Ultracore Review Better Late Than Never The Nerd Stash

Title: Ultracore

Available on: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Mega Sg

Developer: Digital Illusions

Publisher: Strictly Limited Games

Genre: Run and Gun

Version Tested: Nintendo Switch

Official Site: https://ultracore.strictlylimitedgames.com/

Release Date: June 23, 2020

The history of Ultracore is probably longer than that of many of you readers, considering the game was initially supposed to release back in the mid-’90s. Originally in development for the Sega CD, Sega Mega Drive / Genesis, and the Amiga, Ultracore, or Hardcore as it was known back then, was canceled in 1994 by publisher Psygnosis.

The reasoning behind such a move was the impending launch of the PlayStation and the movement over to 3D graphics and the expectation for 16-bit games to drop in sales. The unfortunate thing was the fact Hardcore was about 99% through its development. A fact that, to me, would make releasing the game the more logical option.

That wasn’t to be and Hardcore lay dormant until German publisher, Strictly Limited decided to finish and release the game. The team behind it included employees from the original games’ developers, DICE and it was finally released as Ultracore in 2019 due to rights issues.

It’s about time!

Ultracore was released together with the Mega Sg (as well as the Genesis in Japan), an aftermarket console that’s compatible with a number of Sega games.

And now with the history lesson out of the way Ultracore has just been released on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 with a Vita release in the pipeline.

Finished off with the original Sega Genesis development kit Ultracore is a 2D run and gun game in the vein of Metal Slug.

Both the graphics and the sounds are exactly as you’d expect from a game of this age, not that this is always a bad thing. There are definitely things that don’t translate well to the modern age, but we’ll come on to them later, but first the gameplay.

Again, Ultracore plays exactly how you’d expect, in fact, I probably won’t need to review this game for half of you as you’ll know exactly what you’re getting. That said, please keep reading. The game stars a man, with a gun who shoots the ever-living daylights out of countless enemies. There is some kind of story along the way, told in text, but who really cares about that.

The playable character can run, jump, shoot and use bombs and that’s all you’ll need. The standard weapon is pretty helpful seeing as it has unlimited ammo and can be constantly fired. This is a good thing as wave upon wave of enemies can, and will, attack you.

Hardcore, do you want more?

The enemies themselves aren’t anything to write home about, there’s a mixture of different robots, mechs, and turrets that are fun enough to shoot or even jump on in order to dispatch. There are many moments when several enemies are onscreen at once and I never had a problem with slowdown or audio glitches, which is good to see. I did, however, have a problem with the controls, at least at the start.

Firstly, I must say that there are two different ways to play. The modern way and the right way. Sure the modern way is easier as you can use the right analog stick to shoot and aim up and down much easier, but it just feels wrong to not play a game as old as this the right way. Call me a purist, I don’t care, but I did suffer for it.

Playing the classic way will take some getting used to as Ultracore will not perform in a way you’d expect. Hold the shoot button down whilst you’re running and the character will run along merrily blasting anything that comes into his path. Should you want to aim the gun around a bit more you’ll have to stop completely and then fire as this roots the player to the spot and allows the weapon to be aimed up and down.

The issue with this is the small delay needed to transition between the two. Should you want to hit something behind you you’ll have to stop shooting, turn around and then fire again. The same thing is true if you want to aim up. It took a little getting used to, but I got there in the end. You’re probably better off just using the new controls in all honesty.

The guns themselves are fun to shoot though, with a selection being unlocked along the way, including an absolutely fantastic scatter shotgun. The trouble is, any additional weapons come with a limited ammo supply. This can be replenished with pickups, but it’s worth pointing out.

Johnny 5 is alive.

I had fun playing with the various guns as I ran through the 5 levels that are on offer in Ultracore.

5 levels I hear you cry, that’s not a lot. And you’d be right, it isn’t very many levels at all, but the game has ways of increasing the playtime, devious, old fashioned ways that some of you may find a bit jarring.

The levels themselves are quite long for starters and you’ll have to do a small amount of exploration as you jump over platforms and go up and down elevators to look for switches or keycards to unlock doors. We aren’t talking Metroidvania here, but it was nice to wander around a small amount. There is a time limit though, not that I found it too stingy.

Whilst traversing the level there are secret areas and plenty of coins to be found. When you finish a level a handy screen pops up to tell you how poor your accuracy was and how many coins or enemies were leftover in the level. At least that’s what it told me, you may be better.

This does give a great reason to replay the game, however, there is no save system in place here. You won’t be able to cheese it by making manual saves and retrying certain areas, this isn’t that type of game. Instead, there’s a classic password system that will load you into the start of a level. The problem with this is you’ll start the level with exactly the same number of lives and continues as you had when you got there. Use all these up and it’s game over, back to the start with you.

Personally, I didn’t find this as much of an issue as some of you will as I grew up in a time when all games did this, most didn’t even have a password system. With Ultracore though it feels as if it actively wants you to fail and this can get very frustrating at points.

There are moments of the game where you can’t physically avoid getting hit by enemies and the developers will happily put a swarm of them at the bottom of an elevator in exactly a point you can’t see. It just seems mean. Not to mention the fact you will actively be stitched up at certain points.

Remember the bombs I mentioned earlier? Make sure you keep them and don’t waste them on enemies. There was a section in the first level where a bit of the wall needed to be blown up before any progress could be made and unfortunately I had used my bomb. This is not normally an issue, but I couldn’t go anywhere else and I couldn’t get any more bombs. Death didn’t fix it either as I’d just spawn in the same place. In the end, I had to die enough to use one of my 3 continues and be put back to a checkpoint.

A huge issue when there are limited lives and continues. This sort of nonsense isn’t limited to the first level either.

Mid and end of level bosses will also do their best to kill you and will usually succeed. Like most games, the bosses become much easier once you learn their pattern and weak spots, not something you’re afforded the luxury of here unless you die or restart. That said, they are challenging and fun.

The definition of insanity.

I can’t forget the platforming either. It can feel a little slow and floaty at times and there are moments that require pinpoint precision lest you fall into a pit and die or fall off the screen and die. I quite enjoyed it in all honesty, but it can be tough.

I really need to wrap things up, but I have to point out the music again, it’s great and sounds exactly how a game from the 16-bit era should. The graphics do look nice, but the levels themselves are pretty dull and samey, not that I had much time to admire them.

Overall, I did enjoy my time here but be warned Ultracore is not for everyone. For fairness, I didn’t score it any higher, but there are those of you that can add easily add a star. On the flip side to that, there are plenty of you that can subtract one too.

If the archaic ways don’t put you off then I definitely recommend giving it a try, even if just for the history lesson.

Ultracore is available to download from the eShop now for $22.99/

Verdict: Ultracore is an old fashioned game that won’t appeal to everyone. There are great moments that can be easily forgotten due to unfair and frustrating parts that are designed to artificially increase playtime. A relic from the past that I’m still glad ever saw the light of day.