Recently,
I saw the animated series AIR which was an excellent show in my opinion. When I was looking for
info on the computer game (what the series was based on), I saw a
website containing a certain type of shooter called AIRRADE. Studio
SiestA, the developers of this game, created a shoot em' up game
using the characters, music, and the settings from AIR. This game is
a Doujin title, meaning that
it's a fan made game. I was totally blown away by this, and I had to
download the demo (and eventually, find the full version). This is
the third of the AIRRADE series. The first two are the original game,
AIRRADE, and the expansion pack, AIRRADE -Summer-. This is the two
versions combined packed with even more features.
Note that although this game is in Japanese, you do not need to learn the language in order to enjoy this shooter.
Gameplay
[10/10]:
AIRRADE
is similar to any shooter game out there. Basically you press a key
to shoot at enemies, and you move your character with the arrow keys.
However, not only do you get that, but also three attacks that the
character can perform. One is a punch, which knocks the
enemy out and destroying other enemies in the way. The next attack is
an uppercut. Like the powerful punch, it also knocks a enemy out and
destroys other enemies in the way. If you use the right arrow key and
then press the key that performs the punch and uppercut, you will
perform an EX attack, which is a stronger version of the punch and
uppercut.
There
is also another attack called
AIR, which if used properly, can be very deadly. The attack will gather
energy to the character, and you must move the character to the enemies
in order for the attack to work. However, you must collect many items before it can be
used. On the top right corner, there is a AIR gauge. Once it is filled
up, you'll be able to use the special AIR attack. Also, the upgrades
that you collected will be reverted back to its original form, slowly
recovering. Once you've
mastered the moves and the controls, you will be able to have an
easier time mastering AIRRADE.
Your
main goal is to defeat all the enemies and bosses, collect as many
items as you possibly can, and advance to the
next level. However, you must also try your best to get the highest
score possible. The key to mastering this game is creating a chain.
When
you perform a punch or uppercut, if you're performing it close to a
group of enemies, you create a chain. The more enemies the better,
because you rack up more points this way rather than just shooting at
the enemies. However, the punch and uppercut requires energy, which
will needs to be recovered. During this short process, you will be
unable to perform the punch or uppercut attacks. You will have to have
equal use of both shooting and performing these attacks to get many
points.
Each
character has their own weapon to use. For example, Misuzu is able to
shoot dinosaur eggs at the enemy. Kano shoots at the enemies by using
her magic, and Minagi shoots Rice Tickets at them. With upgrades, they
are able to have even more powerful weapons. It's important to know
which character works the best for you. There is no “best”
character, so you must have the skill to master the
game as well.
In
terms of storyline, however, there isn't really much of a story. At
the beginning of each level, you see text representing each “Day”
or level, explaining a little bit about the main story. If you've
seen or played AIR, you'll see that the story is similar to it. The
main focus of AIRRADE is on the gameplay.
Difficulty
[10/10]:
This
game is fun and addictive, but it's not easy to master, even when
you're in easy mode. You will not be able to get an excellent score
the first time around, and may perform the same level many times
before you advance further. Also, with the amount of enemies on the
screen at the same time, it gets very crazy and chaotic. People who
are fans of shooters will enjoy the difficulty that AIRRADE has to
offer. People who are new to shooters may have a hard time beating
the game. However, it is not so hard that you'll give up easily and
quit playing.
Graphics
[10/10]:
Perhaps
the greatest part of AIRRADE is the graphics. Although the game is a
traditional 2D shooter, the details the creators put into the
characters and the enemies are excellent. The backgrounds are also
very nice, as are the special effects. Although on my laptop I was
able to play the game at full speed, you may need a fast enough
desktop or laptop computer to experience the game at its best. Check
the link for the demo at the end of the review to check the system
requirements.
Another thing to point out is that the characters and the enemies have a
cute look to them. Do not underestimate the enemies, for they will
stop at nothing to take your character down. The enemies vary from
cute looking dinosaurs, to dogs, birds, and other animals. The
characters also are very cute looking.
Sound Effects [10/10]:
The
sound effects add to the action packed shooter, ranging from explosions to the death of the enemies. There is some voice
acting in the characters. They usually talk before the level begins, when they touch the enemy,
and also if they're hit by an enemy. Although they do not sound like
the real voice actors in the TV series, they fit the characters well
and do not ruin the experience of the game.
Music
[10/10]:
The
music in this game is upbeat and has an action feel to it. There are
some music which is slow, but during the game, you'll be hearing a
lot of upbeat music. All of the background music in AIRRADE are
remixes of certain songs of the original computer game and the TV
series. If you liked the music in AIR, you'll enjoy the music in
AIRRADE.
Overall, the music adds to the game and to the overall experience.
Replay
Value [10/10]:
This
shooter is so fun and addictive in my opinion, that you'll keep
coming back for more. With over 19 characters (only three can be
played at first, but over time you'll unlock more characters), a
replay system, two player mode, high scores, secret modes, different levels,
various enemies and bosses, and a high difficulty setting, you'll be
playing this game for a while.
Overall
Thoughts:
This
is an excellent fan made game. I was a bit doubtful at first,
wondering how something like this could work. When I tried the demo,
I no longer had any doubts at all. I can now see why this is a
popular game for those who have seen or played AIR. A typical shooter
fan will enjoy this game, despite the cute graphics, because of the
gameplay. It may be very difficult for some who are new to shooters,
but to fans of shooters, AIRRADE gives them a new challenge.
AIRRADE -AIR- - Studio SiestA
- 2005
