Lilac 0

Every so often, a shoot ‘em up will come along that will be easy and accessible enough to welcome in a whole new generation of fans. That is definitely not the case when it comes to Lilac 0. Instead of easing players into the action, this throwback shooter shoves you right into the deep end. Many will sink, unable to survive the aggressive bullet hell patterns, but those who are able to swim will be rewarded with not only an intense shooter, but one of the most satisfying gaming experiences of the year. For anybody who likes white-knuckling through a game, this is my review of Lilac 0.

Between the constant wars and the Nidhogg eating away at the roots, the machine world of Molybdion is in complete disarray. With a new robot army threatening to make everything even worse, an ancient warrior and blade-wielding automaton named Rairakku is deployed to end the fighting once and for all. This sets up five insanely difficult stages that take us into the sky, under the water and into space to battle the hordes of metallic foes. Will you survive? Probably not, but what’s the harm in trying?

The gameplay is deceptively deep, allowing players to hone and master their skills with each approaching bad guy. Our main attack is a spray of bullets that will slowly widen and retract as you hold the button down. There’s a scan button you can hold that will target any enemy it comes in contact with, allowing you to fire off a bunch of sword slashes while still shooting your guns. The only downside to scanning enemies is that it slows down Rairakku’s movement, which may also be a good thing in certain situations. The final attack also doubles as a way to dodge enemy fire. Assuming your gauge is filled up, players will be able to dash out of the way, which also has the added benefit of destroying robots with your sword. There are also orange enemies that can only be defeated using the dash ‘n slash technique, which will increase your style multiplier and give the player more points.

While that may sound like a lot of ways to kill the robot horde, you’ll quickly realize that our hero is woefully outmatched. Every single level is filled with unique enemies and obstacles, all of which will be bombarding Rairakku with complicated bullet patterns. Like I said at the top, this is a tough game by design. This is not the shoot ‘em up you give to a novice, because even the easiest difficulty is harder than most games in the genre. This is for people who have mastered Ikaruga and are looking for a new challenge.

Right off the bat, you know you’re in for quite a ride. You fly high above the city shooting at robots and dodging bullets, only to burst through the clouds and see the night sky from a completely different perspective. This is your first (and definitely not last) sign that this is going to be a stylish game. Another stage starts with us diving deep into the ocean, where suddenly the robot enemies start to resemble something out of the Darius series. You’ll be exhausted by the time we finally get to space, and that’s when the game really kicks things into high gear. If you’re anything like me, you’ll be happy that you earn a continue coin when you beat the first stage.

And then there are the bosses. While not the biggest baddies you’ll run into, these bosses are tough. They also normally come with multiple steps you’ll need to complete before you can move on to the next stage. The second stage boss (which you’ll later be able to unlock as a playable character) has no fewer than three different forms, each more challenging than the last. That’s tough when you don’t have a lot of lives and a single hit will kill our hero. This is a game that wants you to play and replay until you’ve memorized the patterns, and even then you’re going to have to have quick fingers to get around some of the bullet patterns.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I do not speak of this game’s difficulty as a negative. The challenge is a feature, not a bug. This is a game made for shoot ‘em up veterans. I’m talking about the type of person who will spend countless hours trying to earn bigger multipliers and higher scores. The type of person who will memorize the game so that they can beat it without dying. The type of person who won’t even blink when they unlock the higher difficulties. If that describes you, then you’re going to love this game. However, if you’re a more casual fan of the genre who isn’t looking for that kind of challenge, then you’re going to want to stay far away from Lilac 0.

While I found the game to be incredibly difficult, I also found that it was strangely satisfying. With each step forward, I felt like I was accomplishing something. The game was smart about giving you the option to play the levels out of order, letting you pick up with level 2 or 3 without constantly replaying the first stage over and over again. What’s more, the game rewards you with things to unlock after each level and accomplishment, giving you incentive to try just a little harder to beat that tough boss.

Visually, this game is incredibly sharp. Right from the jump, it looks and sounds like the classic shoot ‘em ups that it’s emulating. We’re trapped in an aggressively narrow aspect ratio to mimic the old school displays, and the CRT scan lines and rounded frame go a long way to sell the effect. Beyond that, the level backgrounds are absolutely striking. There are some truly gorgeous shots in this game, and I love the look and animation of our hero. While it might be a controversial choice, I love the muted color palette. It’s not hyperbole when I tell you that this has one of the best-looking boss fights I’ve ever seen in a shoot ‘em up. If this is the developer’s first game, I can’t wait to see what he does next.

Maybe it’s because I’m a huge fan of MUSHA on the Genesis, but I had no problem finding my groove in Lilac 0. This is a game that simultaneously wears its influences on its sleeve, while still offering something new and exciting to the genre. It’s not the longest shooter on the market, but it’s going to take you a lot of trying to finally beat all of the stages, especially if you intend to do it without continuing. Hardcore shooter fans are going to love the style and challenge presented here. More casual genre fans need not apply.