Overview – developed by MaidsWithGuns and published by Eastasiasoft, the endless 2.5D run and gun platform shooter S. Prysm Destroyer comes to consoles. As anime girl Amor, pilot the giant mech Prysm Destroyer, taking on the primordial beasts that have overtaken humanity and pushed them underground. This version of the game is now available for all console platforms, with a link to each version of the game at the bottom of this review.
Disclaimer: before I get into the review, I would like to thank Eastasiasoft for providing the copy of S. Prysm Destroyer that was used for this piece. The provision of this software has not influenced the contents of the review, all thoughts and opinions contained within are my own.
Now with the introductions out of the way, let’s get into the review. There is little in terms of game story, so I will be going straight into discussing the gameplay of S. Prysm Destroyer. Please be aware, I have already covered the Steam version of the game, so some of the details from that review will be similar between both reviews. You can find that coverage (HERE).
Gameplay – S. Prysm Destroyer is an endless run and fun shooter, taking gameplay elements from different shooters in the genre, all wrapped in a sci-fi presentation. The player controls a powerful mech armed with a powerful blaster, moving through each of the stage and wiping out the enemies within. The player is able to shoot in 8 different directions, move left and right, as well as jump and use a jet pack to get to higher points.
The core gameplay loop revolves around shooting the enemies on screen, platforming and trying to get to the goal. But enemies aren’t the only hazard that players will need to worry about, as there will be traps and hazards they will need to avoid. These consist of Turrets, flamethrowers and electrical traps, increasing the dangers of the surface world. As the player makes their way through each segment, the challenge will increase.
During the stages, the enemies will appear from all sides, which can make the run and gun action rather frantic. To help with this, players will be able to use a lock button, where they will be able to stand in place and shoot in all 8 directions. If the player tries to shoot down without using the lock button, the mech will go prone and shoot forward. Players can also shoot and jump/drop through thin platforms, giving the player options during the action.
While the player takes on the challenges of a run, the player will be able to pick up temporary upgrades. The power-ups can be dropped by destroying enemies and objects that are scattered through stages. These items include boosts to fire rate, temporary shields and even the ability to shoot through walls. Players will also be able to collect health upgrades, restoring damage that is taken as this game has one life per run.
This game has a special gimmick that makes it stand out among the others in the genre. There will be points during the stages where a glowing icon appears. When the player makes contact with this glow, they will activate an ultimate attack for a limited time. These special ultimate attacks will provide the player with a special weapon, with a flaming Katana, Ice thrower and thunder guitar, which change significantly increase attack power.
As this game has a permadeath system, the player has just one life to get the best possible score they can. As the player gets through the stages, the enemies will become more powerful, with their color changing to show how strong they are. This increases the risk to the player, as the damage increases with the enemy power. When the player dies, their score will be recorded on the local and global leaderboards, letting players compete against each other.
Speaking of score, there is a multiplier that will build when the player takes down enemies. This appears on the bottom of the screen, with a bar that runs down and players can keep the combo alive by defeating enemies. However, if the player takes any damage during a combo, it will be lost immediately. The best way to get a big score for the leaderboards is to get combos, but this can take some time and practice to consistently hit the big multipliers.
The last thing to discuss is the unlockable content. During the game, the player will be able to unlock new costumes for Amor, which are obtained by fulfilling special requirements, increasing replay value. These cosmetics include a bunny outfit, maid uniform and even a nod to the Touhou franchise. When using these different outfits, the model that appears on screen for Amor will change, appearing on screen in the HUD and during ultimate weapon cinematics.
Now with the gameplay covered, it is time to discuss the other elements of this release, starting with the controls
Controls – as an arcade style run and gun game, there is an easy to pick up control system, allowing players to quickly get into the action. There are three buttons that players need to use, with the jump/jetpack, shoot and aim buttons set up in a comfortable way. All of the inputs are responsive, working well with the Dualshock 4 controller, making for an easy to play shooter. Everything feels just right during the flow of play.
Difficulty – as an endless shooter, there is no true ending that can be reached, with players looping through stages with ever increasing difficulty. The damage that is taken from enemies will increase, scaling up with their color changes. This is can really make the game tough during the later stages, with the difficulty ramping up the further the player gets. It can take a little while to get used to it, but with a little practice it is possible to go really far.
Presentation – this game uses an old school low poly style to the visuals, with chunky models and a filter on screen. These elements combine to give the game a retro feel, like the action is playing out on a CRT monitor. Then there is the sprite work, which adds an extra little wrinkle to the presentation. The sound is excellent, with music that has a spacey feel to it, really building the sci-fi atmosphere combined with minimal, but effective voice work.
Final Thoughts – I played this game on Steam several months ago, and had a great time. So it was easy to return to it for this review. When I got the game on the PlayStation 4, I jumped straight in and it took a moment to get used to it, but after a little while it just slotted into place. The console version feels much better to play in general, as the unfortunate jank that PC games introduce isn’t present here. So I had an easier time playing this version.
All of the mechanics that were satisfying in the PC release, are just as pleasing here, with the costumes and trophies giving the game a lot of replay value. There is a satisfying snap to the action, with fast paced shooting and challenging platforming. This is a super rewarding game, that is perfect for consoles and I am so glad I could play it. I am happy to recommend it to everyone as it is great for newbies and fans of the genre.
In the end, I give S. Prysm Destroyer a final score of 5/5. This game made the jump to consoles flawlessly, maintaining the satisfying gunplay, platforming and general smooth run and gun action, with a tremendous amount of replay value for players to get sunk into. If you want to check this title out for yourself, a link to each version of the game will be below.
Link to PlayStation version (HERE)
Link to Nintendo Switch version (HERE)
Link to Xbox version (HERE)
W.Kohaku Media 