Retaliate Review (PS5)
Summary: A retro inspired space shooter with intriguing elements that will have you lowering your guard.
3.8
Galactic Safeguard
Defense is the best offense in this astronomic voyage of revenge! Retaliate is a retro styled top-down, action, arcade, shoot ‘em up developed and published by Romans I XVI Gaming and released on July 15th of 2024. The game takes inspiration from older similar styled SHMUP classics like Galaxian, Raiden, and Ikaruga. The crux and twist of the gameplay is that you don’t start off with any firepower! Someone has wrangled up all of the galaxy’s weapons and it’s up to you to pursue them and take them down along with anyone or anything else that gets in your way.
The gameplay of Retaliate is a blast. Although you don’t start off with any typical weapon, you always have your shield. Not only does flying into enemies with your shield take them down, but activating your shield and absorbing incoming enemy fire will net you with that ammunition that was just being shot at you. This curveball in the mechanics adds some extra flair to the gameplay that instantly provides a layer of challenge not often seen in games like this. Each level introduces a new type of weapon that you can assimilate which in turn gives you more opportunities for success, but also ramps up the difficulty. There’s simple bullets you can fire back one at a time at your foes, homing missiles that chase the enemy ships down, explosive mines that take out large groups of the opposition at a time, and more.
The challenge and entertainment of the game is the logistics of this design. Making it through a level is easy enough, but mastering the ins and outs of the gameplay will give you the expertise to not be constantly losing your precious lives. Your shield doesn’t last forever and has a cooldown meter. Using it for too long will deactivate it, making you an easy target. Do you want to take down your adversaries to build up your combo meter to get more lives or do you want to focus on getting as much ammo as possible to save up for the boss fights? Your actions have consequences. Many times, I was focusing on dodging the incoming waves of enemies and digesting their sweet relentless barrage only to run out of shield and suffer a loss, taking away all of the firepower I had accumulated and wasting time that could’ve gone toward racking up points for extra lives.
Retaliate has a great deal of replay value through its different modes. Story Mode guides you through the basics and is appreciated for people that like some sort of through line you can follow that gives you a purpose to play. You can work on your high scores in Endless Mode, try to complete levels perfectly in Trials Mode, or attempt the different difficulties in a more retro approach in Classic Mode. You can also change the make of your ship, the color, as well as the color of your shield in the Hanger.
The game looks good graphically and has an old-school style to it that calls back to the familiar. The serene setting of the outer space backdrop overlapped by the cold, rigid, metallic ballistic capsules creates a dynamic playing space. The pew of bullets, crunchy explosions, and flutter of your ship really pulls you into the fray. The tech house-like music is spectacular and sounds otherworldly with crispy piano notes and funky bass chords that keep you grooving on this out of this world endeavor.
Final Thoughts?
Retaliate is an entertaining game that accomplishes its fun through its execution. The only problem I had with it is that I wanted more. I can definitely see through its tightly sewn seams how this game can be expanded on. This classic take on the genre is able to dawn its own original style through its sophisticated design and addicting gameplay. Jump in and take flight on this arcade journey through the stars.
About the Author
Nay Clark Gaming holds a special place in my heart and I never stop talking about video games. I really love all types of games and have an interest in games that have complicated stories and lore because I enjoy untangling the mystery of it all. When I'm not gaming, I unsuccessfully try to control three amazing and incredibly bright kids.
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