Review of Geppy-X On PS5 A Retro Anime Gem

Originally released in 1999 as a Japan-exclusive PS1 hidden gem, 70’s-Style Robot Anime Geppy-X has finally made its global debut on modern consoles. Thanks to developer Implicit Conversions and publisher Bliss Brain, this remaster on PlayStation 5 isn’t just a simple port—it is a meticulous preservation project celebrating a classic age of Japanese pop culture.

An Anime Disguised as a Shooter

Geppy-X doesn’t just draw inspiration from retro mecha shows; it fully pretends to be one. Structured episode-by-episode, every stage is framed like a Saturday morning 1970s TV broadcast, complete with dramatic opening themes, eye-catches, parody commercial breaks (advertising fake shampoo and manga tie-ins), end credits, and next week on… previews. The story lovingly lampoons iconic Showa-era super robot classics like Getter Robo and Mazinger Z as the titular machine fights off the Cosmic Demon Empire.

The visual presentation is the absolute star here. The original game squeezed thousands of FMV clips onto four PlayStation discs at a low resolution and framerate. For the PS5 version, over 8,000 frames were restored directly from the original Betacam master tapes and re-digitized to a crisp 24 fps. Hearing legendary anime vocalists like Isao Sasaki, Akira Kushida, and Hironobu Kageyama belt out soaring synth-and-brass theme songs while classic voice actors chew the scenery makes the entire package feel like a unearthed treasure from an alternate timeline.

How Does It Play?

Once you take control of the controller, Geppy-X settles into a standard 2D side-scrolling shoot-’em-up. In true Getter Robo fashion, Geppy-X can transform on the fly between three distinct forms: a balanced mid-range build, a fast speedster, and a heavy-hitting power form. You also have an “about face” button to pivot and shoot enemies attacking from behind.

Where the game stumble slightly is in its pure mechanical depth. The combat lacks a bit of punch, the hitboxes feel slightly vague, and turning around feels sluggish during fast-paced encounters. It’s a relatively easy and simple shooter by PS1 standards, designed more as an interactive delivery vehicle for its incredible anime presentation than a tight, white-knuckle bullet hell.

Fortunately, the PS5 remaster surrounds the core gameplay with modern quality-of-life enhancements. You get smooth rewind functionality, save states, customizable CRT filters, and rapid-fire toggles. After finishing the 2-to-3-hour main story, unlockable bonus modes let you play through alternate timelines with entirely different mechs—including a hilarious parody mode mocking hammy 1980s Western anime localizations.

Final Thoughts

Geppy-X on PS5 is a masterclass in video game preservation. While the core shooting gameplay is merely average, the sheer heart, humor, and absurd attention to detail packed into its anime presentation make it unmissable for fans of retro mecha and gaming history