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Earthion is probably one of the best shmups I’ve ever played, and while it comes across like a love letter to the genre, it also feels like the ’90s never ended.
Earthion is a very fast-paced 2D horizontal scrolling shmup that is a lot more technical than it first appears.
Its visuals are noteworthy, though, as this is one of the nicest-looking 2D shmups I’ve ever seen. Built as a modern Mega Drive (or Genesis) game with a cartridge release planned next year, Earthion really pushes what that console can do.
The only other shmup that looked this good on the Mega Drive was probably Ex-Ranza, known as Ranger-X abroad, but even that didn’t move at the pace Earthion does.
The game itself has you pilot a craft with a regenerative shield and a base shot, which is upgraded by picking up various-sized green gems from downed enemies.
In addition, you have power-up slots for different weapons that can also be upgraded and switched between.
Each time you get hit, you not only lose shield energy but also have your weapons’ power reduced.
It’s a very streamlined system, but it works incredibly well as the levels become more involved in terms of their design.
Pacing yourself so your shields regenerate and picking up large green gems to produce a powerful return volley of shots is particularly satisfying.
Everything also moves very quickly, and gave me real Soldier Blade vibes in terms of the game speed and excellent soundtrack, by the veteran and hugely talented Yuzo Koshiro.
The sound design is also great, with a helpful “warning” when your shield gets low and some excellent enemy sound effects.
The latter being especially notable in one of the later levels, which is infested by body-horror-type monstrosities, as their screams are genuinely unnerving.
The only minor criticism is that there is a lot of visual detail in the game, and enemy attacks, as well as their sudden movements, can often take you by surprise.
Like with all good shmups, though, practice makes perfect, and you do learn your path through each level and where not to be when certain enemies appear.
The ship, enemy, and mecha design are also all top-notch, and just feel very ’90s in execution. There’s a really solid understanding of mecha design underpinning the art direction, too, and that’s a rare thing to see these days.
It almost feels like Earthion is a game that someone forgot to publish back in the ’90s and is now making up for that oversight, and that in itself is a surreal experience.
Overall, Earthion is an amazingly good shmup and genuinely feels like some kind of forgotten gem. The main game mechanics are involved but also streamlined, coupled with insanely fast-paced yet still extremely detailed visuals. The music and sound effects are also excellent. In short, this is a definitive shmup and comes highly recommended.
