Battle Crust

So simple, yet missing nothing ! I don't know what's better, the pixel graphics or the music. There's something about a japanese developer's touch, can't put my finger on it, but I like it.

简单朴素的复古小土飞机，路上吃珠子选择武器类型就好。

Uma pérola escondida no Steam, um dos primeiros trabalhos dos irmãos da Picorinne Soft. Segue a tradição de shmups japoneses com forte apelo 16-bit. Grande variedade de inimigos, chefes com comportamentos distintos, jogabilidade balanceada, fácil nos primeiros 4 estágios, e de mediana a difícil nos 2 últimos (joguei no modo normal). A trilha sonora embora não seja marcante é bem competente e casa bem com a ação do jogo. Controle responde bem, enfim, Battle Crust faz bonito e é divertido, consegue remeter ao estilo de shmups da era Mega Drive sem forçar a barra, o ponto negativo fica apenas por ser um jogo curto, as 6 fases no modo normal não levam nem meia hora para serem finalizadas. Se você curte shmups oldschool (principalmente se procura algo diferente do já batido Bullet Hell), Battle Crust é para você!

I recommend Battle Crust for fans of shoot 'em ups and 90s arcade games. While it doesn't feel quite as polished as Picorinne Soft's more recent release "Infinios Gaiden", It is an enjoyable game. The gameplay is basic overall and definitely on the slower side of things when it comes to shoot 'em up games. That being said, I found the game to have an enjoyable level of challenge, and I would say that it looks easier than it actually is. The controls are tight and responsive, and the basic mechanics are enjoyable. The deaths always feel fair and the game makes me want to keep playing to try to get farther. The scoring is extremely straightforward, with no multipliers or gimmicks, just points for killing enemies. There are no bombs, and power ups consist of various colored weapon orbs that all give you a basic level 1 upgrade or a level 2 upgrade that is unique to their color if you have level 1 already. You have a charge shot that is a shield against most of the bullet types at full charge. The basic gameplay is fun in the end, and relatively unique for a vertical shooter released in this day and age or otherwise. The game beyond the basic gameplay is slightly bare bones though. It would have been nice to have a level select type of practice or score mode, which is present in Infinos Gaiden, because as you master early parts of the game and come up against more difficult later levels it can begin to feel tedious playing through the initial levels to get to the part you are learning. The game is also missing online leaderboards, which would be nice but is forgivable in the end. For its price, the game is definitely worth it. The soundtrack in Battle Crust is also one of my new favorites. The first stage theme in particular really adds to the game and kept me wanting to come back initially despite dying a lot. It has been stuck in my head all week.

An excellent first release and a lot of fun to play. A shooting game in the vein of Image Fight and other late 80s arcade games. It's not a danmaku/bullet hell, but it is a very enjoyable ode to an earlier time with some well balanced difficulty, simple to grasp mechanics and some extra depth for those who look/want it.

Battle Crust is a nice call back to the shooter of the early sixteen-bit era. Instead of a constant barrage of bullets to dodge there is a more measured approach and a casual pace of play. It does not make the game a cake-walk but this type of design is ultimately more engaging in my view. I will play any type of shmup as long it is has solid fundamentals however for repeat playthroughs I've always preferred the more minimalist designs of the sixteen-bit era shooters. Wtih its' static but detailed backgrounds and catchy chip-tune music Battle Crust can be most closely compared to a Turbografx-16 Hucard game. Super Star Soldier comes to mind as the best parallel. The developer did a wonderful job of accurately recreating the feel of a shooter from that platform, which is not a common thing to achieve authentically. This would also be a good shooter for a entry-level player who does not want to feel instantly overwhelmed by the bullet barrage design of many modern examples of the genre, as long as you don't mind the visuals from a bygone era. That era represented my gaming prime so I have a special appreciation for the graphical presentation. Overall a well executed vertical shoot em up and recommended. The developers' more recent horizontal side-scroller is also very good; I'll be on the lookout for more from them in the future.