We have a fondness for EastAsiaSoft’s range of budget arcade titles and the publisher’s latest action platformer is another little gem. Brave Soldier has been developed by JM Neto Game Dev and is available now on Switch (reviewed here), PlayStation and Xbox.
The world has been invaded by an evil Terminator-looking alien who wants to suck all of Earth’s resources for himself. You, the one-man army, must save the day by taking down your foes. We must remember this is a budget arcade title so the story isn’t important, but rest assured, you are Rambo shooting aliens.
The action takes place across 30 levels that are broken up by a boss battle every ten levels. There are three environments to traverse before reaching the final boss. You start in the jungle, and move into a snow landscape, before finally reaching the cliff tops. All three environments look different although the enemies, traps and obstacles stay the same throughout.
You have a simple shot that can be held down at all times for constant fire. You can’t aim your shot so have to jump up and down to kill enemies who are above or below. You can jump and also use a special blast manoeuvre that slowly charges as you kill enemies. The controls are very easy to learn and once you get to grips with Brave Soldier it’s a fun blast to run through.
The only other gameplay feature worth mentioning is the different weapon types. Most feel similar but there are some subtle differences. For instance, the wide shot is great for helping kill enemies above while the homing bullet is good when enemies are moving around. Everything is simplified in Brave Soldier but this is a positive as this is very much a pick-and-play arcade blast.
If you’re looking for a quick game to finish over a weekend, or a game that doesn’t require much learning or exploration then Brave Soldier is well worth its £5 asking price. Hardcore arcade fans will find it a little easy but it’s a fun romp. Certainly one to add to the wishlist for when a sale hits.
