New Shoot Em Up SOL CRESTA Review

[@ShmupJunkie]

Is Sol Cresta worth the hype? Have you already been playing it yourself? On which platform? Let me know your thoughts in the comments, as this release has certainly been divisive. ✅ Subscribe To My Channel ➡️ Support me on PATREON www.patreon.com/shmupjunkieslushfund

[@MyRobotHand2000]

Another cresta game I didn’t like terra cresta

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@MyRobotHand2000 My favorite was the second on pc engine but still just above average for me. So this new one is actually my favorite to play in the series. I think they did a good job improving on the original ideas.

[@oldfan4049]

I've never been a huge fan of this series either but after 3 minutes of Intro video (looked up it on youtube) I'm pretty thrilled^^ P.S. Yes, I'm still alive) but the situation is pretty shitty as you already know I guess...

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@oldfan4049 I do know and I’m pretty bummed over it all. My great grandpa and family hail from Ukraine and my grandmother is quite upset over it all. I can’t imagine what’s going through your mind right now. Please stay safe and keep in touch on discord too. It’ll be good to know you’re alright from time to time. When the elephants fight it’s the grass that suffers as they say.

[@cornpoop]

I will certainly get this game on Steam sale, right now the rather high price is biggest detterent for me

[@then1533]

"You get out of it what you put in to it"- Sums it up exactly.The gameplay is novel, deep and strategically rich.Agree about the graphics but my opinion of them improves the more I play cause the gameplay is so good. Thanks for the great service that folks like yourself and Mark MSX among others who are providing to us gamers balanced honest reviews on what is not a cheap game. Glad it's good tho as its a big release for the genre at the mo.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I can't say the graphics have grown on me just yet! But they definitely do disappear and don't really detract as I'm more focused on playing and enjoying the music. I'm sure Platinum isn't thrilled the game's visuals are taking so much heat, but I hope they also feel proud of all the props they're getting for the gameplay depth and ingenuity.

[@Chromeberd]

This mentality behind the design is honestly the signature staple for how Platinum does their games. Every time you start one of their games you're frustrated at how barebones the gameplay is until you realize there's layers upon layers to what they're actually doing. The more the you play, the deeper it gets. And the deeper it gets, the more infatuated you get into playing their game. I respect the hell out of it because it asks the player to really put their brain into the equation and learn their mechanics. I'm glad this Shmup was not spared that level of complexity.

[@TheElectricUnderground]

Awesome review! I had a lot of similar feelings on the game, I think with some patches it could become a bit of a cult classic (ironically like star fox zero). Also thanks for the shout out and I m pretty sure that playing in Tate on switch not only helps the input lag but also reduces the performance drops ha. Something strange is happening in the yoko mode ha! I actually got the idea to test the different rotations from Saturn dodonpachi, which also runs like hell in horizontal mode XD

[@ShmupJunkie]

I just hope that since it does run well in Tate, they should definitely be able to iron out Yoko and match them up. In general I get the feeling they wanted more time but just had no choice but to push it out as is often the case. And patch after. So I don't get down on them much for that as long as it does get improved soon. I didn't know DDP had various performance on Saturn that way either. Seems we now have to start testing both ways with every game that has the option. Speaking of DDP, we finished the interview with Ikeda-san already and there were some great juicy nuggets in there. Can't wait to see the translation of it all!

[@TheElectricUnderground]

@@ShmupJunkie oh that s awesome!!!! Can t wait to see what he says!

[@dyscotopia]

I like that they've kept this suitably retro by keeping the effects no more advanced than something a Saturn could do without breaking a sweat. It makes it easier to appreciate the pixel art, which yes, is not the best I've ever seen, but still tickles the nostalgia buttons.

[@sudacagamer]

which nostalgia buttons? haha these sprites looks like crap.

[@modology]

@@sudacagamer trust me, lots of people could not tell whether the pixel is evenly scaled or not... most would consider these pixel shimmering and uneven pixel scaling as "authentic pixelated" aesthetic

[@jupiterpictureshow2234]

Always good to hear your take on new smups with your extensive knowledge of the genre. You and The Electric Underground are my go to guys for shmup reviews. Great work!

[@jenscee7679]

I’m a new schmup convert and a fan of Platinum. Got the Japanese Switch physical last week and it is really fun. Using some of your tips to learn to get better at Schmups I’ve cleared Very Easy and Easy and got to level 5 on normal. The Japanese physical is geo-locked but if you open an account on the Japanese version of a very well known on line store it’s not expensive and postage got to the UK in two days. 😊 I used the link on Platinum’s Sol Cresta site.

