Enemy Mind

Contra in space

For a person who doesn't play shoot 'em ups, this game is not a great entry point. The hit boxes on your ship's bullets are small plus somewhat slow, and dodging the enemy bullets after getting a shot in is difficult. Additionally, not enough lives are given, or the ships need more health other than two hits. If you're into shoot 'em ups, this game would probably be interesting, but if you're new or unfamiliar to the genre, this game is not a great entry point.

A shoot ‘em up where you capture other spaceships. That’s a great hook and it’s a fun game. However, I fear as someone in their 50s, I no longer have the reaction time to beat this game. That said, I’ve gotten my money’s worth and I can recommend it to others.

Enemy Mind hooked me immediately with its core gimmick: possessing enemy ships rather than collecting powerups, which turns every wave into a real-time puzzle about which ships to save and which to destroy. The constant switching keeps things fresh, and each ship type feels distinct enough that swapping mid-battle actually matters. That said, the difficulty ramps up hard in the later levels, and having to replay a full 8-10 wave stage because a boss one-shots you gets old fast. It's a short game — I cleared it in a few hours — but the clever mechanics and surprisingly interesting story make it worth a look, especially on sale.

The game mechanic of being able to take over other ships really makes this game, and you’re forced to do this constantly since the ships seem to have a much more limited ammo supply than the usual arcade shooter ships. I got this in a bundle at some point. But I’d say it’s easily worth a few bucks, especially on sale, if you like collecting horizontal space shooters.

Enemy Mind combines an engaging story, solid mechanics, and arcade-style combat into a truly nostalgic experience. The gameplay captures the rush of classic arcade games — no checkpoints, high stakes, and the thrill of perfecting each run. Level design and pacing are strong, though I only managed to reach the fourth level so far. The visuals and audio perfectly complement the retro-arcade atmosphere, immersing you in the experience. While the difficulty can be steep, it’s part of the game’s charm, making every victory feel well-earned. For fans of strategy and arcade shooters, Enemy Mind delivers a challenging, rewarding, and timeless experience.

Очень интересный концепт, в свое время на удивление затянула на несколько часов.

I was admittedly unprepared for just how much fun the game's core mechanic would be. Honestly, I don't remember how Enemy Mind ended up in my library. I know I didn't go out of my way to buy it. Was it part of a bundle? A gift from a friend? Regardless, the point is that it didn't end up in my library because I was actively interested in it and went out of my way to buy it -- but if I'd known how clever the game was, I absolutely [i]would have[/i]. The mechanic of being able to take control of any ship at any time is a truly liberating experience. It completely turns the space shooter genre on its head, and empowers you as the player in an amazingly fun way. Not only that, but having multiple hits before death instead of genre staples like Gradius keeps the fun going longer (and gives you the experience of being able to swap to a ship in a better state of repair) while still punishing you with lost score multiplier, which I think is a fair way to reward those who truly dig into the game's mechanics and optimization. To be clear, this [i]is[/i] an arcade game. It does a much better attempt at a story than 90% of games in the space shooter genre, which is...not saying a lot. There isn't a lot of meat here to chew on, but when held up against similar titles, the unique ship swapping mechanic easily allows Enemy Mind to stand on its own. Progress in the game permanently unlocks the ability to start at later levels, so it's not a bad game to play in bite-size chunks if you're looking to kill a few minutes and don't have the time to start up a deeper title.

A fabulous throwback to sidescrolling space shooters with a fantastic twist. The game really pushes you to move fast and make quick decisions. Took me out of my normal comfort zone in a great way.

Помните эти игры, где звездолёт летит и стреляет? Ну вот. Если хочется вспомнить, как оно было на игровых автоматах - самое оно.