Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype is an old-school side scrolling shooter exclusively available to download via the PSN. It will remind many gamers of the old 16-bit era when games of this nature were in abundance. More recently this game will be a great alternative for anyone who misses the R-Type series. Many gamers will be questioning whether the side-scroller is still fun in this day and age.
Is this game worth playing? Are the graphics up-to-date? Find out as we take a look at the HOTs and NOTs of Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype.
HOT
Slick Presentation
The gameplay may mimic games from the 16-bit era but thankfully the graphics are presented gloriously in HD. The backdrop design in this game is worthy to note as each level has its own theme. You may not be able to go and explore in a game like this but it sure looks great. You will be blasting your way through seven levels so you will never get bored of the eye candy featured here. My personal favorite backdrop is the jungle theme but the underwater theme is also equally pretty. The bright special effects such as the laser blasts and explosions are also noteworthy. Each level ends with a boss battle and once you defeat one; sit back and enjoy the fireworks!
Sound
We have come a long way when the sound in games was just cheap high-pitched tunes – from the laser blasts to the explosions, the presentation is all top-notch. Although, some of the sounds from the lasers may be a bit too generic it does not deter the overall quality of the sound in this game. The techno-inspired music is appropriate and is great tunes to listen to on their own merit. Fans of Sega’s REZ will be impressed with the background music.
Accessible Gameplay
Sometimes games can get a bit too complicated for some with all the complex rules and controls they apply. Thankfully, none of that is present here. All you need to do is control the left stick to move your ship and hold the “X” button to shoot. There will be numerous power-ups for you to collect as you go such as bombs and other firepower but that’s it. It may look a little too simplistic for some gamers but that’s what makes a good 2D side scrolling game.
The game’s controls are not only accessible but the difficulty caters for a variety of different skill levels. Not only this but the fact that your life bar and credits replenish after each level made it very accessible and not as frustrating as other games in this genre. There are also hidden power ups that you can collect throughout the main game where you can unlock up to 15 different weapons and two more levels.
2 player co-op is also present which ups the ante of explosions and the overall fun factor. Online co-op is not featured here at the moment which may disappoint some gamers but the offline mode is just as enjoyable.
NOT
Number of Stages
Disappointingly, there are really only five stages on offer with the other two stages needed to be unlocked if the player meets certain conditions. The replay value of the game lies within the player’s desire to earn all the trophies or get a higher score to show-off to the rest of the world. Also featured is a “Challenge” mode which players can initiate via the main menu. Having said that, the challenges are pretty much just playing through the game again albeit you’ll have to meet certain conditions – such as never losing a credit and so forth. I would have liked to see at least 10 stages as the seven on offer seems to be a little stingy.
Download Size
I was quite amazed at how big the file size for this downloadable game is. Most PSN titles average around 300MB but this behemoth’s download size is a huge 1.5GB. It may not be a problem for some people but others will have quotas on their monthly internet bill; believe me this took a chunk from mine!
Price
The price may be a little on the expensive side to justify the length you’ll be playing it. It costs $12.99 ($24.90 in New Zealand) which may be too steep for just a side-scrolling shooter.
VERDICT
Soldner-X 2: Final Prototype is a great title that pays homage to the many 2D side scrolling shooters from yesteryear. The HD visuals and fast-beat techno music will be sure to please many gamers. Its infectious and accessible gameplay are a major plus too. If this game had more stages and the developer was able to compress the huge file size, then this would have been perfect. If you’re willing to pay for the quite steep price of the game then you will not be disappointed.