[@Galaxy40k]

When I saw all the mainstream reviews for this come out, all my brain could say was "I gotta wait for Shmup Junkie and Mark MSX to weigh in first," haha. Glad you were able to make the review so quickly, I know it probably was a lot of work getting it out so fast! Also: 9 frames of lag!? That's insane. 6 frames isn't great but I can deal with it since I'm not a super hardcore player, but 9 is unacceptable for a large studio like P*

[@ShmupJunkie]

I did my best yeah and glad I could get it out this Sunday. I fully expect them to work on the Switch performance and think they just had to make a deadline. If they can make it perform decent in Tate I'm sure they can work it out for the default mode too.

[@franciscor390]

Haha same here, my eyes and ears basically closed and thought ill wait for the opinion of guys who really matter.

[@RICHUNCLEPENNYBAGS77]

Sounds intriguing and I don't personally even think the graphics look bad... that said, it'd be cool to hear the characters bantering throughout the game, but stretching out the stages to me kind of ruins it. I'd rather they found a way to make the dialogue happen at the same time as the regular arcade game

[@weebnerdgaming4908]

Great review as usual! Speaking of difficulty differences, be very careful with Platinum Hard! Not only your Sol Gauge gets reset upon death (including losing your command shots), formation icons will get consumed upon usage too! It's the mode that will make you can't rely on the phoenix formation.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Interesting! That sounds like a very good way to increase difficulty without resorting to other artificial means like creating overly tanky enemies. I like it. I just barely cleared it on Normal and haven't tried Hard yet, but that sounds like a solid challenge. The phoenix is really powerful so significantly limiting it's use is a great way to make the game harder.

[@ThatGamingGuyfromthe70s]

Having played shooters since the mid 80's I have never seen the graphical 'effects' employed like those in Sol Cresta, I get the desire for retro, but retro doesn't mean ugly. The stuttering, frame rate issues, input latency and visual jank are really difficult to overcome in a shooter which requires precision. I expect a lot more from Platinum.

[@DavidGarcia-qf7gc]

Always been a fan of the Cresta series. I started with the first one: Moon Cresta. One game that I played with my father when I was 5 years old (I did the shooting while he was moving the ship). I will buy Sol Cresta.

[@Steril707]

Currently working on a new SHMUP for the Amiga, and would really love to hear your opinion and ideas on and for it. You seem to have a great grasp on what makes a SHMUP great.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I’m always happy to check them out. And even more importantly a bunch of folks on my discord. I have a dedicated indie channel for devs to post their work and get feedback from people. Once it’s ready you should totally take advantage. My about page should have a link in there. You can reach me and others that way. Let me know here if it doesn’t work.

[@Steril707]

@@ShmupJunkie Mmhh, seems I cannot find the link to your discord... : / add/Edit: found it! :)

[@LeynosJehuty]

I love the visuals. I think PG aimed for a Saturn era look and I think they nailed it

[@jessragan6714]

I'm just glad they didn't aim for a Terra Cresta 3D look.

[@roberto1519]

Terra Cresta is from the 80's and new Aleste games have been released, it's so nice seeing old developers revisiting these franchises.

[@54321ZachMr]

This game is awesome. Bought last Friday and have played it in between Elden Ring sessions. The music grows on you and matches the period perfectly. Yuzo Koshiro's soundtrack is phenomenal.

[@dangunheadachron1603]

Even though I'm a fan of the Nichibutsu shooters I was skeptical about this game at first due to the insane digital price but now I'm seeing all the nice bells and whistles that gives it longevity. The graphics to me aren't too bad. They remind me of Skull Fang on Saturn and I love that game. Can't go wrong with the Yuzo Koshiro chiptunes either. He would totally bring life to the most mediocre game... 😂 I'm definitely giving it a go! Great review 🙂

[@ShmupJunkie]

I still love Koshiro-san for what he did with Slap Fight MD as that's still one of, if not my favorite set of arrange tunes in a shmup. Just so good. My only guess on the digital price being so high is that's the only way to buy it for now and play until physicals start to ship, so it's taking advantage of the new game hype. Once some time passes and physical copies ship it makes sense for digital to come down some. As I am sure there are plenty waiting on the fence for a good price drop to buy that way. Glad the review was useful for you. I thought I showed the pros and cons pretty well while still getting my personal view across that I really enjoyed my time with it.

[@bweeptabop3944]

Awesome review. The game is FANTASTIC! It really does start to 'feel' good after spending some time with it. Understanding and getting a little familiar with the formation system is key to getting the most out of the game. Personally, it didn't take long to come to grips with it, so I think it's well implemented (and I'm not well versed with Shmups). Few things are as delicious as going into Delta formation, clearing the screen and collecting medals to keep your formation offense going. As for defence, splitting is essential (almost OP even), letting you slow down everything on screen and gives you plenty of time to manoeuvre to safety before the timer runs out. A lot of people are criticizing the graphics but it doesn't bother me too much. In fact I do find myself enjoying the visuals the more I play it. That's just me though. The soundtrack is badass 'nuff said. It really does pull you into the action. Performance-wise I couldn't find much to complain about. I've seen people mention bugs (I've yet to encounter any) and slowdown. The only time the game has dropped frames is when there's a LOT of explosions on screen but it happens so very rarely and passes by quickly so I never feel like the gameplay is being compromised. I don't know if they've ironed out the technical problems by now, but it's been smooth sailing for me. I think the main cause for concern is the price tag. I actually waited for the price to go down (which is why this comment is being made so long into the game's release). Having played it, I do feel like I'm engaging with a premium level product here. I think it has 10x more replayability than many AAA titles that leave you underwhelmed. I almost feel bad not buying the game at full price and giving Platinum their due lol. As a novice when it comes to Shmups, this game has gotten me more curious than ever about the genre, so I'm going to be looking into this channel to try and find more titles to play.

