ININ Games’ DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+, which will be abbreviated to DBA due to its extremely long title, is strictly okay. Fans of classic games like Galaga, or more recent games like Sky Force, will enjoy this addition to arcade spaceship shooters and its extreme difficulty. For those of you who don’t know, DBA is another title in a long list of games in its series, being the nearly 14th version of ports and remakes of the original game. The canon is thin, as with many arcade games that have continued on, and the gameplay remains as simple as an arcade game. Without further ado, the good:
The Good:
DBA has a lot of reasons that it is enjoyable to play; the gameplay is relatively difficult despite its simplicity, there are a variety of different ships you can equip to play different levels in different ways, and there are a lot of different modes in which you can play. There are also upgrades you can get throughout the levels that upgrade your blaster, your shields, or your health regeneration, and the curiosity that brings of “I wonder what happens when I get all the way upgraded” cannot be underestimated. The game also boasts a global leaderboard, so fans who enjoy proving themselves by being at the top of the rankings can show their name to everyone who plays the game. The game also boasts local multiplayer, which has become increasingly rare in modern video games. Up to four different people can play at a time, and the level’s difficulty does not increase with more players, meaning that the difficulty is also customizable through the number of players. Lastly, DBA’s level structure functions almost as a choose your own adventure book, meaning that after every boss you clear, you have two options to pick from to create your own path through the game. However, despite all of these good things, the game has some serious setbacks.
The Bad:
As much as this game is like a more complex multiplayer galaga, it is also about as engaging. Much like how kids then were absolutely spellbound by arcade games, kids now are used to complicated, new looking, canon filled games. Because of this, DBA feels depressingly thin in comparison. The canon is basically non-existent past ‘the evil aliens are attacking and you’re our only hope.’ The game is also not super accessible for new fans; even though the canon is thin, without having played the older games, it still feels like jumping into the middle of a series. The game is also quite difficult when playing alone, with memorizing patterns and grabbing upgrades being important to being good at the game. To people who have gotten used to not having to brute force games, DBA can be quite annoying.
The Annoying:
Despite all its downsides, this game still would’ve been a six or seven out of ten if not for some very annoying features that are built into the game and are uncustomizable. First off, the game constantly vibrates the entire switch, basically every time something happens. If you shoot a ship, vibration. If you die, vibration. If you grab an upgrade or turn around, vibration. As such, the Switch is almost constantly vibrating in your hands, and you cannot turn it off. Second, the game font and options are ridiculously small for mobile Switch play, meaning you cannot know what the different ships do, what the game is saying, or any of the details in the game. You can hit the L button to zoom in tighter, but then you can only see half of the screen at a time, which severely hampers your ability to see enemies coming and shoot them (pictured below). Lastly, the gameplay, while fun at first, gets old very fast; the game does not fulfill the promise of a fully upgradeable ship, and the gameplay is not varied enough to keep the player engaged for more than a few days.
If you want a game that is simple and old school, then this game is a charming retro multiplayer game for everyone to enjoy. But you’ll probably move on before long.
Check Out the DariusBurst Another Chronicle EX+Trailer:
For more information, visit: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/dariusburst-another-chronicle-explus-switch/
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Nintendo Switch Review
I play videogames all the time and have played all sorts of games, from Pokémon to Sekoro to Valorant and Apex Legends. I often prefer difficult or competitive games with high skill ceilings, but still love the beauty of more open world games like Breath of the Wild. The community of a game is also a determining factor for me, which is why I'd rather have an Animal Crossing friend than a Rainbow Six Siege friend."
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