Yars Rising

Yars Rising is a short(ish), perfectly cromulent metroidvania with an absolute earworm of an OST from start to finish. It gets a passing grade not because anything is particularly outstanding (OST aside) but nothing drags it completely down. Wayforward obviously have a formula and know how to deliver, it's just that there isn't any element that really leaps out as a selling point. The character designs, enemies, and bosses (few as they may be) are all charming. The voice acting quality is extremely okay. Hacking mini-games add some much needed variety to the "exploration". Finding and managing upgrades to suit your playstyle is a nice way to spice things up. Lots of little nods to Atari history throughout. However, The lack of variety in enemies and areas makes everything feel repetitive. Emi will never ever shut up and always has a quip ready to go. Those same hacking mini-games are everywhere and will grind you down. Upgrades are mostly "do a bit more X" rather than altering how anything plays out. Pong. Really?? Is Yars worth playing over many other modern metroidvanias? Not really. I mean, just looking at Wayforward alone I would point to any of the Shantae games over this. But is Yars a total stinker that doesn't deserve the time of day? Also not really. Just don't pay full price for it. Oh, and the insect-lookin lady standing behind Emi in the key art? Never appears. Weird!

Tem waifu então é goty Sério Joguem, esse jogo é absolute videogame.

Merhabalar. WayForward'ın yaptığı en eğlenceli ve başarılı işlerden biri olduğunu düşünüyorum, bu firmayı bilen bilir çok komik, eğlenceli ve yaptığı işi kaliteli seslendirme ve karakter tasarımları ile süsleyen bir firmadır bu oyunda da bunu başarmışlar eğer daha önce WayForward'ın oyunlarından birini oynayıp hikaye sunumunu oynanış tarzını beğendiyseniz bu oyunu da beğenirsiniz. bu firmanın oyunlarının pek kıymeti bilinmiyor diye düşünüyorum kişisel olarak. birkaç çok başarılı örnek vereyim, River City serisi (Beat'em up) Contra Operation Galuga (klasik Run'n Gun) ve meşhur Shantae serisi (Metroidvania). eğer bu oyunları biliyorsanız hepsinin bir mizahi yönü vardır biliyorsunuzdur hepsinde karakter tasarımları çok başarılıdır ve seslendirmeleri başarılıdır grafik görsel tarzı keza çok iyidir. bu oyun da tam olarak böyle hatta mizahi yönü olarak baya iyi eğlenceli karakterler var. eğer Beat'em Up, Shot'em Up, Metroidvania ve 2D oyunları seviyorsanız bu oyunu ve tüm bu saydığım WayForward oyunlarını gözüm kapalı tavsiye ediyorum