[@futureskeletons66669]

I have a soft spot for Nichibutsu's games and this for me is like a study from fans of their games at Platinum. It's get a hard time, but I really like it.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I agree and think they did a good job with the game too. I've seen it get a hard time due to the visuals being so unusual. But overall I think most found the gameplay a good take and evolution of the original concepts. I was never a huge player of the older Cresta games and though this was just as good or better than what's come before.

[@cosmosofinfinity]

Your rotatable TV is awesome

[@ShmupJunkie]

Those mounts are pretty easy to get on Amazon, look them up. If you can mount your own TV you can do it too!

[@paulwright5064]

I have preordered the Limited Run Collectors edition of this game for Switch. I also have been playing it on PC since launch. I've been enjoying it so far but feel it is quite expensive for what it is, especially when I had to pay extra for the story dlc which is unacceptable. Thanks for the review.

[@ShmupJunkie]

The story mode is so unusual and different I can see why not everyone would want it. At first I thought the same... why charge separate as a DLC? But if they never even bothered to make it nobody would have complained. It really feels like an extra while playing and is so niche (and 2 hours long!), that I can see many players just not being that interested in it. But more than anything I hope they patch and fix the performance issues on Switch well before you ever see the LRG show up. That was the least acceptable part for me, as it's been a while since I played a new shmup that really needed some more time fixing glitches before it was pushed out.

[@devilpuppet2819]

Those collectors are a scam shitty items inside

[@brunorastafa1429]

Wheen I saw Danmaku zoomers who can't even name a PC Engine emulator bitching about this game being boring, I knew I had to wait to get an actual opinion from you 🤣 It's clear from me this game was not designed for shmup veterans who might want to replay the game over and over again, but casuals you will play one time or another and then get over with it, and I can see them enjoying this more than coin feeding a 30 minute game, but I don't know if they will even get interested in this to begin with... Fantastic review as usual!

[@jeuxvideoetdesbas]

Great review! Thank you.

[@bartekkucharski3880]

Hi. What's that screen on the left? Do you have any videos about your set up?

[@EdgardR.]

I just played it for an hour and got through until stage 7 or something like that. I'm impressed at how good it feels, this game is great and I know that because that hour felt like 20 minutes. The intro explaining the story of this franchise made me interested in the other games and the DLC but I knew about the voiceover detail and it seems like such a crazy oversight to release a story focused DLC where you have to read while you play the game at the same time.

[@ruffusilustrado]

Hello! First of all, thanks for the review. Now I'm more interested than ever about play this Platinum shmup. Another question if someone could help me. Could someone tell me which game is the one that appears in the second 15:02? It reminds me a lot of the Strider video game (one of my favourites) but I don't know which one it is to find it. Thank you very much in advance! 💚💛💙

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@ruffusilustrado The game you’re looking for is called Cannon Dancer (Osman). It was arcade only but is now available on Switch. It’s by the same game designer that created Strider. I have another video called Best Arcade Exclusive games that I featured this game in… if you want to see a lot more of it and what makes it so cool.

[@aortaplatinum]

I've never been into overhead shooters until I played Sonic Frontiers and discovered I really enjoy them, that secret final boss was awesome. The ship formations here look a lot like Wonderful 101's formations, so it's DEFINITELY a Platinum joint lol. I'm glad they decided to take their own crack at an on-rails spaceship shooter after Star Fox Zero was... less than perfect, this looks rad! I'm absolutely gonna pick this up when it's on sale, I'm sure the $40 or $50 it is at full price is worth it to shmup-heads like yourself but I'm still cautiously interested in the genre. Thanks for the review, here's hoping the Dramatic DLC gets a delightfully cheesy dub in an update! And now my backlog is even longer 😭

[@Godsgood111]

Thank you for this review, I probably watched it 10x before purchasing, and I am very satisfied. I love your review style, humor and dedication to the genre. I've always been a casual shmup fan, after digging through your channel Im excited to experience many more. Sol cresta on switch, caravan mode, shmupjunk rank 69th, is that you? I'm KB111 @ 88th, I'll pass you one day 😉 one last thing, I've been considering Raiden x Mikado on switch, and wondered if you had a video, cause I would love your opinion, thanks.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Lol yeah that’s likely me. I only played it once just to check it out and see what it’s all about. So I’ve no doubt you’ll blow way past it. Really glad to hear you enjoyed the review and it was helpful to you. I don’t review individual games too often but this was such a high profile release I felt it was important.

