Title: Luftrausers
Format: PS3(reviewed), PS Vita, PC
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Developer: Vlambeer
Price: $10
ESRB Rating: E
Luftrausers finally made it's way to PC and Playstation platforms this week, following a wait that seemed to take an eternity, we finally get an updated look at the classic arcade shoot em up formula.
Presentation: Luftrausers's unique art style is what attracted me towards it, and while seemingly posing as simplistic, the art direction is a lot deeper than the six color palette. Everything looks pretty similar from afar, but the more you play the game, the more subtle nuances you'll notice. Smoke trails from enemies detail their trails, and sparks coming from your Rauser shows you how much damage you're taking in. There are multiple enemy types, and you'll be able to distinctly tell what enemy is which thanks to the different silhouettes that will take up the sky. It's subtle things like these, that makes you appreciate the old school visuals. The sadistic German style shows in the few characters you come across, which gives the game a bit of personality even without a formal story. Some players might feel that the one environment you do battle in may get a bit repetitious, and that's partially true. The open skies doesn't become repetitious too quickly, and if it does, you can always change the color scheme to give you a fresh look at the world. The soundtrack changes with the intensity of the battle, the longer you can survive, the more the music heightens along with the difficulty. The game features a smooth framerate that will only slow down during the most chaotic moments, but that may be by design choice. Other than that minor fault, the presentation is great, and if you gives you enough variety so that you never get bored of the simple art design.
Core Gameplay:
After a brief tutorial, the game quickly gets you into the action. Holding up on the analog stick activates your Rauser's thrust, sending you in whatever direction you're pointing. Letting go of the thrust causes your plane to fall from the sky, but this actually makes for a great strategy. There's a bit of floaty nature when you let off the thrusters, giving you more control over shooting the dozens of enemies all around you. When the action gets heavy, your first instinct will probably be to hold down on the fire button(which is any of the face buttons). Since your plane can repair itself when you're not firing, it will be essential to stop firing every now and then. This is a great design choice, and forces you think about how you're going to access every situation. The controls feel tight and solid, and in only a few short minutes, you'll quickly get the hang of it. The more you play, the more points you'll score, and the harder the levels will become. You'll also gain new parts for your plane, choosing from different tails, bodies, and guns can drastically change the way your Rauser plays and feels. You can make your Rauser faster, which will can't take much damage, or you can add on a more heftier body, which slows you down. Earning new parts by completing different sets of challenges is a rewarding feature, that also entices you to unlock and try new parts. There is no "right" design choice for your plane, as each part has it's own give and take. The key is to still obtain high scores, and the key to racking up points is with multipliers. Each enemy you destroy nets you a multiplier, which you can build up to x20. There are hours of fun waiting in Luftrausers, but sadly, you can unlock pretty much everything in a couple of hours. There isn't a ton of content here, which is why the game is best in short spurts, perfect for the Vita.
Final Thoughts:Luftrausers is a great shoot 'em up arcade shooter, which is best in short bursts. Even if you don't have a Vita, it's still a blast on PC and PS3. Fans of arcade shooters should definitely pick this up.
S&S Rating: 7.5/10 @whatsPlay
