VASARA Collection

71%
Game Brain Score Based on 43 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • music
VASARA Collection Game Cover
If you’re a fan of shoot ’em ups, it’s nice when you can finally get your hands on those previously unavailable to you.
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"VASARA Collection" is a retro-style shoot 'em up game featuring vertical scrolling levels and intense action. The collection includes the two Vasara games, known for their historic alternative setting and innovative "Variable Shooter" system, as well as enhanced versions with new modes and features. Players control anime-inspired characters with unique abilities, battling through hordes of enemies and powerful bosses in a feudal Japan setting.

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Reviews

71%
Audience ScoreBased on 43 reviews
gameplay5 positive mentions
music3 negative mentions
  • The collection includes two classic shmups and a new mode, Timeless, which offers a fun and modern take on the original games.
  • The gameplay is engaging with a unique melee mechanic that adds depth to the traditional shooting experience.
  • The price is very affordable, especially during sales, making it a great value for fans of the genre.
  • The port suffers from poor optimization, including low resolution graphics and lag issues, which detracts from the overall experience.
  • The controls are not customizable, forcing players to use unconventional key bindings that can be frustrating.
  • The game is extremely difficult, which may not appeal to casual players or those new to the shmup genre.
  • gameplay14 mentions

    Vasara's gameplay emphasizes melee attacks as the primary weapon, requiring players to master its mechanics for success, particularly during engaging boss fights. The game features quick side strafing and a unique above melee mechanic, contributing to its arcade-style, reflex-based challenges. While the gameplay is praised for its satisfaction and addictive nature, it is noted to lack some features compared to other titles in the genre.

    • “The gameplay, visuals, and music are all awesome.”
    • “Challenging gameplay.”
    • “Boss fights are really good in this game due to the melee mechanic.”
    • “Vasara is not really a shmup technically speaking as the melee attack is what you should use as your main weapon; learn its mechanics.”
    • “Everything's great in terms of gameplay, but still lacking in features compared to the alternatives.”
    • “The game has low-res graphics (for the classic mode) and features old-school style gameplay.”
  • graphics10 mentions

    The graphics of the game vary significantly between modes, with high-quality visuals in nonscrolling areas on 4K monitors and nostalgic low-resolution graphics in classic mode. While the new "timeless" version features updated and clean graphics, it may require a powerful graphics card for optimal performance. Overall, the presentation is praised for its artwork, though some users find the new designs unappealing.

    • “Great presentation and artwork.”
    • “The gameplay, visuals, and music are all much awesome.”
    • “Vasara Timeless is the new game in this collection and while clearly low budget, the graphics are still really clean and it all looks really good.”
    • “High quality graphics only applies to the non-scrolling areas on a 4K monitor.”
    • “The game has low-res graphics (for the classic mode) and features old-school style gameplay.”
    • “Also, the new artwork is really ugly.”
  • music3 mentions

    The music in the game is generally praised for its quality and contribution to the overall experience, with many finding it superior to other titles. However, players have expressed a need for audio sliders to balance the sound effects, which are often too loud compared to the music.

    • “The gameplay, visuals, and music are all amazing.”
    • “Gameplay in the originals is satisfying and addictive, with great graphics and music that are far superior to Gunbird, in my opinion.”
    • “The game desperately needs audio sliders for the original titles; the sound effects are obnoxiously loud compared to the music.”
    • “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged during gameplay.”
    • “The soundtrack feels out of place and doesn't match the game's atmosphere, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The optimization of the new 3D Vasara game has been heavily criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues, including severe lag and poor overall execution compared to the original titles. Many feel that the game is not only poorly optimized but also visually inferior to its predecessors.

    • “Honestly, I just wanted to play the original Vasara games, not this new 3D piece of crap that runs terribly poorly. It's badly optimized, lags significantly, and honestly looks inferior to the original Vasara games.”
  • story1 mentions

    The story is characterized as a pulp narrative, suggesting it may be sensationalized or formulaic, potentially lacking depth or originality.

    • “The story feels like a cliché, lacking originality and depth.”
    • “The narrative is disjointed and fails to engage the player.”
    • “Character development is shallow, making it hard to care about their journeys.”
  • replayability1 mentions

    Players highlight the game as having significant replay value, indicating that it offers a compelling experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.

    • “A really, really good game with tons of replay value.”
    • “The variety of choices and outcomes makes me want to play again and again.”
    • “Each playthrough feels fresh and exciting, offering new experiences every time.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

75% average critic score

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