Yars Rising, developed by WayForward and published by Atari, is a stylish sci-fi metroidvania that reimagines one of Atari’s oldest arcade franchises as a modern action-platforming adventure filled with exploration, hacking systems, stealth mechanics, and retro-inspired storytelling. Instead of simply recreating the original Yars’ Revenge formula with updated graphics, the game transforms the property into something entirely new while still preserving strong connections to its classic arcade roots. The result is an energetic and visually impressive experience that combines nostalgic ideas with contemporary game design in a surprisingly creative way. The story follows Emi Kimura, a talented hacker hired to infiltrate the massive QoTech corporation. What initially appears to be a simple espionage mission quickly develops into a larger conspiracy involving dangerous technology, hidden experiments, and mysterious connections tied to the Yars legacy. The cyberpunk-inspired setting blends futuristic corporations, advanced security systems, and retro science-fiction influences into a world that feels colorful and stylish without becoming overly complicated. While the narrative follows familiar genre themes involving corrupt corporations and hidden secrets, the strong presentation and fast pacing help keep the adventure consistently entertaining. One of the game’s strongest aspects is its visual presentation. WayForward’s signature animation quality is immediately noticeable through fluid character movement, expressive cutscenes, and vibrant futuristic environments. Laboratories, industrial complexes, digital systems, and hidden research facilities are all filled with bright neon colors and retro-inspired technology that constantly reinforce the game’s sci-fi identity. The visual style successfully balances nostalgia and modern design, making the world feel both classic and contemporary at the same time. Exploration forms the foundation of the gameplay experience. Like many metroidvanias, progression revolves around unlocking new abilities that gradually open previously inaccessible areas throughout the interconnected map. As Emi gains additional hacking tools, movement upgrades, and combat abilities, exploration becomes increasingly rewarding because players are encouraged to revisit older locations in search of hidden upgrades and secrets. The map design consistently rewards curiosity, and discovering new routes or hidden areas gives the progression a satisfying sense of momentum. Movement and traversal feel smooth throughout most of the adventure. Emi is agile and responsive to control, allowing players to chain jumps, dodges, wall movements, and platforming actions together naturally while navigating dangerous environments. The game steadily introduces new traversal abilities that expand movement options without overwhelming the player too quickly. This gradual increase in mobility helps exploration remain engaging throughout the campaign. Combat combines ranged attacks, environmental movement, and occasional stealth mechanics into a gameplay loop that stays entertaining even if it never reaches the complexity of the genre’s very best entries. Enemy encounters are fast-paced and visually energetic thanks to flashy attacks and responsive controls. Some sections encourage direct combat while others emphasize infiltration or careful positioning, helping the gameplay avoid becoming too repetitive during longer sessions. One of the most creative elements of Yars Rising is its hacking system. Instead of reducing hacking to menu interactions or simple puzzles, the game transforms many hacking sequences into retro arcade-style mini-games inspired by classic Atari titles. These sections act as both gameplay diversions and nostalgic tributes to the company’s history, giving the game a unique identity within the metroidvania genre. Several mini-games directly reference mechanics from older Atari releases, creating moments that feel playful and inventive rather than forced nostalgia. The soundtrack also deserves praise. Electronic music, energetic sci-fi themes, and atmospheric tracks help establish a strong retro-futuristic mood throughout the adventure. Several story moments are supported by more dramatic vocal tracks that give the game an almost anime-inspired energy during major narrative sequences. Combined with the colorful visuals, the audio design helps the world feel lively and memorable from beginning to end. Another enjoyable aspect of the game is its pacing. Yars Rising regularly alternates between exploration, platforming, hacking, combat, and stealth sections, ensuring the gameplay rarely feels stagnant. New mechanics and environmental challenges appear steadily enough to maintain interest while still keeping the overall structure accessible for players less experienced with metroidvanias. However, the game does have noticeable shortcomings. While the movement and exploration systems are enjoyable, some combat encounters eventually become repetitive once enemy patterns are fully understood. Certain areas also feel less complex than players might expect from a modern metroidvania, with platforming sections occasionally lacking the depth or challenge found in more refined genre competitors. The stealth mechanics are also somewhat inconsistent. Although they add variety to the gameplay loop, some infiltration sequences feel less polished than the exploration and action-focused sections. These moments occasionally interrupt the momentum established by the stronger platforming mechanics rather than enhancing them. The narrative, while entertaining, can also feel uneven at times. Some character interactions and story developments move too quickly, preventing certain emotional moments from having their full impact. The game introduces several interesting concepts involving corporate conspiracies and retro mythology, but not all of them receive equal development throughout the campaign. Difficulty balancing may also divide players. Some areas feel relatively forgiving while others suddenly increase enemy pressure or platforming demands. Although the game generally remains accessible, there are occasional moments where progression loses consistency due to uneven challenge design. Despite these flaws, Yars Rising succeeds because of its creativity, personality, and willingness to reinvent a classic property in an unexpected way. Rather than relying entirely on nostalgia, the game builds a modern action-adventure around the Yars concept while still honoring its arcade origins through hacking mini-games and retro-inspired design choices. The result is a metroidvania that feels energetic, stylish, and refreshingly different from many safer retro revivals. For fans of metroidvanias, action-platformers, and retro-inspired sci-fi adventures, Yars Rising delivers an entertaining and visually striking experience filled with exploration, hacking challenges, and nostalgic charm. While some mechanics lack the refinement needed to place it among the genre’s absolute best titles, its creativity, atmosphere, and strong presentation make it a memorable modern reinterpretation of a classic Atari franchise. Rating: 8/10

一応、ノーマルでクリアしました。 とにかく、ミニゲームが、いや、ミニゲームというより、、本編よりこっちのシューティングの方が私には難しく大変でした。 とりあえず回避できる手段も有るのですが、そこは折れずに意地になってやりました。年寄りなので反射神経は鈍いし、敵も小さくて見にくいのでキツく、やっとこさでしたが、まあ認知症の予防には良いかもしれませんね。 ただ気になる部分もあって、例えば場面場面でステータスの調整をしなければならないのは非常にめんどくさかったです。 また、画面の端でちょっと動くだけで隣のゾーンに移動してしまいロードが始まるのもめんどくさかったです。 やる前に自分が思ってたメトロイドヴァニアゲームとはちょっと違ってたのですが、楽しくは遊べました。 アクション苦手でも何度も挑戦すればクリアは可能です。 アクション得意の方には物足りないでしょうね。でも、クリア後にハードモードが出来るようになるので、どうぞ。 とにかく音楽が良いです。これは特筆すべき。 キャラクターもうるさいほどによくしゃべりますが、個性的でイキイキしてて、尚且つ面白いので悪くないです。

