Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: A Princess from Another World is a delightful blast from the past that has been brought back to life for modern gamers. Originally released in 1992, this game is the latest from Ratalaika Games and is fully optimised for the modern consoles.
Publisher: Ratalaika Games
Developer: Shinyuden
Release Date: 3 May 2024
Thanks to Ratalaika Games and PR Hound for the review code.
The game begins with our heroes, Arnold and Sonya, enjoying their well-deserved holidays on a tropical southern island. However, their paradise soon turns into chaos when a strange spaceship appears and starts attacking the city. Unable to just sit around, Arnold and Sonya transform into Shockman and head to battle this new mysterious enemy.
The game is a two-player platformer where you can play as either Arnold or Sonya. Gameplay is reminiscent of the classic side-scrollers of the 90s, with a world map and the ability to tackle stages in any order. The game also experiments with new ideas such as wall jumping and mech-suit armour, adding a fresh twist to the classic gameplay.
One of the standout features of Cyber Citizen Shockman 3 is its visuals. The sprites are larger, and the bosses feature a few graphical effects. The game is visually comparable to Mega Drive/Genesis games released the same year, which is quite impressive. The game also features short animated cut-scenes and boss battle dialogues, which now have English subtitles.
The game’s soundtrack is another highlight. Being a CD-based game originally, it features a CD quality soundtrack that adds to the overall gaming experience. The game also includes a few extras like a narrated art competition showcase and an identical set of options as before: screen filters, a rewind tool and save states, artwork and manual scans, and cheats including invincibility.
Despite these minor issues, Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: A Princess from Another World is a fun and enjoyable game. It’s the best game in the series and a great diversion for those who are curious about the Shockman series or the PC Engine in particular. It offers good value for money and is a worthy addition to any gamer’s collection.
Final Thoughts
Cyber Citizen Shockman 3: A Princess from Another World is a nostalgic trip down memory lane that offers a fun and engaging gaming experience. Its classic gameplay, impressive visuals, and CD quality soundtrack make it a must-play for fans of retro games. While it has a few flaws, they don’t detract from the overall enjoyment of the game. It’s a game that was worth the wait and is sure to be a hit with both old and new gamers alike.
