Underground
Underground describes itself as horror and graffiti themed. This side scrolling shooter definitely provides some visuals that you have not seen anywhere else. Playing this game is definitely taking a ride on the trippy side.
Gameplay:
You play a dark hooded artist who is haunted by the creations in his own mind. The story takes place on the subway system. Each level starts from inside a subway car looking into the station. The rendering of the station is spectacular but don’t get too excited you won’t be playing here. This is the area where the story line is developed.
The actual game occurs on the outside of the subway car. A spray paint can turns into a spaceship transformer style. The ship is firing at all times and you progress through the 2d level by shooting your enemies and dodging obstacles. The periodic graffiti on the side of the train will kill you if you touch it.
The enemies you face are fantastic and varied. Some of the creatures will have you wondering if the artist was huffing his paint. They are truly unique and crazy. You will see everything from bouncing squirrels to worms attached to parachutes. When you destroy an enemy it explodes into colorful graffiti. I simply can not say enough positive things about the artwork.
The soundtrack is an urban hi-hop mix composed by Pp3d. It works well with the overall theme of the game. Whenever you kill an enemy they make a record scratch that blends seamlessly into the music.
The game can be very unforgiving at times. There are areas where the space between graffiti and fireball shooting enemies is so small you are almost guaranteed a death. The load time between restarts can be aggravating as you repeatedly try to get past the point you are stuck on
Controls:
The game features a choice of touch or tilt controls. The game also has advanced calibration options for the tilt controls. This allows you to adjust the 0 degree plane based upon how you are seated and holding the device. The game also offers targeted shooting to allow you to target specific enemies on the map. You will find that the targeting works pretty poorly and it is often easier to just aim your ship at the enemy.
The controls work well enough but they are inadequate in some areas. The problem shows itself when you have to quickly move your craft up and down. The movement just doesn’t respond fast enough to get you out of the tight spots in the game. I am completely stuck on the “it’s a trap level” for this very reason.
What We Liked
+ Awesome art style
+ Great Soundtrack
+ Control Options
+ End Level Bosses
What We Disliked
- Unforgiving areas of the map
- Loading time between levels
Final Verdict
If you do not already have a side scrolling shooting game in your collection this one is definitely worth checking out. Despite being stuck I enjoy playing it. The art work and the music absolutely make this game – without it would fall flat. Just be aware the difficulty level can be frustrating at times.
 [xrrgroup][xrr label="Audio:" rating="4/5" group="s1" ] [xrr label="Video:" rating="4/5" group="s1"] [xrr label="Controls:" rating="3/5" group="s1"] [xrr label="Enjoyment:" rating="3/5" group="s1"] [xrr label="Replay Value:" rating="3/5" group="s1"] [/xrrgroup] |
Overall Score: 3 stars
Audio: 4 stars
Video: 4 stars
Controls: 3 stars
Enjoyment: 3 stars
Replay Value: 3 stars
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Category: Games
First thing that springs to mind when one mentions Graffiti in gaming, is Jet Set Radio! The initial video looked astounding, going through the tunnels, seeing the stations move by realistically… and then you see the gameplay…. it really does look like another R-Type game but doesn’t utilize its strengths of creative graffiti well at all. Thanks for reviewing and giving your opinion on it tho!
i like side scrollers but i guess this one is only nice for the visuals and aesthetics. seems good enough though.
I agree. It looks pretty cool and the music is nice, but it just doesn’t do anything for me. This is a bit disappointing for me. Not worth the investment for me, as I probably wouldn’t play it much beyond the first night.
While the art style is different, the gameplay is pretty one dimensional. And the storyline really doesn’t tie well with the game. Once you’re beyond the art, you won’t play with this much.
I agree that the art style in this game is fantasic.
Disappointing to hear about the long loading times in between levels.
Either way, for me, other than the artwork, it’s still just another side-scroller…