Why this Game is better than Old-School Side Scrolling Shooters
For many console cycles, I used to love side scrolling shooters. Whether it be R-Type, Gradius, anything by Treasure, etc., I used to have one or two of these games every console cycle. It really was just one of those staple genres that I loved to play every once in a while. However, when I first played PixelJunk Sidescroller, I had to ask myself: "When was the last time I seriously played one of these games?" What I finally realized is that it has been since about 2004 since R-Type Final and Contra: Shattered Soldier, which is a serious drought by any measure. Having finished PixelJunk Sidescroller (on Normal difficulty - now halfway through Hard), I can honestly say that Q Games has really improved upon the formula I remembered from this genre from generations past. If you've played a shooter, you already know about what to expect, so below is a list of key features that make this game special compared to the rest of the genre.
Visual Appeal - The team at Q Games can seemingly do no wrong when it comes to adding visual flair that really brands their games and makes them pop. The color palette, the liquid effects, the silky-smooth framerate - all of these elements combine to form a beautiful game that punctuates the core action and chaos on the screen. They even went so far as to change the color palette for each difficulty level, which was an unexpected treat. My only complaint was that the Hard difficulty colors made it difficult to distinguish lava (which kills you) from water (that repairs you).
Music - Once again, Q Games seems to consistently knock it out of the park by working with artists that deliver unique tunes that perfectly compliment the gameplay. I loved the mix of jazz and electronica as I weaved around the screen dodging swarms of bullets and enemies. This game really proves that the right music can really breath life into a game.
Water Mechanic - Most shooters are defined by the concept that if you get hit once, you die. This game gets rid of that mechanic and instead gives you a two hit limit. To the extent that you take one hit, you can fly under any water you see (raindrop, puddle, river, whatever) and it will repair your ship back to your two hit maximum. While some may complain that this is too easy, I found it a welcome addition to the genre that adds a new layer of strategy and tension as you scramble to get to a water source during the intense action. Believe me when I say that the core difficulty associated with shooters is still ever present with this game, but the water mechanic at least gives you an additional chance to survive.
Weapon Structure - From the very beginning, you always have access to three core weapons that you can switch to on the fly. While there are five levels of powerups for each weapon, each of the weapons is useful in certain situations and none feel over/underpowered. Contra: Shattered Soldier on PS2 also something similar and I loved it because you always feel like you have everything you need to win even when you die and have to continue. Thinking back to the Gradius series, you always felt awesome once you had all of your powerups and options...until you lost. When you lost all your cool stuff, you would feel helpless and want to turn the game off in frustration. PixelJunk Sidescroller constantly reinforces the idea that using the right weapon combination and strategy is more important than having a fully powered up ship, which I think is a welcome approach.
Level/Boss Design - I can appreciate the fact that some of the level design on display in this game are only possible on in this console generation given the graphical horsepower on display. The 3rd level and and final boss stages especially feature lots of moving elements that constantly throw you off guard and force you to quickly react. While many of the great shooters stand out by their levels and bosses, this game reaches a new level by delivering the hallowed combination of great design without slowdown or performance issues. Ikaruga is the only other game that I felt delivered this on the same level.
Checkpoints - Most shooters had some form of checkpointing, often one checkpoint placed in the middle of the level. PixelJunk Sidescroller gives you more frequent checkpoints (usually 3-4 per level) and is structured much more like a modern FPS (Gears of War, COD) where you basically have a checkpoint after every major encounter. There is still the classic penalty for losing all 3 of your lives in that you can continue from the last checkpoint and lose any of your weapon powerups. Again, I think this really helps bring the genre up to modern standards. If I want a high score, I can replay to practice getting through the level without dying. However, if I want to see the content in the game, I don't have to continually start the level over to go through the same challenges I've already finished once.
In closing, PixelJunk Sidescroller really brought me back to a genre that I grew up enjoying. I would highly recommend it to anyone that has similar fond memories of a genre that has lost much of its prominence the popular gaming culture. For $10, this is easily the best value and warrants an impulse purchase anytime you have a free evening and don't know what you want to play. Q Games has once again delivered a great title and I can't wait to see what they make next.
