It feels like it’s been a long time coming, but fans of classic vertical shooters finally have something new to sink their teeth into with Truxton Extreme.
Taking one of the genre’s most recognisable classic names and bringing it back for a modern audience some 30 years on was never going to be an easy task, but thankfully this instalment remembers exactly what made the original 1988 game and it 1992 sequel so enjoyable in the first place.
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So rather than trying to reinvent the series, Truxton Extreme sticks closely to its arcade roots. That’s both its greatest strength and, depending on what you’re looking for, its biggest weakness.
If you’re expecting a modern bullet-hell shooter packed with dozens of mechanics and endless progression systems, you’ll probably leave a little disappointed. However, if all you want is a brutally challenging shooter that rewards practice, precision, and quick reactions, then you’re going to feel right at home.
There’s a Story?
Story-wise, it’s very light to speak of. Once again, humanity finds itself under attack by an overwhelming alien force. And, once again, you are the only thing standing between Earth and complete destruction.
It’s hardly original, even in the world of shmups. Nobody comes to Truxton for an emotional tale or an epic yarn. What is there is told through comic book-style panels before each mission, though oddly there is no voice acting for these lore dumps.
There’s Definitely a Gameplay
Gameplay keeps things refreshingly straightforward. You’ll spend your time weaving through increasingly dense waves of enemy fire while collecting power-ups that steadily transform your ship into an absolute powerhouse.
Different weapons mix up how you play on the fly. Whether you prefer wider coverage or concentrated firepower, genre-staple screen-clearing bombs remain invaluable whenever things inevitably become too overwhelming.
Ouch
Difficulty is where Truxton Extreme really earns its reputation. The opening stages ease you in gently enough, but before long the game starts needing near-perfect movement and to remember enemy patterns.
Boss encounters are satisfying, forcing you to balance aggression while fighting smartly rather than simply overwhelming them with pure raw firepower. Outside of the main campaign there is arcade, there are score-focused modes and online ranking that give experienced players plenty of reasons to keep coming back.
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Like most arcade shooters, replayability comes from improving your own performance rather than unlocking endless new content. Though there is a fun co-op mode where you and a mate can fight to save the world.
My Eyes
Visually, the game strikes a nice balance between old and new. Enemy designs remain faithful to the series, while environments are filled with detailed explosions, mechanical fortresses, and sprawling landscapes.
The action can become extremely busy later on in the game. Although enemy projectiles generally remain easy enough to track even during the most chaotic moments.
The soundtrack deserves plenty of praise too, delivering energetic rock and electronic tracks with a real retro vibe that perfectly match the pace of the action without ever becoming distracting.
Truxton Extreme doesn’t even try to think about modernising the shmup formula, and it’s all the better for it. It delivers exactly what long-time fans will want. All while offering newcomers a challenging introduction to one of arcade gaming’s most respected shooter series.
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