With so many big-budget video games being released in time for Christmas, It's surprising that "A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks!" is what my attention has been focused on. This little gem from the minds at Frima Studio is the latest Playstation Mini to be released and it's actually really fun.
When the Playstation Minis started rolling out last year they didn't do much to impress or overwhelm Sony fans. A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks! might well be the first of these "Minis" to consider purchasing. The game is incredibly fun, contains slick controls and solid gameplay. Everything here is simple, but done very well. The most impressive part about this whole thing though, is that you can purchase this game fore a mere $2. It's not the next Mass Effect or Call of Duty game, but it's a fantastic little gem that can keep you entertained for a few hours a week.
A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks! is a vertically-scrolling arcade shooter, much like the old classics, with a bit of a twist. The games 16 stages are split into two eight-stage zones, and the stages in those zones can be selected and played in any order. This makes the game feel less linear than the old classic arcade shooters and gives you a sense of freedom and exploration never seen in games like this. It's a really smart idea by Frima Studio. Some stages are ancillary with uninspired bosses, but the majority of stages are home to the primary bad guy's. Each stage has it's own unique purpose, defeating the ancillary stages will upgrade your ship and make it's defences stronger, while taking out each of the games bad guy's will allow you to use their special attacks in future stages, giving you a stronger attack.
The game has lot's of depth for a $2 Playstation Mini and provides many options. In addition to stage select and enemy weapons, there is a great deal here to keep the game feeling fresh and continuously fun to play. Defeated enemies drop "Remnants" the games currency, which can be spent at the games in-game store on a variety of upgrades. These upgrades are essential and will make later stages in the game easier to complete.
But there are more ways to customize your experience than just upgrades and stage selecting, in addition to all that there are also four difficulty settings and a Survival Mode. Remnants carry over into Campaign Mode and Upgrades carry over into Survival Mode, the developers where smart in making each mode worthwhile as well as fun and challenging. As well as all this the game hosts an in-game achievement list and goals to aim for which add extra incentive to keep playing and make the whole experience a much longer one.
Apart from the solid gameplay, A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks! also presents some pretty impressive aesthetics and has a sense of high production value which most Minis on the Playstation Network don't have. While the download is only 54 megabytes, the game manages to pack in all the necessary tools to make it a quality product. Great story telling, graphics, and gameplay are all here and make for a great arcade shooter. The game doesn't make much sense and sometimes the voice acting can be a bit over the top, but at a mere $2 you don't even notice the faults. It's got more in common with games like Death Spank with it's light hearted comic feel.
Overall A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks! is one of the best deals on the Playstation Network and by far the best Playstation Mini available. If you just want something to pass the time in between more serious affairs, then this is exactly what you are looking for. If you are a fan of the old arcade style shooters, you will love it.
A Space Shooter For 2 Bucks! is great fun 7/10
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