Unless you’re a hardcore anime fan, you’ve probably never heard of Macross. But it’s been going strong for years, introducing a number of timelines and memorable events for fans to savor. That said, it hasn’t shaken up the gaming landscape too much, though it has had its moments. Among them is the latest release from Kaminari Games and Red Art Games, Macross: Shooting Insight. And it’s a scorcher.
It’s a shmup, but one that comes fully loaded. It features horizontally scrolling segments, vertically scrolling segments, and 3D segments with a full mech. There’s also over-the-shoulder stuff as well, though we’ll get to that when we break down gameplay. Its different styles and various timelines are sure to be thrilling for fans and newcomers alike.
There’s a lot to unlock here, and it’s true to the Macross brand. Not to mention that it’s good fun to play, despite the fact that you may repeat some stages. It’s all part of the story, which unfolds like a good episode of the series.
The game does have its problems – namely with fuzzy visuals and that over-the-shoulder perspective stuff. But if you love a good anime “shmup” or want something with a surprising amount of depth, Macross fits the ball. Dare we say it’s…insightful?
Macross: Shooting Insight Brings the Play Styles
The story for Macross takes a multiverse-based turn. You’ll find characters coming across from multiple series to solve a mystery surrounding kidnapped songstresses. As you progress, they can actually come to your aid, and you can try out different characters. Each one provides a different touch than the last, bringing lots of replay value as a result.
As I stated above, there are different gameplay types here. They’re all “shmup” based, including horizontal and vertical scrolling stages, along with neat twin-stick shooter segments. You’ve got lasers and lock-on missiles to take down enemies, along with special strikes to clear the screen. These segments are all entertaining, each time you play through them.
What’s more, the leaderboard have a lot to offer. They record all your stats after each stage and share them online. Just when you think you’ve conquered a particular area, you find that it’s lacking because your health was down. That may push some of you to try again for an even better score – again, packing on that replay value.
That said, not every gameplay segment works. There’s one that involves an over-the-shoulder view of your robot that should have been awesome. But they’re too much in the way, resulting in not being able to see much. Fortunately, there aren’t a lot of these segments, but you do have to deal with them. Perhaps a patch from the developer can zoom out the camera a bit so we can see better.
Macross’ Story Mode will keep you plenty busy. But you unlock additional modes as well. These include Arcade, Ace Battle, Boss Rush and Area Survey. Ace Battle is a favorite because it’s an all-out intergalactic fight with your Macross favorites. But Area Survey allows you to play with any pilot of your choice, while Boss Rush piles on the firepower from higher-ups. I just wish you had the ability to transform from mech to ship and back again at will. Maybe in a sequel?
Overall, it’s an abundant package of “shmup” goodness. The controls work very well (mind the over-the-shoulder segments), and there’s a lot to get into. Some might scoff at the premium price involved here. However, for what you’re getting, Macross: Shooting Insight offers quite a bit. And did I mention the heaping amount of fandom provided?
So How Is Macross’ Presentation?
Now let’s get to how the game looks and plays.
First off, the visuals are pretty good. The anime sequences look ripped straight out of the classic series, and the action moves at a frivolous pace. That said, the graphics are a bit fuzzy at times and not as highly detailed as they could be. Still, not bad at all.
That said, the game’s characters only speak in Japanese. There is translation, but do you know how hard it is to read what they’re saying while facing an armada? Unless you can multitask like a bandit, it’s all too easy to lose some of the story. I do wish an English option came into play, but I suppose that wasn’t in the budget.
The voiceovers are good, however, and very loyal to the characters. Plus I love what the songstresses have to say as they push you forward into battle.
What really won me over, however, is the music. It’s so well done, taking a page right out of the classic Macross book. Some tunes are better than others, but overall, it’s a beautifully composed soundtrack. In fact, one edition of the game comes with a collector’s CD. It’s a must if you like collecting physical soundtracks. Just saying.
Make Macross Your Jam
Could Macross: Shooting Insight use some improvements? Sure. I would’ve liked more focused visuals, as well as better over-the-shoulder segments. But the rest of the game has a heaping amount of content to offer, especially with those leaderboards. And the fan service? Off the charts.
It’s an entertaining “shmup” for those looking for something more in-depth, flaws and all. And it’s how to do an anime game right – a lesson some developers could still learn from. Now gimme more Macross games!
GAMERHUB RATING: 3.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Red Art Games for providing a review code! Macross: Shooting Insight is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and PC!
Want more shooting fun? Check out our reviews of Iron Meat and The Legend of Steel Empire!
