Loomiarts and Fehorama Filmes, just released one of the absolute coolest shoot em up's I've played. Squad 51 VS. The Flying Saucers is a side scrolling SHMUP, that has big enemies, explosions, different weapons, and huge, and sometimes unfair, bosses. It's in black and white, because it's "From the 50s", and I absolutely love all of it.
The game starts you off at a screen where you can customize your aircraft. You have different categories to choose from, such as special weapons, upgrades on your regular weapon, and then various buffs you can add, like collision damage reduction. You only have four slots to start, so use those wisely. Then the game kicks you in to a hilarious vintage FMV sequence telling you what the game is all about: An Alien invasion! The dialog doesn't match up with the mouths, and the UFO's look extremely cheesy. It's absolutely brilliant! And there is one for every level. Also, you can skip these, but why?
Then the level starts, and it's nothing short of a visual and audible masterpiece. Every explosion, every shot from your aircraft, and the chatter on the radios between pilots plotting the take down the impending doom is crystal clear. The enemies come from either sides, and while you wish you had a weapon that fired backwards, that comes in time. As you play through the game, you not only unlock new upgrades but you get more slots as well. It's more of a rogue like in this sense, but it's totally worth it. Will you beat the first level on the first try? No. No you wont.
The enemies are brutal. And if you don't have the right buffs, you are dead in the air. Smithereens. Off of one hit, too. The cool thing about this is that you can earn extra lives based on your ability to shoot these alien ships out the sky. But this is a SHMUP, so bullet hell awaits. Unfair bosses are definitely in volume. And did you really get hit by that stray bullet from the last enemy on the screen before the boss? Yep. You did. What hit box?
If you make it past a check point, then you restart from said check point, and you have unlimited continues. And that is only if you start from Normal mode. Resistance mode gives you limited continues, and makes you start at the beginning of the level if you perish. And this mode hates your face. I switched to normal faster than you can say "Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator".
I could keep writing about this, alas, this is just a preview. I invite you to go grab this now while it's on sale. Eric (EIC), and I have been enjoying it, and I will beat it in the next stream.
Eric's attempt. Not as good as Joseph's.
If you're a fam of SHMUPs, add this to your collection. I'm not sure if I'm allowed to do this, but with FMV, the 50's aesthetic, the wacky titles for every level, the 1-3 star rating for every level, and the larger than life bosses, I would definitely give this a 9/10. It's short, but definitely replayable after you unlock the TWENTY slots available to upgrade your ship. The speed runners are coming. Now, go kick some alien butt! We're counting on you! "I ain't hear no fat lady!"
