Developer: Super Mega Team
Publisher: Adult Swim Games
Reviewed on: PC
Code received.
Don’t let the cute aesthetic fool you, Rise & Shine takes no prisoners. It blends gorgeous visuals, clever puzzles, and intense action into one of the best 2D action games available today. The only disappointing part is that it ends too soon.
Story
In Rise & Shine you play as Rise, a young boy who finds himself in possession of a magical gun called Shine. You must exploit Shine’s powers to save planet Gamearth from the treacherous Space Grunts. The story is quirky, often making fun of overused video game devices. For instance, one level has you completing a series of gratuitous mini-games in order to acquire an item you need to proceed. Rise points out the silliness of the tasks, despite being forced to participate. This sense of irony pops up periodically throughout the campaign, with varying degrees of success.
I often found myself wondering if a joke was just not landing for me, or if there was no joke at all. It’s a shame that the sense of humor is so inconsistent because it hints at a lively, interesting world. However, by the end I felt like it was more of a loose framework to tie the game’s various levels together.
My playthrough clocked in at around four hours, with two of those hours spent on the final very difficult level and boss battle. Each level features a number of collectibles to encourage replay, and beating the game unlocks an even harder difficulty mode for those looking to truly punish themselves.
Gameplay
This is where the game really… Shines. Rise & Shine is challenging. Each level is a series of scenarios that get progressively more difficult. This leads to a wide variety of enemies that make each encounter fresh and exciting. Rise can take cover behind some objects and pop out to take shots, which adds a tactical element to the combat. Hiding behind cover, waiting for the coast to be clear, then taking that perfect shot is satisfying. You never spend too much time cowering, however, because the action moves quickly and certain enemies can flush you out if you’re not careful.
Shine also gets upgraded as you progress. You’ll get ammo capacity upgrades, remote control bullets, and even a grenade launcher add on. The remote control bullets play a key role in the other half of Rise & Shine‘s gameplay: puzzles. Sometimes you must guide these bullets through tight corridors, dodging hazards, to hit a switch that’ll open a door. You can also use this ability during firefights, and all of the various upgrades must be utilized when fighting the game’s bosses.
The only complaint I have is that some of the puzzles near the end are a little obtuse. One puzzle requires you to use a piece of the environment in a way that had never been eluded to before, leading to some frustration. I think the real problem is that the puzzles don’t have a chance to breathe, so switching between action mode and puzzle mode can be jarring.
The PC version offers full gamepad support, as well as mouse and keyboard. I found aiming with a mouse, especially during the remote control bullet sequences, to be easier and more precise than a gamepad. On the other hand, the small amount of platforming definitely feels better on a gamepad. All in all, both control methods work well and you should use whichever suits you.
Graphics & Audio
The art of Rise & Shine is nothing short of amazing. The hand-drawn characters and environments evoke a “Saturday Morning Cartoon” vibe that resonates throughout the whole game. Of course, the over the top violence and gore plants it firmly in the “Late Night Cartoon” camp. The style is cohesive, well executed, and gives the game a vibrant, unique look. The various environments come to life through small touches like events unfolding in the background, and the use of darkness to create new gameplay experiences. Every level felt unique and memorable, and not once did a level drag on or become boring. In addition, the inclusion of hand-drawn comic-style cutscenes bring the art style to new dimensions. From the animations and explosions, to the fairy souls of the grunts you kill, this visual package is a feast for the eyes.
As expected, the audio perfectly compliments the visuals. Your gun makes a satisfying pop, and explosions blast bits of sloppy body parts everywhere. Also, the music helps to underscore the more dramatic scenes in leu of voice acting. It’s hard for me to decide which I like more, the gameplay or the presentation, luckily I don’t have to choose.
Performance
Rise & Shine performed flawlessly during my review. It maintained a solid 60 frames per second even when the action got heated, and I never experienced a single crash. Graphical options are very limited, yet I never found myself wanting to tweak them. Furthermore, load times were quick which is important in a game where you have to respawn often. I played it exclusively on the PC for my review, so console mileage may vary.
Conclusion
Rise & Shine is a great 2D action game. It’s tough as nails, has smart puzzles, and wraps it all in an amazing audio-visual presentation. The only complaints I have are with the story, which I wish was longer and more engaging. Despite those issues, I believe Rise & Shine is one of the best indie action games available today.
[full_width]Review PC Specs:
Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
Intel Core i7-4790K 4.0GHz
16GB RAM
GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB VRAM
Samsung EVO 850 SSD[/full_width]