[@ty_wilkins]

I've been enjoying it greatly on Switch. I come from an era where gameplay is more important than graphics, so I don't really mind the visuals. I also play exclusively in Handheld, so I don't have a massive screen that would magnify visual mistakes. I double-dipped and got the physical as well. Ne regrets.

[@ShmupJunkie]

And if you're playing in handheld, you even have the options to flip it for the better performance if you ever play flip grip style. Most shmups don't work well with analog sticks, but this one feels like it was made with that in mind as an option. It's much more feasible to play it using them instead of the dpad.

[@sudacagamer]

in that era graphics were as important as today, specially arcade games, wth are you talking about?

[@mwgames1299]

That one looked like a great shmup to me 👍great video great review, I'll be looking for this one on my PS4 👍👍

[@ezeepeezy]

Awesome review, man! I have yet to play a game in this series, but I like the sound of this one so much that I'll probably start here. So glad I can finally play games like this in proper tate mode 🥰

[@ShmupJunkie]

Thanks dude. And you pretty much need to play in TATE for this one until they patch and work out the weird extra delay in the default mode. I hope you enjoy it man and always glad to be helpful.

[@steveroberts7080]

Thanks for the in-depth analysis. I was pretty sure I was going to get this anyway, but I wanted to hear your thoughts on it. Always appreciate your content and keep up the excellent work!

[@ShmupJunkie]

You're welcome and glad the review helped out. If anything, it at least helps you decide which version to go for. Sometimes people prefer Switch but will go PS4 if the performance gap is significant. I'm one of those as using my Switch is just more convenient. But if I knew going in what I tested, I may have opted for another. Either way though it played good enough for me to enjoy.

[@Duomaxwell02M]

Dare I say that Platinum Games is now what Squaresoft used to be in the 90's? Fearless in experimenting with different genres.

[@BinaryLabGames]

I just found your channel while I was researching material for a shmup I want to make. Would you be interested in test-playing during development?

[@ShmupJunkie]

I'm always looking for new shmups to try sure, but my schedule is also crazy. You should jump on my discord.There's a good indie dev section with a lot of very skilled players that will give you great feedback. I'd highly recommend it.

[@zdp-189]

I own Terra Cresta on Famicom cart and II on HuCArd. I agree both cool for their time but pretty average, I burned a cd of TC 3D for my Saturn, that was a fun space harrier/Cotton Panaromesque scroller. But Im still waiting for physicalcopy of this one, great review to hold me over!

[@countzer0408]

So first there was Moon Cresta then Terra Cresta (loved that game) and now Sol Cresta? Sweet.

[@Spartan77]

I think I will pick up Cotton Rock & Roll first and this one a bit later. As for tata mode, I am not sure about that. Last time I played tata mode I got a face full of pepper spray and a restraining order. 🤣 Great review and video as always, thanks for all you do.

[@maroXUprising]

Game recently got new patch to fix some of the performance issues. Wondering if it’s worth picking it up at the current price or wait for a sale? As someone that isn’t a pro at SHUMP games, I have at least picked up quite a few on switch even with some of those SHUMP ports having performance issues such as input delay and such.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I’ll have to update it and retest. See how much they’ve improved it. It was perfectly playable as is honestly even before. At least in vertical tate mode. Btw Andro Dunos II just released as well and is getting rave reviews. I can’t wait to play it. Also available on Steam. You should check it out if you want a 90s old school shooter to play.

[@SolCresta3405]

Moon Cresta was Mandler scouting us. Terra Cresta 1 and 2 were full-scale invasions. But Sol Cresta? This is about us settling the score with Mandler once and for all!

[@gtssage]

Was looking forward to your take on this. I will be keeping an eye on Sol Cresta as the patches come out. I will be buying it on Steam.

[@D-A-K]

Shoutout rancho cucamonga

[@ShmupJunkie]

Ha! Funny I live only 20 or so minutes away from there.

[@D-A-K]

@@ShmupJunkie what’s funny is I always thought it was made up 😂

[@contidozack]

The review I am waiting for. You have the best review and always being funny and informative. Are you going to collect the Switch and PS4 physical version too?

[@Choops6969]

thank u for this.

[@ShmupJunkie]

You’re welcome 👍🏻

[@chano7053]

I didn't play it yet (not much time left for gaming these days...) but i had SO much fun with Terra Cresta and Terra Force in the arcade back in the 80's. Those shooters hold a special spot in the fondest memories of my salad days.

[@Isteak80]

The enemy ships that look like the player ship from Moon Cresta and Terra Cresta were a surprise, but a welcome one lol

[@ShmupJunkie]

The rival ships! Yes. They make multiple appearances and become more difficult farther into the game, having a part all the way through the very end.

