Official Score
Overall - 50%
50%
Andromeda Wing is not for everybody. It caters toward a very specific niche, and though it is not the most polished title ever, it will appeal to those looking for something from the 90s.
Those who live and die for the 90s will be pleased to know that there is a new game in town in the form of Adam Adkins’ Amiga-inspired shoot-em-up Andromeda Wing. Is the brutal difficulty and rendered visuals are certainly a blast from the past, but do they hold up in this day and age?
Andromeda Wing Review
Andromeda Wing is certainly a no-frills package. Other than an offline leaderboard and some difficulty settings, the meat of the game is in its main mode. In true shmup form, players must traverse a number of difficult levels in a vertical scrolling setup, shooting anything and everything along the way. Players best get accustomed to holding down the fire button, but there are also grenades and an overly powerful powerline players can utilize. Each enemy is a bullet sponge that requires a fair amount of firepower to dispose of, but there is a method to the madness – there are a number of enemy patterns players can learn. Shooting down these strings of enemies nets you a bonus, and channels the spirit of classics like Galaga. It’s just a shame that each enemy takes a while to take down.
That’s not to say that the game plays fair. Though players can utilize a shield and have a health bar, there are a number of cheap shots throughout the title. Enemies will practically run into you, spiders will latch on, and barricades will block the way. It does not get into danmaku territory, but it can feel unfair, even on easy. For better or worse, memorization is an absolute must. Powerups can be earned through battle as well, and can help you shoot to either side of your ship.
The style here is something people will either love or hate. Everything has got a rendered look to it, menu text stretches and warps, and it is even displayed in a 4:3 ratio. It evokes memories of a simpler time, but it is certainly not modern. The look of the crustaceans, spiders, and enemy turrets isn’t exactly high res, but it’s a look that you don’t often see in this day and age.
Those that beat the game don’t really have much to sink their teeth into. There are leaderboards for each difficulty setting, but unless you’re looking for a self-imposed one-credit clear challenge, this title won’t keep you playing as long as the industry greats.
Andromeda Wing is not for everybody. It caters toward a very specific niche, and though it is not the most polished title ever, it will appeal to those looking for something from the 90s.
