[h1] Overview [/h1]
Adopting a retro arcade 8-bit art style, the SWR JST DX Selective Memory Erase Effect, or Sword Justice Deluxe Selective Memory Erase Effect plays as a 2D platformer where you move your character, a mechanical android cat through different layers of fear clusters in order to reach an end terminal to log out and return to the real world where his link partner, M1Mi resides in. Along the way, the cat meets many parts of the operating system that take a physical form as enemies. In order to progress through the game, players must complete each level by moving their character from the left to the right; killing enemies along the way which will increase your score. The developer has taken an extra step, whether intentional or not to bring the complete experience of a CRT arcade cabinet by featuring in-game screen brightness control for CRTs’, three button layouts found on cabinets and of course, infinite continues.
[h1] The Good [/h1]
SWR JST DX Selective Memory Erase Effect follows true to the standard cabinet platformer. To give an idea of how the game is like, think of the original metal slug, except your default weapon is a blade instead of a pistol. Jumping, ducking, dodging, button mashing all the good mechanical components of cabinet games are retained in SWR JST DX SMEE and mesh really well to play a fun to play game.
SWR JST DX Selective Memory Erase Effect’s visuals are extremely well done. For a game with only 256 different shades of colours to work with, this game manages to bring colourful visuals with unique background design for every chapter. Although enemy mechanics and attack patterns were used in more than one type of enemy, each chapter of the game introduced new and special looking sprites for all the enemies.
The difficulty of the game increases at a reasonable rate. The first few chapters introduce players to the mechanics, and slowly become more demanding, such as throwing daggers while dodging and immediately air strafing in the opposite direction to slash an incoming enemy.
The plot is based off of a good concept which actually revolves around an inner conflict that appears within the player. Taking a step back, you can see there are two sides of the story. One of which is really evident to the player, the cat’s drive to log out of this nightmare and return to M1Mi. But in order to reach the terminal, all the operating system enemies’ have everything that they longed for destroyed. Looking back into the dialogue between the main characters, reveals that the main antagonist isn’t even truly evil, but just someone whose ideals sided with the OS components.
[h1] The Bad [/h1]
Let’s start with the game itself. Mentioned earlier, I’m not sure whether or not the developer decided to bring about the whole experience of old arcade games including the problems, or was just simply limited by the game engine they are working with. Please note, at the time of writing this review, the game cannot save, meaning each time you start the game up, you have to start from the very beginning. The argument may be that the game is short and can be completed in one sitting, but it is just a poor excuse that a save function not be implemented, if high scores can be recorded. SWR JST DX SMEE also has problems shutting down properly. The window may close, but it hangs on steam locking you in-game. In order to play your other games again you have to shut down steam and restart the client.
Level design is not the best, and is very evident in the ice chapter where you utilize the same run and gun strategy. Progression between levels can be spontaneous and abrupt with no warning narrative as seen by the mine cart stage. The result is a lot of gimmicky level designs that force you to lose a life no matter what, unless you’ve played through a second time.
The game itself is contradictory as to the scoring style. 2D side-scrolling platformer games like these usually are fast paced because they provide you with a ranged default weapon and unlimited ammunition. Since SWR JST DX Selective Memory Erase Effect gives you a sword as a default weapon, you will often find yourself kiting backwards and staying just outside of the enemy hit range. Anyone who has played a 2D side-scroller knows that going back the way you came from breaks the tempo of the game and since scoring is widely based off of number of enemies killed, you are forced to kill your enemies, making pacifist and speed runs totally redundant, not to mention impossible on some of the later levels.
The plot itself is pretty shallow and leaves a lot to be desired. Yes, the writer may have been going for a hero vs villain scenario, but nine lines of text between levels is not enough for the player to connect with the characters, leaving an empty and hollow characters. It really is not enough for the player to judge the scenario correctly, and is hard to sympathize for the other cast of characters that are being antagonized.
[h1] Overall Score [/h1]
As a complete package I rate Sword Justice Deluxe Selective Memory Erase Effect at 4/10. This game is just too large of a hassle to get up and running and an even bigger annoyance when it comes to shutting down. If you look at just the game, I would personally score this game at 6/10 just for the amazing visuals and good controls. The reason it isn’t higher is because the game really falls short in terms of level design. But if the game’s art piques your interest and your computer successfully passes the [url=https://nekomuragames.itch.io/swr-jst-dx-selective-memory-erase-effect] tech demo [/url], give this game a try.
