It seems that Nippon Ichi Software America (NISA) isn’t done with giving shoot em’ ups (shmups) some love, which is appropriate since Valentine’s Day is this week. So grab your sweetheart, you Switch and a comfy couch as we check out NISA’s second collection of Psikyo shmups in Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo for the Nintendo Switch.
More arcade perfection
Six more games- Much like the first collection, Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha, Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo comes pack with six games: Samurai Aces, Tengai (Samurai Aces II), Samurai Aces III Sengouku Cannon, Gunbird, Gunbird 2 and Gunbarich. Just like with the games in Shooting Stars Alpha, the games in Shooting Stars Bravo are extremely hard to come by in arcade form. For the most part, I don’t think I’ve ever seen or played any of these games before in the arcade growing up. The Samurai Ace series has players flying through a futuristic version of the Sengoku period of Japan saving the Shogun’s daughter in each game. The only game that I have really heard about is Gunbird and Gunbird 2 and that’s through me searching for import Sega Saturn/Dreamcast games to collect. Well that and the fact that Gunbird came out in the US under the name Mobile Light Force for the PS1. You remember that game, the one that has the Charlie’s Angels look-a-likes on the front cover. If you decide to buy the original games (arcade board or console port) that will possibly cost a couple of hundred, if not thousands, of dollars. By having these games in a collection is a great way for the younger generation to experience them and for the older gen to relive the memories.
Same customization options as Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha- As I mentioned in the Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha review, by having these game in a collection/compilation players are able to customize their experience. They can adjust the number of points needed to get an extra live, adjust the starting number of lives, continues or make it freeplay and adjust the screen orientation, just to name a few options. In Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo those same option are present in the game as well.
Gunbarich- Like I just mention, the games in this collection are starting to get hard to come by, both in arcade and console forms. I do want to highlight one game in particular that I have never seen or heard of before and that’s Gunbarich. Gunbarich is a BreakOut/Arkanoids/Pinball style of game using characters from Gunbird. It’s a pretty fun and simple game and while it doesn’t have the pulse racing action of the other games, it does require the same hand/eye coordination as you race to clear the field before time runs out.
Sprites and music hold up- I really enjoy Psikyo’s sprite work and music, as mentioned in the Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha review. It would make sense that I would like the sprite work and music in Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo, which I do. I really liked the sprite designs and music of the Samurai Aces games as I really love all types of media that feature that period in Japan’s history.
Arcade graveyard
Samurai Aces III’s background not easy on the eyes- It might me be getting old but the 3D rendered backgrounds of Samurai Aces III’s background are not easy on the eyes. Esepesally when the game speeds up and there are tons of enemies and multicolored bullets filling the screen. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still a good game: the sprite work is good, the music jamming, its just the 3D background that gets to my eyes.
Two nitpicks- Much like Shooting Stars Alpha, Shooting Stars Bravo shares two nitpicks that I had for that game: no LAN support and no online leaderboards.
NISA has once again this year brought the joy of arcade shmups into the home with Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo. Most of what I liked in Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha is repeated here in Bravo. The same could be said about what I didn’t like/my nitpicks. If you long for the days of the arcade shooter and enjoyed Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha, Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo is a great companion to that.
