Pros: From beginning to end, radiangames has again brought a new twist to the classic horizontal shmup ala Space Invaders while implementing...
Cons: Removing the score and the multiplier system from both Conquest modes leaves the experience to just being about completing waves. Score...
Pros: From beginning to end, radiangames has again brought a new twist to the classic horizontal shmup ala Space Invaders while implementing fresh ideas that mechanically seperates itself entirely from its predecessor.
The most welcome addition to the shoot/dodge/warp* formula is its robust upgrade system. After two waves of enemies, points are rewarded to the player to either
increase the ship's health, shoot at a faster rate, widen the range of the ship's stream of bullets, just to name a few of the possible upgrades to create the most dangerous ship on screen. This upgrade system replaces the original Crossfire's power and speed pickups that were placed in the middle of enemy formations.
Accompanied by the game's gorgeous neon retro-futuristic arcade aesthetic are the the sound effects (listen to how the slowdown upgrade slows down the soundtrack). The sound effects are a much more notable than the game's sound track due to its dependability whether indicating different enemy types, shields, or when the ship picks up ammo.
Players will find themselves attacking Crossfire 2's (much more sophisticated) enemy formations with varying strategic approaches on single waves, while economizing the ship's ammo supply for the new Supershot ability to get out of hairy situations, especially if you're conserving points for the more expensive upgrades.
Other than Conquest Mode is Conquest Mode Plus (both with their own adjustable difficulty settings) that plays exactly like Conquest mode but with a much more
intense difficulty and the amount of upgrade points after two waves is less generous.
There is also a Score Attack mode that lets the player face nonstop waves of enemies with a scoring system similar to the original Crossfire point scheme which of course means the ability to boast your skills via Local Scoreboard. In this mode, the player gets to upgrade their ship once before entering the fray.
Crossfire 2 is a beautiful and immersive pick-up-and-play experience that is well worth its $1(aka 80ms) price point. Check it out and check out other games on the Winter Indie Games Uprising.
*for those who have never played either Crossfire 1 or 2, Warp is the ability to teleport your ship from the horizontal rail on bottom of the screen to the one on top of the screen with the touch of a button. Other than using the warp for collecting ammo and powerups from occasional scrolling UFOs, this ability is ideal for dodging complicated bullet patterns and getting behind enemies while aiming at the wrong direction. This is what gives Crossfire 1 & 2 its identity.
Cons: Removing the score and the multiplier system from both Conquest modes leaves the experience to just being about completing waves. Score Attack Mode had only one upgrade screen before the game begins and is never seen after defeating subsequent waves of enemies. Seeing the limits of player's talent when their ships are fully upgraded facing bullet hell scenarios seemed like what should've beenjust the beginning for die hard players.
The music is a techno score which does its job of appropriating the level of pacing for the game but it's nothing memorable.
The whole co-op experience can have two players wipe out the entire screen without any semblance of helping or cooperation with your partner. Without any changes in difficulty this feature just makes an already accesible game feel easier.