Prison City – PC – Review
Prison City is a captivating side-scrolling shooter that delivers a nostalgic punch with its retro aesthetic and challenging gameplay. Set in a dystopian future (circa 1997), players take on the role of Hal Bruzer, a retired cop tasked with taking down a ruthless gang that has seized control of the city’s mega-prison.
The game’s visuals are a love letter to the 8-bit era of games like Shatterhand and Power Blade, featuring pixelated sprites and environments that evoke a sense of familiarity and charm. The soundtrack is equally impressive, pumping out adrenaline-fueled tunes that perfectly complement the game’s frenetic action.
Gameplay is centered around Hal’s trusty chakram, a razor-sharp disc that can be thrown at enemies. Players must master the art of timing and precision in order to effectively utilize the chakram, as even the slightest miscalculation can result in a swift demise.
In addition to the chakram, Hal also has access to grenades as well as a powerup system. Collecting three of these power ups gives you a special ability such as a wider more powerful chakram or even invincibility. Helping to give you a few different ways to bring down the mobs you confront on each stage.
Each level is brilliantly designed and feature a specific gimmick you must overcome to unlock the boss, with each boss offering a unique challenge to test you further.
I’m not going to lie that for some reason I really struggled with the ledge grabs, regularly plummeting to my death. Though I attribute this down to player skill rather than the game itself.
Prison City is a challenging game that will test the skills of even the most seasoned gamers. Enemies are relentless and unforgiving, and the game’s checkpoint system can be frustrating at times. However, it is incredibly satisfying when you overcome a particularly difficult section.
If the game is tough for you the dev’s have quite nicely added in a number of difficulty options and an ability to customise it if wanted. Difficulties range from Easy to Classic, with the latter as named offering a difficulty akin to playing the game if it were to be released back in the day, with you doing less damage and more aggression from the enemies among the changes.
Overall, Prison City is a must-play for fans of retro action games. Its challenging gameplay, nostalgic visuals, and pulsing soundtrack make it a truly enjoyable experience.
Pros:
- Nostalgic 8-bit visuals and soundtrack
- Challenging and rewarding gameplay
- Its really cheap at £14
Cons:
- Checkpoint system can be rude (mainly with where they are located)
- Grabbing Ledges (for me was awkward)
make sure you go and pick up this amazing game https://store.steampowered.com/app/2179860/Prison_City/
Disclosure: I received a free review copy of this product from https://www.keymailer.co
