RagingBlasters
- January 22, 2021
- TERARIN GAMES
Get on Steam"Raging Blasters" is a Shooter game with delightful mechanics, pretty visuals, and a wonderful soundtrack. It offers single-player and two-player cooperative play, both locally and online, with the latter allowing for score comparisons. The game boasts eight stages in Arcade mode and a Caravan mode for 3-minute score attacks, controlled using a directional stick and three customizable buttons, with various weapons and patterns for an exhilarating experience.
Reviews
- Raging Blasters is a fantastic tribute to classic 16-bit shooters, offering fast-paced gameplay and a great soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
- The game is beginner-friendly, making it an excellent entry point for newcomers to the shmup genre, while still providing enough depth and challenge for veterans.
- With its clear visuals, tight controls, and various difficulty modes, Raging Blasters delivers an addictive and enjoyable shooting experience that encourages replayability.
- Some players find the weapon power-up system to be overly abundant, leading to accidental changes that can disrupt gameplay, especially during boss fights.
- While the game is generally easy, certain boss encounters can feel tedious and require specific strategies that may detract from the overall enjoyment.
- The graphics, while retro-inspired, may come off as simplistic to some, and the game could benefit from more varied enemy types and patterns.
- music28 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised as a standout feature, with many reviewers highlighting its catchy, beautiful, and fast-paced nature that complements the gameplay perfectly. While some noted minor issues with specific arrangements and repetitiveness, the overall sentiment is that the soundtrack is a significant asset, making it a must-listen for fans of the genre. Many recommend purchasing the soundtrack bundle to fully appreciate its quality.
“The music is the high point of the game.”
“The pace is fast, the music is beautiful, and there is a lot of love and hard work that were put into making this game.”
“Brilliant soundtrack, which goes well with the pace of each stage.”
“Only downsides are that some of the bosses are lackluster, the scanline effect is iffy, and the chiptune arrangement of the soundtrack isn't that great.”
“But the normal soundtrack?”
“Very catchy soundtrack, recommended if you like fast pop music, a bit repetitive.”
- gameplay20 mentions
- 65 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics that offer a rewarding experience, blending simple scoring systems with a smooth difficulty curve suitable for both beginners and veterans. Players appreciate the arcade-style action, engaging boss battles, and the nostalgic aesthetic reminiscent of classic shoot 'em ups, all enhanced by an outstanding soundtrack. Overall, the game delivers a thrilling and addictive experience that encourages skillful play and replayability.
“The overall gameplay is frantic, yet very enjoyable to play with a learning curve just right for beginners and those who want to decompress.”
“Not only is the gameplay fast, fluid, and rewarding, but there are lots of nice extra touches here and there: for instance, a lot of useful stats for your current run are displayed on the sides of the screen.”
“The game's mechanics may seem simple at first glance, but you can get very tricky and stylish in subsequent runs if you plan ahead.”
“The gameplay is very fast-paced, exciting, and keeps you on your toes even in seemingly 'slower' sections.”
“As well, the main scoring mechanics—chaining kills and collecting crystals upon enemy death—are simple enough that I felt like I understood how to min/max from the second or third playthrough.”
- graphics14 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 21 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are characterized by a minimalist, retro aesthetic that evokes an 80s-90s arcade feel, with options like scanlines enhancing the nostalgic experience. While some players prefer the clarity of the PC version, the graphics are generally praised for their simplicity, colorfulness, and ability to convey action clearly, making them suitable for fast-paced gameplay. Overall, the visuals may lack high fidelity but effectively complement the game's engaging mechanics and style.
“The graphics are fantastic in their arcade-y retro style, and you can have the option to add scanlines as well (although there is no option for you to rotate the monitor to maximize the size, but it's still visible!).”
“The graphics have a wonderful 8-bit aesthetic which provides a clean and clear view of the action, which is a good thing as the game moves at a really fast pace.”
“The PC Engine style graphics and gameplay are superb, which all come together brilliantly to create an addictive shooter with depth and style.”
“The graphics have a minimalist look that were made in MS Paint.”
“The Switch edition has technically better graphics (not better) and probably will suit some people better.”
“Besides the awesome scoring mechanics and the accurately tailored difficulties, the graphics of the game, though muted and not as pretty as some other titles from Cave or Toaplan, suit the theme and style of the game beautifully as the game really exudes an 80's-90's feel.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find that while the game is generally fun and beginner-friendly, certain bosses, particularly the final form of the last boss, can become tedious without the appropriate weapons, suggesting that grinding for better gear or skills may be necessary to enhance the experience and achieve top scores.
“On normal difficulty, some of the bosses, especially the last boss's final form, can be a bit tedious if you don't have the right weapon.”
“Fun and beginner-friendly STG, with enough depth to warrant grinding out top scores.”
- story2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The story is engaging and accessible, making it an excellent starting point for beginners, while still offering depth for more experienced players. It features a classic sci-fi narrative where two space-age girls pilot advanced fighters to save humanity from mechanized threats, blending familiar themes with a fresh perspective.
“What do you get when you combine Star Soldier with the usual idea that one - nay, two space-age girls volunteer to fly their hi-tech space fighters in a mission to save mankind and the galaxy from mechanized overlords?”
“The story feels like a jumbled mix of clichés, lacking originality and depth.”
“The characters are one-dimensional and fail to evoke any real emotional connection.”
“The plot twists are predictable, making the overall experience feel stale and uninspired.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 200 % positive mentions
- -400 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is primarily driven by the arcade mode, which can be completed in about 25-30 minutes, encouraging players to return for higher scores and cooperative play with friends.
“Each playthrough offers new challenges and surprises, making you want to dive back in for just one more round.”
“The variety of characters and strategies keeps the gameplay fresh, encouraging multiple runs to explore all the possibilities.”
“The arcade mode can be completed in roughly 25-30 minutes, and the replay value of the game comes from scoring higher and enjoying cooperative fun with friends.”
“Once you finish the main story, there's little incentive to play again, as the side quests feel repetitive and uninteresting.”
“The lack of diverse gameplay mechanics means that after a few runs, the experience becomes stale and predictable.”
