LASERPITIUM delivers old-school gameplay with a modern aesthetic. Moreover, this fast-paced adventure has multiple difficulty settings, many custom options, cooperative action, and a handful of ships to master. On top of this, you’ll enjoy an array of enemies and some hard-hitting bosses that need to be destroyed.
Developed by THE REETEAM and Eastasiasoft Limited and published by the latter, this is a 2D side-scrolling shooter. What’s more, it has a crazy sci-fi plot and is unbelievably moreish. With 10 unique stages to overcome and 10 bosses to annihilate, this is a perfectly mindless experience.
LASERPITIUM tells a classic tale.
Sci-fi games tend to stick to well-trodden tropes. As such, you either love or hate the genre. I’m well and truly a lover of all things science fiction and I appreciate the crazy familiarity it offers. However, I understand that aliens and futuristic mumbo jumbo can be tough to swallow. Accordingly, you should take the action and plot with a pinch of salt.
The year is 2357, and the government has signed a peace treaty for the good of mankind. To oversee operations, an artificial computer program known as EVA was created on the planet HELOS. Sadly, the AI caused social unrest, and a rebellion began. Consequently, you are an ace pilot who must crush the government and stop EVA once and for all.
Familiar mechanics.
If you love the genre, much of the action will feel familiar. The 2D side-scrolling approach is smooth and the bi-directional combat is challenging to manage. Moreover, there are swarms of enemies that must be shot down, an array of power-ups and health boosts to pick up, and many tight spaces to avoid. Alongside this, there are collectables to enhance your score. Subsequently, if you wish to top the leaderboard, you must keep your eyes peeled and avoid being hit by your foes.
The action is split into 2 game modes; short and campaign. The first option lets you focus on 5 random levels where you’ll tackle 5 unique bosses. The alternative challenges you to overcome each of the 10 stages. Furthermore, you are free to select the first 5 you’ll face and after that; you are in the lap of the gods. Consequently, the campaign mode is much longer, harder, and more difficult to predict.
Where are the new weapons?
Unlike its peers, LASERPITIUM doesn’t have an arsenal of weapons on offer. Instead, you must pick from 3 ships, each with a unique loadout. This decision will change your play style as the weapons on offer differ vastly. As such, you’ll find your favourite ship and begin your tough adventure.
Though I enjoyed this unusual approach, I missed the ever-changing gameplay of its peers. Therefore, once you understand the pros and cons of each spacecraft, the action somewhat plateaus. This was disappointing, as the fast-paced style should have been dramatic and exciting. However, the rinse-and-repeat gameplay wasn’t as enjoyable as other leading titles.
LASERPITIUM looks great.
The negatives are outweighed by the incredible aesthetics. This modern take on a classic genre was beautifully crafted. With stunning backdrops, excellent animation, and varied sprites, it was great to look at. Alongside this, the bosses are bloody ridiculous and I loved how brutal the swarms of aliens were. Subsequently, other than the lack of new weapons, this was a great example of the genre.
The audio was just as good. The hard-hitting soundtrack is complemented by crude but impressive sound effects. The shrill lasers, explosive bangs, and whining robotics were brilliant to hear. As such, the developers have done an amazing job to modernise this retro genre.
Responsive controls.
You are surrounded by enemies and projectiles. Consequently, you need responsive controls to survive. Thankfully, LASERPITIUM delivers an incredible control layout that is easy to understand. With stripped-back controls and a gentle learning curve, you’ll master it in no time at all.
I was also impressed by the longevity and replay value. Though there are only 10 stages to overcome, there are multiple gameplay options and various difficulty settings to test out. On top of this, there is a leaderboard and 3 unique ships to test out. Therefore, there is plenty to do before you can put this to bed.
LASERPITIUM is good, but it missed a trick.
I enjoyed my time with LASERPITIUM. However, the lack of weaponry was a big disappointment. The developers missed a trick and this will upset veterans of the genre. Yet every other element worked exceptionally well. Accordingly, I can easily recommend that you buy it here! Can you save mankind from a demented AI? Lead the rebellion, thwart your enemies, and return a hero.
