Fast Striker

oprainfall: 3 / 5

At the end of the day (having played the game for about 2 weeks (roughly 1-1.5 hr/day), I came back to that initial question that I set out with – What unique element sets this game apart from all the others? The gameplay is pretty standard fare, the music is nice, but unmemorable, and there is no defined story or end goal. The one aspect that did stand out to me was the quality of the animations. I can’t put my finger on why, but the animations used for a lot of the larger enemies, bosses, and even the backgrounds were really impressive to me. Were they game-changing? I wouldn’t go that far, but they definitely impressed me and helped make the game feel somewhat distinct. Fast Striker currently retails for $6.99 on the PSN. Playing on PS4 is a much nicer experience than on the Vita, but this type of game tends to work best when played in shorter bursts or while on the go. If you’re interested in the limited physical editions, PlayAsia still has both PS4 and Vita copies. Given the low price point and overall level of enjoyment that I received, I’d say this one’s still worth a look.

PlayStation Universe: 6 / 10 by Timothy Nunes

Fast Striker pays homage to the original game, but it offers very little in regards to modernization. Fast Striker has some simple, intriguing elements to it, but it lacks the polish of other games in the genre.

Push Square: 5 / 10

In review, Fast Striker is a difficult, but scrappy homage to the shoot 'em ups of old. Its Neo Geo graphics, while nostalgic, don't particularly stand out, and use an ugly palette of colours. The lack of additional gameplay features, especially powerups is its most egregious sin, but the experience is still an enjoyable one, if only for ten minutes at a time. On a PS Vita and for short bursts, this could provide entertainment for a bus journey or two. On PS4, however, it doesn't cut the mustard, and fails to stand out from the many, many indie shoot 'em ups available on the Store.