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 Soldner-X
(Playstation Network)
Shooters in the classic style of Thunder Force and Darius don't come along
often these days, which makes their comeback with online consoles a great
phenomenon for fans of this style. The emergence of Soldner X:
Himmelssturmer on Playstation Network is a welcome surprise. It's solid
level design and intuitve power-up system make it an impressive addition
to the genre. Featuring high-def graphics and classic gameplay mechanics,
this is an addictive title that delivers intense action, challenging
tactical battles plus an impressive soundtrack, beautifully rendered HD
backgrounds and visuals that makes for a highly polished title that
delivers a solid shooting experience that fans of the genre will love.
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Soldner-X: Himmelsstrurmer is an online
downloadable title for the Playstation Network that offers a traditional
2D space shooter in the classic mold. This frenetic shooter delivers an
intensely challenging experience that will test the mettle and skill of
even the best players. Extensive practice, memorization and concentration
are required to beat the game. As in most traditional shooters, the
objective is to shoot as many foes as possible while avoiding their
attacks. There are swarms of enemies which attack you in elaborate
formations and waves. They fire at your ship, but you can take some damage
as the health bar provides you some freedom, so single hits don't cause
instant destruction. Players can collect numerous power-ups and extras
that float by onscreen. Soldner-X tracks your progress in both the levels
you've completed and the score you earn. The game's play mechanics are
fairly simple and you can use either the analog or d-pad for ship
movement. Both of these methods offer good maneuverability. The game also
supports the Sixaxis for motion control, but after attempting to play
through a single extremely frustrating round, this is definitely not
recommended for extended sessions. The main controls and formations feel
very much as they should for the genre, with most of the familiar elements
in place. These include both stationary and attacking enemies, numerous
obstacles to avoid, such as mines and other barriers that explode on
contact or cause you to lose significant health power. Soldner-X's
gameplay unfolds in a strictly linear fashion, and there aren't many
hidden or secret areas to find. The game starts off at a frenetic pace in
terms of number of foes and only increases in difficulty as you progress
to the later stages. In order to help you practice and learn the
formations, there is a practice mode included that allows you to test your
abilities before you go in for your big run. Soldner-X is a classic test
of skill and endurance, so you won't be able to use many short-cuts.
However, the sense of satisfaction you get from beating the levels is more
than worth the effort. Gamers who love a challenge will find plenty to
like in the game's hardcore approach, which definitely falls into the
range of uncompromising. This makes it directly opposed to the casual
philosophy that's so much in vogue these days. It's definitely a throwback
approach, and while some may find it too difficult, even on it's normal
difficulty setting, its nice to actually play a game that makes you work
to succeed for once.
 The
game's structure is fairly straightforward. Players can access five
different primary weapons with the Pulse and Beam constantly available.
You can switch between these which is an important strategy since they
overheat and switch automatically if you aren't careful. You can also earn
super Shockwave attacks that destroy all nearby enemy objects, The weapons
can be powered up gradually by collecting pods that appear on the screen.
Additional abilities include slowing down the weapons heat, rapid fire and
armor piercing bullets. Players can also use more powerful weapons
available in later stages include Bow, Flame and, Rocket weapons. Most of
the enemies take multiple shots to defeat, and you'll need to be
persistent and patient if you want to destroy them. Another key element in
the game is collecting bonus items which can extend your ship's speed and
firing rate. The foes amass in massive waves on the screen and shooting
bunches of them usually releases power-up pods. In addition, consistent
shooting is rewarded with bigger scores. As you shoot enemies, you create
chains which increase your score multiplier. You'll need to defeat Complex
enemy formations throughout the game and they can be quite tricky if you
aren't careful. Soldner-X's high level of difficulty leaves you with
little room for error. The key to beating many of the waves is
memorization of enemy locations and formations. The standard shooting
sequences lead up to some absolutely epic boss battles. These can take
several minutes to complete, with vulnerable sections not always obvious,
and the bosses putting up quite a bit of resistance, throwing hundreds of
bullets and smaller ships at you simultaneously. The intensity of these
battles is amplified by the fact that Soldner-X offers players an
extremely limited number of continues. This means you have to earn every
level you complete and any progress is hard-fought. There are 12 levels in
all, divided into 3 sections that cover 4 unique worlds. Each one presents
its own set of unique challenges, enemies and boss battles, which makes
for an incredibly challenging title. However, you can judge your skills
online by comparing score with other players in the online ranking mode.
In addition, the game supports numerous trophies and awards. These are
available for really good players. Most of these trophies can be earned by
excellent performance during missions or by finishing off levels.
Soldner-X might take a traditional
approach to its gameplay, it's sleek high-def presentation is thoroughly
modern. The backgrounds are rich and vibrant in detail and the hundreds of
ships and bullets pop of the screen with intense waves of color and sound.
The game moves at a smooth rate throughout and doesn't suffer from the
slowdown that plagued many of the classic titles. It's overall design is
quite impressive, and there is a nice style to the game that's plain yet
sophisticated. Soldner's enemies and levels feel a little familiar in
places and shooter veterans will probably enjoy seeing the little tributes
and allusions to other classic shooters here and there. These production
values truly shine and there are even elaborate between level story
sequences that help to move the story along. This makes for an exciting
game with great visuals, but don't be fooled by appearances, this can be
an extremely tough and challenging shooter. Don't be put off too much by
Soldner X's high level of difficulty. It's actually a plus because it
offers a challenge that's satisfying and uncompromising. Soldner-X:
Himmelsstrurmer is definitely a solid title that brings a classic style of
play forward to the HD level in a way that's simultaneously classic and
forward looking, making it a title that's definitely worth the time and
money to download.
- Michael Palisano
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