[@Negameleon]

Now imagine if Vanillaware made a Sshmup, that would be a dream!

[@wesleydevisscher3778]

Sol cresta is fun to play

[@reziture]

I was waiting to see what you thought of this! I love Platinum and Hideki Kamiya but I haven’t liked everything I’ve seen so far. Awesome vid and review as usual, your the Shmup God now! Lol

[@joltzyclayton8674]

Hey junkie, you able to link me to the wall mount you have? For the life of me I can't find a mount that turns 180°. Thanks man awesome video.

[@hauntedhotdog]

I literally thought this was a re-release of an old game from the late 90's or early 2000's at first glance. The graphics don't bother me at all they just look like an intentional homage to that era.

[@ClockworkBard]

I won't say I'm disappointed with the launch of Sol Cresta, but the little things have knocked it down from a "Switch physical purchase" to a "Steam wishlist" for me. That unfortunately puts it in line behind a lot of really awesome shooters waiting to join my library, and most of them are less than half the price. I'd love to promote a high profile shooter with my wallet and be a small part of giving the genre some mainstream visibility. But while I think it is worth $40, it's not more deserving of that money than other titles I haven't bought yet.

[@ShmupJunkie]

Don’t blame you one bit. There are so many great new shmups coming or out like what I showed in my last video for new games coming in 2022. Some of which were pretty fantastic and worth playing. In addition to being a fraction of the cost. I do think they’ll patch up the issues especially on switch. At which point I hope more people reward them with a purchase if it’s their kind of game. So it doesn’t end up being seen as confirmation why larger studios shouldn’t bother with the genre.

[@NUKEMDOWN08]

Thank you for your honest review. Great entertaining video, like always.

[@calibomber209]

thanks for the review. is it digital only or physical?

[@ShmupJunkie]

It's both, you can get them physical as well. Or at least they are coming.

[@arronetchells4363]

Well I think my mind is made up, I will definitely order the physical now as I’m a sucker for innovative gameplay and games that push the genre. It’s just a pity it’s a long wait but we have been spoilt with some awesome games lately to keep me going until arrival. On the subject of the presentation. it’s less spectacular than expected but I guess Platinum have the gameplay to a tee in all their games. I can see through the graphics as the game looks fun as hell with lots of unlocks. The music was always going to be amazing and the formation system looks a challenge to master which is totally my thing. But most importantly, another great video man, it’s always fun to see your take and I can always rely on you for the great detail. Thanks for helping me make my mind up 🙌

[@ShmupJunkie]

You're welcome man and really glad it helped. I have no doubt the issues will get patched out and we'll be left with a solid game all around with only the graphics to complain about but not much else. Getting into just the right formation can sometimes be a bit janky feeling versus snapping into them, but it seems to be more a purposeful design choice. It sure hasn't stopped the really great players from looping the game a few times over!

[@hardnine]

Hi new to the channel...great work guys...any chance you could always identify what systems the games are on in the discription?thanks

[@ShmupJunkie]

Welcome! Yes, I'm working on remembering the little things like that lol. Thanks for the feedback and hope you enjoy some of my other content too. Glad to have you here.

[@hardnine]

@@ShmupJunkie ya you go into such amazing details in these vids I was surprised you forgot to say witch consoles their on..thought I was me missing something at first

[@AKTANEARCADE]

WEEB NERD GAMING is an awesome dude! and his videos ALSO include commentary! turn on CC to see the amount of effort he puts in trying to explain the game step by step... As far as this video...Excellent review as always!!! Never miss a SJ video, always informative, funny, and fair to the game, including history !

[@ShmupJunkie]

Absolutely. I don't often turn on and watch the CC on the gameplays, but for him and Jaimers it's always a pleasure. Always valuable in helping me with some strategies before jumping back into it myself. Wltr3565 has been great going all the way back to when he helped translate the intro to Nexzr for me in a video review I did for it waaay back. It was so cool to finally see that translated as I always loved the intro to the game. Unrelated, but I'm still waiting on that dang sample on the Egret to get to me. It's taking ages. I may even have my Japan version I bought and paid for show up around the same time. I'm itching to dig into continuing that video soon as it arrives.

[@AKTANEARCADE]

@@ShmupJunkie I think it'll be a nice meaty video, I'm excited as well. There's so many reasons to enjoy a video like that but one of my favorite is simply to revisit all those games...come on Egret! Get a hustle on!

[@ms.ilovecotton9778]

His was the first gameplay I skimmed through. Of course don't want to completely spoil it for myself so didn't watch the whole thing

[@Daniel-it1dp]

Great and useful review. Gives me something to think about before buying the physical from LRG for Switch, curious if they’ll patch it before the carts are manufactured. Speaking of, how is the input lag on PS4 and does it have a tate option?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Wish I could tell you the delay on PS4 but I don’t own that version. Pretty sure they all have tate mode though as the Steam port does as well. I hope they do listen and patch the switch. It takes a while for physicals to ship and most of the time they get patched in advance. But for now it does perform so much better in tate mode.

