Taking a trip back to the ‘90s arcade era, Elevator Action Returns S Tribute brings back the thrill of classic 2D action. Developed by CITY CONNECTION, this updated version blends nostalgic gameplay with modern enhancements. But does it live up to its legendary predecessor? Let’s dive in.
Overall Impression
At its core, the game stays true to its roots. You play as a gun-wielding agent navigating buildings via elevators, stopping terrorist threats along the way. The addition of a 2-player mode enhances the fun, making it perfect for co-op sessions. The game’s difficulty remains high, but that’s part of its charm—challenging yet rewarding.
Gameplay
From a gameplay mechanics standpoint, improvements to emulation that add save-states, rewinds, extra lives, and a slow mode are well-received innovations, custom-tailored to soften the punishing nature of arcade games of yore. These additions provide a fine balance, easing the prime task of infiltrating various buildings to retrieve classified data, never sacrificing the excitement of the chase.
Gamer Thoughts
However, it’s not all smooth sailing; there are some criticisms. Players flagged the initial controller mappings as troublesome and inconvenient, necessitating manual configuration before getting into the actual gameplay. CITY CONNECTION certainly needs to address these concerns to streamline gameplay and improve user experience.
Story
The storyline is quite straightforward and doesn’t particular excel in narrative complexity. Nevertheless, the charm of Elevator Action Returns S Tribute is not in its plot but its gameplay experience. The characters remain loyal to the golden age of 90s gaming – over the top, thrilling, and purely fun.
Visuals & Graphics
Jumping from 8-bit to the anime-like visuals of the 90s, the game presents an interesting aesthetic with a unique blend of contemporary and classic styles. This aesthetic reimagination, echoing popular anime brands such as Ghost in the Shell and Bubblegum Crisis, adds a new layer of depth to the experience. The visuals are crisp, vibrant, and full of character, injecting life into the old-style action platformer.
Sound & Music
Sound and music immerse you deeper into this nostalgic game. The soundtrack throws you straight back into the 90s arcade scene. While there’s no voice acting to assess, the sound effects accompany the energetic gameplay superbly.
Difficulty & Score
In terms of difficulty, the game remains challenging and might rival the difficulty level of the original. The challenge keeps you on your toes, but the introduction of modern features ensures that the game is far from impossible – it just requires you to learn and adapt to your unique style of play. Furthermore, the game encourages replayability by nudging you to use fewer credits on each subsequent playthrough, a nod to the classic one more coin arcade tactic.
Now, it’s time to give this game a definitive score. Drumroll, please! Elevator Action Returns S Tribute delivers an unexpected blend of retro-inspired mechanics, vibrant visuals, and unyielding gameplay that will compel you to keep going back for more.
Conclusion
Despite some surface-level flaws, the core experience remains undeniably enjoyable. For its successful revival of a classic, enhancing and preserving the game’s essence without compromising its original charm, and considering the promise of improvements to its teething problems, Elevator Action Returns S Tribute gets a 4/5 star rating. Whether you’re a die-hard fan seeking a taste of nostalgia or a newcomer to the franchise, this installment should certainly be on your radar.
As the gaming landscape evolves, maintaining the authenticity of classic games while ensuring synergy with modern technology is a tightrope walk. CITY CONNECTION has nailed it, proving that the golden age of gaming never really left us. Let’s send a big up and down salute to the studio for carrying on the legacy of the classic 2D action games. Elevator Action Returns S Tribute, welcome to the 21st century.
Add Elevator Action Returns S Tribute to your Steam collection!
