Pilot a mech and mow down robots with streams of bullets while you collect power-ups in S. Prysm Destroyer.  It’s an anime inspired 2D run and gun platformer available on all current consoles and PC, but reviewed on PS4 here.

Play control is snappy and simple.  Just use the L stick to move and hold down the fire button to shoot.  You can jump, and holding down the jump button will let you hover and fly slowly, too.  The loading screen says the R1 does something but I couldn’t figure out what.  As you destroy enemies and objects, power-ups will appear for you to collect.  These include health refills, rapid fire, an ‘option,’ three way shots, shields, and more.  There’s a rare power-up that you can find that looks like a glowy blob.  When you get it, the anime girl (presumably) inside the mech will do a magical girl style transformation sequence and then you’ll have a huge spike in power for a limited time.  You’ll either get a giant flame sword, ice sprays, or lightning bolts.  These last for a long time, too.  You complete the stage by making it to the hangar at the far right end and if you lose all your energy it’s Game Over.  By completing certain objectives, you can unlock outfits for the anime girl pilots of the mech.

The game is good, simplistic fun but it does have some problems, too.  The action can get hectic and sometimes it can be hard to see what just hit you.  Graphics could’ve been better, as they look like they could’ve been on the PSOne and feel a bit amateurish.  I think I would’ve preferred sprite-based visuals for this.  The HUD also takes up way more of the screen than what it needs to.  And the game gets a bit too hard after stage 4.  But otherwise, it’s a surprisingly fun little run and gun platformer shooter.

Kid Factor:

S. Prysm Destroyer is rated E-10 with an ESRB descriptor of Fantasy Violence. You shoot robots that explode and that’s it. Reading skill is helpful for the text, but not necessary just to play.  Younger gamers may find it too difficult, though.

Tags: Game Reviews