[@johngavalas712]

Oh gotta get all the formations to unlock the phoenix thank you!

[@darktetsuya]

this does seem cool... although looks like its single player only?! maybe you've seen me on the discord my wife's been getting into shmups since it's usually so easy to just pick up and play with most of these (like one of her favorites on PSX was einhander so she's had some prior experience) but we may just get it anyway cus it looks fun and those yuzo koshiro jams, definitely worth the price of admission. as for the story DLC, IDK I opted to mute the voices in raiden v which seems to have a similar feature, that might get distracting while you're trying to dodge bullets and shoot enemies... but the main game seems fun I may pick it up here soon!

[@ShmupJunkie]

Just in case you are looking for great coop shmups with the wife, check out Moon Dancer I previewed last video. Just like Raging Blasters it's got great two player and is a perfect difficulty for anyone just getting into it. Just in case you already didn't come across it.

[@darktetsuya]

@@ShmupJunkie oh I don't think I've seen that one but will have to look it up! definitely gonna add that to the wishlist, I did get some suggestions from folks on the discord so we definitely have a good list started. atm we're almost done with a very easy run of raiden 4 x mikado (we got to the final boss but she outlasted me like a minute more before we both died so we're very close!) thanks for the suggestion!

[@arcimagogix9034]

jamestown+, a great co op shooter, check It out.

[@ShmupJunkie]

@@arcimagogix9034 Yeah! That is a good one. I remember showing it in my older Beginner Shmups video. That ones great for coop especially with 3-4 people together.

[@arcimagogix9034]

@@ShmupJunkiei agree, personally it's the best co op shooter out there. great visuals too like if there was something like a Neo Geo Pro.

[@Juganawt]

I've got a physical PS4 edition pre-ordered. The wait is excruciating now that the digital release is available, and I'm tempted to grab the digital release on Switch to play in the mean time.

[@zombee38]

after your review now I'm seriously considering to buy it...great times to be a shootemup fan

[@ShmupJunkie]

If I had to choose between this and Andro Dunos 2, for me that’s the better game. And more nostalgic for me. But this one was fun too especially if you prefer a vertical shooter with more complex mechanics.

[@zombee38]

@@ShmupJunkie I am going to buy both lol

[@tonyc3282]

Fair Review. I think I’ll wait for a possible sale & disregard the “Dramatic Mode” unless they release an English Patch.

[@dtester]

When I was a kid, there was a shooter that I thought was really cool at my local Round Table Pizza. Only problem was that I had no idea what it was called because the title font was too stylized for me to read. It was only recently that I found out it was Terra Cresta! ^_^

[@opaljk4835]

Could you maybe recommend a tv stand or wall mount to do some Tate mode action? I’ve had trouble finding a practical solution

[@johngavalas712]

I have no idea how to unlock the phoenix for switch can someone explain how?

[@ShmupJunkie]

You have to have all the formations unlocked first from what I remember.

[@TheRestartPoint]

It's so weird (but very cool) seeing this being brought to the attention of the general public with reviews in newspapers etc, due to the developer! On first glance the graphics look reasonable to me, and it's clear that this was made with real love of the genre, but the glitches and performance problems are pretty inexcusable at its current price mark. Still, I love the idea of a big dev showing some love to shmups, I hope this isn't the last time.

[@ShmupJunkie]

It's getting pretty good marks from the general magazines as well, so it's good for the genre. The more well known studios we can get making some shmups, the better it is for the genre growing. It's only a matter of time before one of them hits gold like what happened with Ikaruga and it brings a lot of new players back into it. At least that's how I like to imagine it happening lol.

[@TonyToon]

Is that shimmering effect the result of weird image scaling?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Possibly, depends on the stage. Some of it is on purpose and there are flickering effects in the background. Other times yes, you can notice shimmering during scrolling. Whether on purpose or not is anyone's guess, but it's there.

[@UncaJohnny]

Thank you for the awesome in depth review. I was leaning towards skipping on this game but unsure, and you helped me make up my mind. I have never been good at inputting commands in fighting games and the fact that Sol Cresta uses this was a huge red flag. The graphics look like I just woke up and need my old man's reading glasses to focus. I love games with story mode but I can't understand Japanese. The frame rate ended up killing it for me. Maybe I'll reconsider once all of this has been addressed and it has a massive discount because the current asking price is too much for someone that plays shmups casually. Glad to see Timmy rear his ugly head; just be careful on letting him rotate the TV, he might fudge up and break it next time.

[@ShmupJunkie]

haha yeah some quick Timmy for comic relief without going overboard. This game is not for everyone, so I wanted to be fair about it while highlighting the key aspects. And it's pretty easy to tell if it's for you or not.

[@dan_evilrobot]

I pre-ordered the Limited Run Games on PS4, I didn't even knew that Platinum Games made this game. I love there series titles of games.

