UOOGHHHH 😭😭😭😭😭

A very short game with very challenging yet fun gameplay and a surprisingly dreary, bleak (albeit somewhat thin) plot. This is the first time I've played a game of this kind (a "3D" bullet hell) and I am SOLD.

The presentation of this game is what I think deserves the most praise. The visuals are very charming and are reminiscent of the good ol' arcade shoot 'em ups. There is obvious pandering to a certain kind of otaku but it's easily looked past considering how cohesive the visuals feel. The stage transitions and the way the environment renders is breathtaking, even at the breakneck speeds the game plays. On the flipside, this can also feel visually overwhelming with the way the environment speeds past you. Some of the effects in the environment can make the bullets harder to see (especially things like lighting on buildings in the night stages and weather effects). Nothing too frustrating, but can get a bit dizzying. There is also some really interesting environment hazards that you have to dodge which makes the bullet hell even more engaging (for example, there's a stage where you have to dodge a bunch of footbridges, there is also a stage where you enter a train tunnel and have to move along the curvature of the tunnel otherwise you get hurt really bad). The music while somewhat lacking (there's only around 5 or so tracks and music only changes every 3 stages or so) also evokes the shoot 'em up feel and atmosphere.

Gameplay, while very fun throughout, can be a bit of a mixed bag experience at some points. I'm not sure if it's me being bad at this genre, but finding patterns and trying to dodge bullets sometimes feels like a fool's errand and I just run into them often. The final stage in particular is frustrating since it feels like every corner is chock full of bullets. Either way, the shooting, the movement and the split-second decision making is thoroughly enjoyable. Despite the frustrations, being able to weave through bullets is unbelievably satisfying. The main story is rather short and the actual "meat" of the game is the Endless mode, very much like an arcade game. This can feel repetitive especially for those who did not grow up around these kind of game.

Overall a solid 7-8/10 for me. At the price it is at, there's really not much to lose at trying it. I hope to see a sequel with more stages, modes, and an expanded story, as I actually found the thin plot and some dialogue lines very intriguing.

CUNNY 😭😭