Yars Rising Review – The Best Kind of Revenge

I would’ve loved to be in Atari’s meeting room when Yars Rising got its initial pitch. “Okay, guys, so what if we take a classic Atari 2600 game and make it into…a Metroidvania?” Sounds crazy, right? That’s like taking Asteroids and creating a turn-based RPG with side journeys.

But this is Atari we’re talking about, and they’ve gone through an amazing resurgence over the years. So, why not? Why not try something new? And, for that matter, tying in the masterminds at WayForward to develop it?

The result is genuinely surprising, one filled with great lore and engaging action. Not to mention introducing a fun, capable heroine and even incorporating mini-games based on Yars’ legacy.

It does have its off moments here and there, but Yars Rising is a glorious piece of inspired game-making. It takes a concept that never should’ve worked and makes it click incredibly well. Now that Asteroids idea doesn’t seem so far-fetched – with the right development team, of course.

Yars Rising Brings the Emi

No, you don’t play a bug in Yars Rising – well, most of the time. Instead, you control Emi “Yar” Kimura, a girl with a grudge against the Qotech corporation. The story explains why she’s doing what she’s doing, sneaking into their headquarters to fight the system. This includes robots and other dangers, using her weapons of choice.

With WayForward at the helm, they add just the right amount of charm to the game’s presentation. Instead of just slapping characters into the game, they give them the right level of life. The voice acting is excellent, particularly Emi and her humorous little quips. And it’s easily received for all types of players, though there are some references for the old-schoolers. (Just keep your eyes open.)

WayForward also incorporates great music into the game. There are lots of original tunes here, including some with infused Atari tones. The end result is a genuine surprise, and continues to add to this company’s repertoire of masterminding musical mirth. (Say that five times fast.) That, backed by good sound effects, will keep your ears busy.

The visuals are quite a sight as well. Though you’re mostly fighting through internal headquarters, Yars Risingputs on a show. The fluid frame rate stays intact throughout your journey, and the game is a joy to watch. The animations are good and the variety of enemies is noteworthy – though there are a lot of robots here. (That corporation has a serious cash flow problem, I’m guessing.) And Emi is cute as all-out, while still having a little bit Yar about her. It’s a cute design that works well for the game.

On top of that, the Atari nods are hard to miss, particularly with the mini-games. We’ll dive more into that as we cover gameplay.

Honestly, Atari and WayForward truly surprise with Yars Rising’s presentation. It doesn’t go above and beyond as far as the genre goes. But it recognizes classic game fans while giving everyone something entirely new to play. As always, that’s a neat trick, especially when masterfully executed.

Getting a Rising Out of the Gameplay

A Metroidvania is nothing if it doesn’t have good controls to lean on. Fortunately, Yars Rising comes through in spades.

Emi starts out with very little as the game opens. But you earn new abilities over time, which helps you reach new areas and access additional secrets. WayForward handles this formula nicely, as it’s done in the past. (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Danger of the Ooze, anyone?) As a result, the game – and Emi – continues to grow on you, and you become more involved with the journey. It’s good fun, though some boss fights come across easier than others. No matter. Collectively, it’s a gas.

On top of that, we should discuss the hacking mini-games. Over the course of her adventure, Emi will come across terminals. By trying to get through these, you’ll play through old-school Yars-inspired games. These include a quick recreation of the Atari 2600 classic Yars’ Revenge, as well as other variants. (Like shooting orbs out of the screen in a small time frame.) They take some getting used to, but retro fans will dive in without hesitation. They’re a great addition to this game, tying in the Yars theme with great effort.

It may not be the most complex Metroidvania around. But it’s a truly enjoyable and capable one. And, again, considering it’s coming from an unlikely source (Yars), that’s no tiny feat. Kudos to the team for making it work so brilliantly.

Come and Get Yar Love

Yars Rising is a real treat. Atari has classic themes in mind with this game, but also present something extraordinary with its new world. Kudos to WayForward for continuing their streak of fine game-making, particularly with its presentation and gameplay. It’s just so fun, and offers something to classic players and newcomers alike.

As far-fetched as the concept is, it works without fail. As long as Atari continues to make truly inventive games like Yars Rising, there’s no stopping their momentum.