[@Mick.y.]

Is local ranking the same for all difficulties? Are there scores obtained with "easy" difficulty and "hard" difficulty in the same ranking? I hope not

[@wesleydevisscher3778]

Sol cresta has new dlc on the eshop

[@DarkReturns1]

Does the game really look this bad or is it a capture issue? Edit: got to the part where you talked about presentation. It seems more than just an art direction issue, and that's definitely an issue. The pixels look blurry and chunky at the same time. I wonder if the game scales to 4k on other platforms and if that would help?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Nothing would help, it's just the way the game looks unfortunately. Regardless of platform. It does perform much better on Steam and PS4 but the overall look doesn't change. It's a combination of art direction and not so great implementation. Shame as the rest of the game is really good along with the great music.

[@sergex85]

What is the input lag on PS4?

[@ShmupJunkie]

I don't own the PS4 version so I couldn't tell you. Only that it's likely improved over the 5-6 on Switch in Tate, so my best guess is at least below 5 frames. It performs very well on Steam from what I hear as well.

[@silentfanatic]

What cheat code gives me the time for all of these good games?

[@ShmupJunkie]

Believe me, I’ve been waiting for that cloning machine to go back on sale at Amazon for years. I get to spend a day playing a game and then the next 5 making a video for it lol.

[@theconsolekiller7113]

Awesome review. I will have to pick this one up at some point. One thing Im not clear on. Is there actually 2X the content with the optional 10 dollar download. I have zero interest in story, but it sounded like the stages were actually twice as long. Seems insane that the game would have double the gameplay length for 10 bucks. Sounds like it might be worth it even if you ignore the story. Maybe I interpretted that wrong.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I wouldn't call it 2 times the content, as a lot of the slower parts are downtime while a boss is talking, or some obstacle and score based gameplay with rings. There is more content but it's not so different or extended to justify that. If you are getting the DLC it's mainly for the story and not because you have a ton more to do on every stage. There are more slow moments and downtime for the story to unfold.

[@theconsolekiller7113]

@@ShmupJunkie Ah, ok. Seems like extra content I wouldnt want, ha ha. Appreciate the review.

[@imsocietysjason]

Great review. I was thinking of the PS4 version but it sounds like the Switch is pretty solid too.

[@ShmupJunkie]

PS4 will definitely perform better, especially now. So it's a safe bet. But if you really want Switch, I do imagine they'll get the issues patched up soon enough... or at least I would hope so.

[@imsocietysjason]

@@ShmupJunkie really appreciate that advice! Yeah… I have several shooters on Switch, so I’m going to go PS4 in this case. I had a feeling but I’m not a specs expert by any means. Thank you!

[@AzrialAlaria]

I'm fighting a war in my head where I'm trying to justify the price tag of this game. I do want to play it though...

[@Gigantemanatee]

No need to fight that war, just forget about it and wait for it to go on sale. In that time it will probably be patched up to be more of a serviceable game than what it got released as. IMO there is no justification for most game prices these days, especially on the digital side, all over inflated and when they do go on sale said prices are still questionable for what content is there.

[@Mingodough]

Will pick this up the last day the limited run per order is available because it’s pricey lol. Looks fun despite its issues

[@lob5645]

I didn't know the soundtrack was done by Yuzo Koshiro. In that case my interest in Sol Cresta has suddenly increased. :p

[@ShmupJunkie]

He doesn't have many misses in his long career... man is a genius for sure. His Slap Fight MD music is still some of my all time favorite.

[@dr_ubo]

I honestly kinda dig how different it is. I'll give it a shot soon, hope some updates are done by then

[@ShmupJunkie]

Or just get it on Steam since you play that way anyway. I've heard nothing but good things overall in terms of that version.

[@IamNevG]

Solid coverage as always. Thank you brotha @Shmup Junkie!

[@tubbiele2]

Nichibutsu's STG were never very focused in the graphics, but they were solid enough IMHO. Apparently this game follows the pattern. I liked both Terra Cresta and Formation F rhythm, that is where they excel

[@ShmupJunkie]

I have to admit, even the older games like Cresta II is easier on the eyes than this new game. But I can look past it too since the game is fun and the music is so well done. Looking at early footage I was kind of worried about this release, as even the gameplay looked a bit slow and uninspiring. So I was actually glad to have been proven wrong and found the gameplay to be much more fast paced, difficult, and nuanced than I expected from the early footage. That was the most pleasant surprise for me.

[@tubbiele2]

@@ShmupJunkie hear hear. The gameplay seems nice. BTW I guess you read in a Cave interview the "stoic game" concept. It was curious they made such an emphasis

[@AN7HON7]

Dat music 🤤

[@fazares]

Cool one...put on my wish list...physical edition..of course! :P

[@MagmaMKII]

I really hope they fix the controller issue on the PC version.

[@videocrab]

oh no, what's the controller issue on PC

[@MagmaMKII]

Some controllers won't work at all, with all buttons just inserting more credits.

