That said, Alpha is clearly the superior of the two collections as the three Strikers 1945 games and Dragon Blaze represent Psikyo at their very best. Some artwork and bonus features would’ve been nice, but the important thing is that the emulation is very good and so, in general, are the games.
Although given the obscurity of Psikyo we can’t honestly say we’re surprised or all that upset. Which means you get absolutely nothing beyond the games themselves, with no save states, rewind options, or any of the other comforts of most modern re-releases. But the digitised graphics are horrendously ugly and the pace of action slow and uninteresting.Īs you might imagine, Psikyo Shooting Stars Bravo is the same basic set-up as the first collection. It’s a shame, because it is trying to do something different, with some minor role-playing elements and what is essentially melee combat. The only dud in the collection is Sol Divide, and that’s not just because it’s the only horizontally scrolling one.
#Sol divide switch full
This takes some getting used to, but the game makes full use of the ability in the stage design, with enemies appearing from every part of the screen and not just floating in from the top every time. Zero Gunner 2 is another unusual one in that you’re flying a helicopter that you can rotate around 360° by holding down a button.
#Sol divide switch plus
There’s no museum mode to explain who Psikyo were or provide a historical context for any of the games – or an explanation for why Strikers 1945 Plus (a remake of the second game) and Zero Gunner 1 aren’t included. It’s cheaper to buy them all together as part of this compilation but the problem is that it really is just the games. It’s also the first time the third entry has been released on a home console, whereas the others are all available individually already. Surprisingly, the two sequels are not only just as good but manage to feel quite different, especially the third one, which switches time period to the modern day (or rather 1999). The result is a near perfect blend of old and new influences, in a game that’s challenging but not offputtingly difficult. Despite their hardcore credentials, Psikyo games are never punishingly hard, at least at first, and while they do have elements of bullet hell they’re not quite that abstract either.
#Sol divide switch series
Strikers 1945 is heavily influenced by Capcom’s 1942 series but with a more fantastical bent, where relatively realistic blimps and tanks always seem to have a final form that’s a transforming robot. The games included in Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha are the three Strikers 1945 games, Sol Divide, Dragon Blaze, and Zero Gunner 2. Their most famous franchises are Gunbird, Strikers 1945, and Zero Gunner but they produced more than enough quality games in their short lifespan to fill out two compilations – Alpha and Bravo – without too much filler. They were bought out and shut down in the early 2000s, but not before leaving behind a host of acclaimed 2D shooters (and some grotty soft porn mah-jong games). Psikyo was a Japanese arcade maker in the 90s, with many of the team starting off by working on Sonic Wings (aka Aero Fighters) before starting up their own studio.
But one thing it was clearly born to play is vertical-scrolling 2D shooters, which just so happens to be the focus of these two compilations and our favourite genre of retro game. The success of the Nintendo Switch has been a surprise on a number of levels, from becoming the format of choice for the majority of indie developers to playing host to a number of highly demanding third party ports, from Doom to The Witcher 3. Two collections of classic 2D shooters, including Strikers 1945 and Gunbird come to Switch, but do they have anything to offer non-fans? Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha – Japanese psycho (pic: NIS America)
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