Ratalaika Games has been on a roll lately with the Shockman franchise. We’ve already seen three releases that remind us of the days of platforming old. And while not entirely perfect, they have been retro-based fun.
Now, however, we have a truly great treat for an unbeatable price – Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero! It’s a never-released-in-the-States classic with SNES-style touches, and a few modern additions as well. Oh, and did we mention it’s two-player co-op? That way, you can, um, shockmen together. (Is that a term?)
It’s a bit on the short side and light on history compared to other Ratalaika releases. But for a mere $7, you get more than your money’s worth here. Plus it’s actually more fun than the previous Shockman games. Talk about a jolt to the system.
Putting the BB Gang Out of Business
The game pits your mighty Shockman (or Shockmen, with a friend) against the BB Gang. They’re a group of ne’er-do-wells out to take over the world. But you’re not about to let that happen.
While the storyline is basic, the action is anything but. That’s because this game comes with lots of classic retro goodness. That includes beat-em-up tactics, as punching is your main tool. If needed, though, you can fire a nice little shock beam as well. These come in really handy during some impressive boss fights.
Though a little light on technique, Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero is a blast. Its gameplay, at its core, works quite well. And you don’t have to worry about any ridiculous difficulty spikes, as the game has thorough balance. Plus, again, you can bring a friend along for two-player antics. (Just be ready for a little bit of slowdown.)
Ratalaika also packs the game with a few cool options. These include a rewind feature (standard for their releases), as well as other little things. These include a sound test, a DIP switch menu (for technical masters) and stage select. Visual options lack a bit, but it’s not a big deal.
It is a little light on content, as there’s no history feature here as we’ve seen in previous releases by the publisher. But it’s incredibly priced at just $7, and you get more than enough money’s worth here. That’s worth double if you grew up in the SNES era. Like yours truly. (Sort of.)
A Shock-ing Return To 16-Bit
In addition to fun gameplay and pretty good options, Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero packs a great presentation.
This is inspiring SNES-style design through and through. The cute little animations, fun level designs and inspired boss battles showcase that thoroughly. There’s also great scripting here, with some humorous situations unfolding in the game’s cinemas. (Why are you tied up again, Professor?) Keep in mind that there is slowdown. It’s SNES territory, though, so not the end of the world.
Backing this up is a pretty good soundtrack that reminds you of older 90s releases. That’s not to say it’s amazing, but it keeps the action moving along. The sound effects are cool too, complete with blasting noises and other neat little effects. They’ll definitely put you in a nostalgic mood.
You’ll Get a Jolt Out of This
If you were turned off by Shockman games in the past due to their certain style, you can rest at ease here. Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero goes for a more general 16-bit style approach, and it pays off. The game is a great deal of fun to play, alone or with a friend. Plus the presentation dials in just about right when it comes to retro vibes. And let’s not scoff at the $6.99 price either. All that’s missing is the classic CRT TV to go along with it. (Or maybe you own one?)
Kudos to Ratalaika for giving us another piece of Shockman bliss. Let’s keep it going if there are more games to discover, yeah?
GAMERHUB RATING: 4 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to PR Hound for the review code! You guys rock!
Get Cyber Citizen Shockman Zero now for Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo Switch!
Read our other Shockman reviews here!