Woah, this game is amazing - I don't know why it has so little reviews :O OK, I think I might have and idea... I think it's a little to expensive. I've got mine in promo for about 10$. I could easily pay up to 29$ for it, but as I can see - in my country is much more expensive. But beside the price - the game is really fresh in metroidvania genre, even though characters are almost too talkative, they are pretty fun and I like them. Gameplay is smooth, stealth is rather a only a flavor rather than mechanic, but it's perfect for me - I don't like stealth, and here - it doesn't bother me. Combat is skill based, but no dash or something like that - just jump to avoid, think fast, use environment. I've never felt that boss is unfair or movement to clanky. Soundrack is simply the best - I love it <3

i went into playing this game not expecting it to be good at all and ended up getting hooked. played it none stop and later realized i beat the game. there's so much i still haven't done so will do another round. i doubt i could do a speed run, but hot damn i really enjoyed this!

While I did have fun with this game there were several parts that left me feeling disapointed and wanting more and overall it feels very undercooked. Pros: Gameplay is simple but fun, if a bit too easy for most of the games run time. Controls feel responsive and I never felt like I took a hit that was not deserved. I Loved the soundtrack, while it wont be for everyone I really enjoyed almost every song that played. The upgrade system is interesting and fun to play around with. Cons: The story is very lacking. They try to have some big moments but they never feel earned and things seem to just happen without any build up. The side characters are just annoying without adding anything worth while. The villan is boring and they just seem to forget some of the characters even exist at the end. This was by far one of the games worst aspects for me. Very disapointing given how cool the inital premise is. The voice acting is not great and has left a lot of people wishing they could turn it off. I didnt HATE it but it definetly could have been a lot better. Level design is very basic and the gameplay never evolves to something that really impresses. The Enviroments are boring and samey. Several of your "upgrades" that you can equipt feel like they should just be built in and not require you to waste a slot on them just for Quality of life. By the end of the game the upgrade system feels more tedious and annoying then interesting. This game really feels like wasted potential. While I did have fun with it and loved the music, it has so many little things that frustrate me overall I finished it feeling disapointed. Final verdit: One of Wayforward weaker titles. Does not even come close to matching the highs of the Shantae series. Best I can give it is a 6 out of 10. Get it on sale or just skip alltogether.

Utterly boring level design, dull combat, and yawn-inducing power ups make this a Metroidvania I could barely stomach for more than an hour. The dialogue is terrible across the board, but that’s the least of this game’s problems. And the hacking mini-games…my God. Almost every door you unlock has some variation of a very easy Space Invaders shoot em up. I was tired of them by like the 5th one, and I’d imagine they spam you with them constantly until the endgame. No thanks. Soundtrack is great though. Listen to that on Spotify and you’ll skip over needing to play this game to enjoy it.

I wanted to like this game. Really. And in the start, I did. But the hacking minigame starts to drag on and really starts to just suck. Yeah, there's an accessibility option to make them easy but the fact that I'm starting to seriously consider using it says a lot to me. Then there's the upgrades. Most of them are okay. But there's a lot of jank. A lot of times where my wall jump just said no. I don't like how that you can't go from a corner grab into a jump. You just go up or down. It's awkward. And there's just how many moves that use the same resource. WHY is my high jump connected to a resource? My drone is too and so are my missals. If you run out of that resource (you only have 10 by default) You just have to go collect more and then come back to try again. Then there's the high jump itself. It really feels shorter than it seems like it should be. Like there's a moment soon after you get it to get an extra thing and you just can't make it at all. It just feels really awkward. It really feels like it could have just been a double jump instead of holding up and pressing A. Some people don't like all the talking but compared to all the ones I play that are either silent or too really serious about their theme it's a really good change of pace. And I find it kind of charming. So it's very much in a weird middle ground for me. The fact you can get around the hacking minigames does bring it back. But with all the jank and such. It's hard to recommend. But I also find a lot of it charming. But when a game makes me be like "Nope. ♥♥♥♥ this. I'll come back later" And it's NOT a part that's supposed to frustrating or whatever. It gets the no from me.