Confusion abounds with this one. This isn’t the identical Shockman that was initially launched for the TurboGrafx-16 again in 1991, which was a localisation of Japan’s Shubibinman 2. This, Cyber Citizen Shockman, is a brand new 2023 translation of the unique Shubibinman recreation from 1989; and admittedly, that’s essentially the most particular factor about it.
Right here a map overworld presents a selection of a number of paths, every resulting in a really transient platforming stage scattered with enemies and pitfalls to leap over and keep away from. Every has a boss, starting from nice-looking mecha-styled issues or well-rendered monsters, requiring little besides speedy spamming early-on, and extra concerted technique later, relying in your well being. Visiting the map display presents up transient dialogue exchanges and the choice to heal your self or purchase weapon upgrades with gold acquired through the stage. Deaths will barely penalise your gold bounty, however hostages you save with every boss defeat additionally provide transient bonuses, health-ups, and sometimes change into everlasting map fixtures, just like the devoted therapeutic nurse. Boosting weapon energy is your modus operandi, ultimately buying the chargeable Shockbeam – an addition that makes issues rather more pleasurable and shifts your strategy to enemy negotiations.
The issue is, the sport is hobbled by essentially the most infuriatingly sluggish controls. Your character’s preliminary strolling velocity is treacle gradual, and never a lot better at full trot. Shockman can also be beholden to one of many worst crimes 2D gaming can commit: inertia. This causes you to slip a very good few steps in both route whilst you crush the D-pad attempting to appropriate your place. The sport’s extremely quick levels have clearly been designed round this management scheme, though it appears extra a lazy methodology to artificially broaden the marketing campaign’s lifespan – and that’s on high of lots of structural recycling till you attain the finale.
To its credit score, there are some fascinating design options, with a selection of female and male characters (who play identically) and a two-player simultaneous mode. The store and improve pursuits are first rate targets to work towards, however in the end it’s so hamstrung by its laborious motion and infuriating leap mechanics that it’s onerous to suggest. It appears to be like and sounds okay for an early PC Engine title, and it’s cute sufficient, however there are three extra entries within the sequence that get progressively higher.
As with different Ratalaika Sport retro revisits, the presentation is rudimentary however comes with pretty complete set of choices to regulate the picture, display curvature, scanline density, and gamma, all of that are extremely tweakable. Quick-forward and rewind options make issues that bit extra bearable and the gallery is at all times a pleasant diversion if you wish to peruse clear scans of the guide particulars, in addition to unique case and media.
On the entire although, whereas some enjoyable could be had if you happen to actually dig in and try to be taught Shockman with complete conviction, it stays the lesser of its sequence, has aged pretty poorly, and can actually solely attraction to diehard retro fans who need to personal a chunk of gaming historical past on a contemporary format.