specifically for this to collect items efficiently.
▲ The yellow container can be destroyed with a drill shot
▲Formation fragments appeared from it!
Also related to color, red, blue, and yellow "ソルリング" are the key to scoring. Sneaking in regardless of color will only get a low score, but if you sneak in at the top with an airplane of the same color as リング (such as the red リング), you can get a high score at the top. Since each level has many ソルリング, it is an element that cannot be ignored for players who swipe points.
There are also various other elaborate designs hidden in this game, as long as certain conditions are met, you can get special rewards. Once you understand the system, it's fun to look for hidden rewards.
▲ When I finished the formation of the first level, I got 10,000 points
Initially, you can aim to clear the level of the card, but the author believes that the gameplay of getting points is also very enthusiastic, and I hope that everyone can actively participate in the team mode or actively brush points.
Players who are not good at shooting games can also easily play!
I can enjoy the twelve points of fun in this game, but even those who have the idea that "this is a game made by Platinum Studios, it will be difficult" and "I will definitely not be able to pass the level at my level" are highly recommended. Since this game has a mechanism to increase the remaining life, the author was able to reach the boss of the seventh level (*) on the first play. Although the second half is indeed a bit difficult, the overall difficulty is still relatively friendly. And this does not mean that this game is lacking in playability, but as mentioned earlier, the brush combat of this game is very hot, and even prepared more difficulty than HARD, players who like to challenge difficulties can rest assured.
※ The author plays with normal difficulty.
If the difficulty of the game is reduced, the shield will have an auto-recover function (※). If you add and increase the number of remaining lives in the settings, whoever can reach the end. Playing in story mode allows you to experience watching an animated movie, so please enjoy it.
※ Easy, VERY EASY for arcade mode and EASY difficulty for story mode.
Translation: SR Cat Willow
Edit: Shiina pear