We’ve been following the progress of Air Twister since it was first announced that Yu Suzuki’s shooter was coming to consoles and PCs. The arcade rail shooter was originally an Apple Arcade exclusive but now has the chance to reach a wider audience thanks to publisher ININ Games.
The game has been developed by Suzuki’s YS Net which also released Shenmue III. We look at the Steam version for this review but it’s also available on Switch, Xbox and PlayStation. The physical version for Switch and PlayStation can be ordered from Strictly Limited Games.
At its heart, Air Twister is an arcade rail shooter where you play as Princess Arch as she battles through the Vanguard forces to protect her homeworld called AIR. As with any arcade title, the story takes a firm backseat to the action and it becomes about slow progress to get a bit further with each playthrough. The game is broken down into twelve main levels each ending with a tough boss fight.
The main game is accompanied by an array of mini-games and extra modes that are unlocked the more you play. As you progress you collect stars that are used as in-game currency to unlock extra weapons, cosmetic items and extra lives to use in the main portion of the game. These upgrades become crucial if you’re going to succeed as they help you get that little bit further each time.
This mechanic of slowly unlocking items could be seen as grinding left over from the game’s Apple Arcade roots but it creates an environment that encourages improvements to your overall play. You’re only granted a star by destroying an entire wave of enemies and you’ll notice that the better you get the more in-game money you earn. Taking down more waves also directly affects your overall score.
There is another feature that encourages improvement, if you lose all your lives and decide to use one of your continues, your star count resets to zero meaning anything you’ve collected is simply gone. There will be tough choices to carry on playing or accept game over to cash in your stars. You’ll probably be doing the latter for the first few attempts as you slowly build your weapons and lives.
Princess Arch is a dream to control and the gameplay is incredibly simple to pick up. Use the analogue stick to fly around the screen, the fire button to attack and the shoulder button to activate a slow-motion mechanic once it’s unlocked. You will be constantly tapping the fire button at times in true arcade style and it feels like a great throwback to the golden era of games.
Hovering your target over enemies locks onto them and then you can fire knowing that your attack with hone in for the kill. This ability improves by unlocking more targets on the shop screen. The only other control is to hold down the fire button to charge weapons that require it. These simple controls allow the action to be front and centre and it shines through.
Air Twister could’ve been overly complicated with barrel rolls, secondary weapons or shields to activate but its beauty is in straightforward gameplay that is so easy to get into. The controls are tight and Princess Arch moves quickly as you skip in and out of enemy attacks with ease. There is a satisfying fluidity to the way she glides in the air and it’s exciting to play when there are many enemies on screen.
Graphically, the world of AIR is beautifully crafted with an Alice’s Wonderland of areas to explore from mushroom seas to digital halls filled with computers. Anyone familiar with Suzuki’s arcade games will instantly think of Space Harrier as an inspiration for the game’s look but there are also glimpses of another Sega game, Panzer Dragoon, especially during the boss battles.
One of the best parts of the game is its music. Described by YS Net as a “rock opera”, at first you may think that Queen was blasting from your speakers as the score develops. The music won’t be to everyone’s taste but it’s perfectly implemented and is good enough that it can be listened to on its own. The same goes for the subtle sound effects that have all the arcade pew pew you could want.
Air Twister is a love letter to the arcades with a short main game that is granted longevity through extra modes. The overall presentation is an art piece from the mind of a game master who knows exactly what experience he wants to provide. Those looking for deep stories and mechanics will not find it here, this is one for us arcade dwellers who want to build high scores, hunt that 1cc finish and show off our skills.