[@videocrab]

​@@MagmaMKII wow that's... not great!!! ugh. well, thanks for letting me know, anyway........ guess i just get to periodically check the steam forums. blehhh

[@mr.gamerdanger1641]

Another AAA review my man! Thanks for helping me decide, I'll be making a physical purchase through LRG. I still think you should publish your videos on DVD/Blu Ray.

[@cyberghost74]

There is a game called "Steel Saviour Reloaded", it is available on Steam, i would like to see an Review made by you.

[@Randhrick]

Nice review, I was looking forward to your review :) As usual, the Switch version is bad, at this point, I'm mostly getting my SHMUPS on PS4/Steam and just ignoring the Switch version. Really enjoyed Terra Cresta on Famicom. This one looks really interesting, Platinum is good at making games that look really hard at first but when you understand the mechanics and how to play it, it's so much satisfying playing the game and this looks no different from their other games.

[@ms.ilovecotton9778]

why is everyone playing the Switch version instead of Playstation or Steam? literally everyone knows multi platform games run the worst on Switch (told Electric Underground something similar) ..hope people won't pass on this game just because of that port. It looks fun and worth it given it's a longer shmup with tons of replay value and seems a little more complex. Now waiting for my LRG PS4 copy.

[@ShmupJunkie]

For me personally, I like to test it on Switch as I know it's going to be the lesser performer. So if it's really good on Switch, it'll be great on PS4 also etc. Kind of like Cotton Reboot and Rock n Roll. Since I can only get one copy. If I test on PS4, I'll get a ton of people asking how about switch... haha. It's just a more popular platform for these games I think. But I agree. Given the choice, PS4 or Steam is the safer bet and will perform better. It makes sense to go that way whenever you can.

[@dangunheadachron1603]

@@ShmupJunkie PS4 is my go to platform for any game that's multiplatform. R-Type Final 2 anyone? 😂

[@daveunknown01]

Bugs Bunny references👍

[@ShmupJunkie]

Always. It was a perfect analogy and a nice way of explaining what I thought of the visuals.

[@bl85gamer]

Another great video man 👏👏 There seems to be a pattern when it comes to some of these games being released on the Switch...lol. Hopefully it gets patched like you said.

[@mrmonkeyman79]

I'll probably wait for a sale for this one but gameplay dues look interesting. While the graphical style seems a bit bland I wonder if it's deliberate as tracking bullets and enemies on this seems really easy without any visual clutter in the play space.

[@ShmupJunkie]

I'm quite sure it was deliberate, but they likely also didn't anticipate such a strong response to it. It's just not pleasing to look at which makes it a hard sell for many. But it may also be a lesson learned for potential future shmups from them... if we ever get another.

[@jerm5466]

GOATed shmup imo certainly of the last 20 years

[@ghoulsarefree]

It's a shame they decided to go with that downscaling shader to create a 'pixellated' look. It's nowhere near faithful to what low res, sprite-based games looked like, and it produces persistent rippling/shimmering artifcacts in the background any time it moves... which is literally non-stop in a scrolling game. I have to wonder if this was a choice made to help blend varying levels of detail in the models and textures (such as highly detailed but very small popcorn enemy 3D models juxtaposed with a rudimentary two color gradient of the laser effect). They've basically given the game anti-anti-aliasing. I have a hard time believing the devs are happy with the way the graphics turned out.

[@ShmupJunkie]

There are very few who are pleased with the games final look so it does make you wonder... are they? Which is a shame for sure as underneath is great gameplay and music. Nearly a unique classic that’ll get passed over by many who can’t look past the unattractive presentation.

[@mazonemayu]

Nice, I used to play the first game to death on the ol’ 48k Speccy bitd

[@hectorh6844]

I believe Yuzo Koshiro did some arrangements 🎶

[@Midekai]

I snagged a copy myself. Having a lot of fun with it. The switch version needs some patches though.

[@Gigantemanatee]

This will be the Switch’s epitaph in its final days.

[@akubaku2797]

Have the devs patched/optimized the Switch version yet??

[@sudacagamer]

This is EXACTLY what I was expecting since I heard the news about PG making a new Cresta game, nothing more, nothing less, minus the fact the Yuzo Koshiro was doing the OST and minus the fact that the game looks like crap. I guess these last two cancel each other out so yeah, cool game haha, definitely buying it.

[@Misanola]

Awesome review as always. I think the asking price is insulting given how unpolished the game is.

[@BillAE91]

Been waiting for your review. it's a good game for sure, but they should have spend a bit more time developing it, especially to iron out issues like flaky performance and latency in the Switch version. These issues are going to be patched I assume, it's a consequence of developing a game consequently on 3 platforms. I don't mind the graphical style, I get the retro look, but the "sprites" could look better. Apart from that I believe that for their first attempt at a shooting game, they did good. It sure is fun and unique.