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JUDGEMENT SILVERSWORD: REBIRTH EDITION (WSC)
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Publisher: Qute.
Developer: Qute. Released: February 2004 (JP). Genre: Vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up. Posted 4th December 2021. By Tom Clare © 2021 |
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Judgement Silversword is one of those games that leaves you reflecting on what might have been for the WonderSwan Color. This vertical-scrolling shoot ‘em up is a singularly impressive feat for a turn-of-the-millennium handheld title. All the more so, when you learn the story behind its release, which is nearly as fascinating as the game itself. Created by a lone developer known as M-KAI, Judgement Silversword utilised Qute’s WonderWitch development software. The game would win a competition amongst other independent creations, with a limited-run retail release its reward. Whilst M-KAI’s original version was available online as early as 2001, the Rebirth Edition arrived in the twilight of the format’s existence in 2004. It’s now more readily available thanks to a 2015 digital release on Steam, under the sub-heading Resurrection.
This shooter is no mere homebrew triumph. It’s one of the best games available across the WonderSwan range and a real boon for those with a Color system. On a technical level, it’s streets ahead of the best equivalents on either the Game Boy Color or the Neo Geo Pocket Color.
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Judgement Silversword sports non-stop action and some brilliant bosses
Taking inspiration from Saturn classic Radiant Silvergun, Judgement Silversword is a mega-speedy, super-slick blaster with the furious action and frenetic spirit of Blazing Lazers. Waves typically last less than half a minute each, but they’re relentless as you hurtle from one battle sequence to the next with barely time to catch your breath. Controls are impeccably responsive and I can’t fault the collision physics. There’s also a surprising number of features at the player’s disposal. Depending on the situation, you can utilise concentrated, narrow fire or spread bursts. The ship can also deploy a front-facing shield. This can prove an absolute life-saver, but care is required as heavy shots can still nudge your ship into the line of fire.
The range of enemy designs is excellent and some of the bosses late on are superb creations, though you’ll likely tire of Mitsurugi and its numerous, similar variants. The best is the epic (and aptly-named) Judge Magnificence, a screen-filling juggernaut that makes for one of the best encounters, and indeed moments, you’ll witness on a WSC. Sound effects are solid enough but Judgement Silversword’s soundtrack is where the audio really excels. Maintaining a level of ominous brooding throughout, the music steadily builds, both in quality and grandiosity, as the game reaches its climax.
The range of enemy designs is excellent and some of the bosses late on are superb creations, though you’ll likely tire of Mitsurugi and its numerous, similar variants. The best is the epic (and aptly-named) Judge Magnificence, a screen-filling juggernaut that makes for one of the best encounters, and indeed moments, you’ll witness on a WSC. Sound effects are solid enough but Judgement Silversword’s soundtrack is where the audio really excels. Maintaining a level of ominous brooding throughout, the music steadily builds, both in quality and grandiosity, as the game reaches its climax.
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There’s a surprising amount of additional content to be found and it’s doled out to reward and encourage return plays. The game keeps track of the sum of your scores, boosting the ‘option level’ periodically and allowing the player the ability to listen to BMGs, effects and voices from the menu. More significantly, it also grants additional credits, a new ship, a boss rush mode and special difficulty options. Most of this will prove beyond reach, but for genre die-hards, there are tonnes of extras to chase.
There are just a few gripes. If you’re playing on original hardware, the standard, horizontal screen setup results in a very small playing space. This, when coupled with the often-gigantic amounts of on-screen fire (particularly on the harder difficulty setting), makes it difficult to sight safe spaces, or to guide your ship between a barrage of enemy shots.
There are just a few gripes. If you’re playing on original hardware, the standard, horizontal screen setup results in a very small playing space. This, when coupled with the often-gigantic amounts of on-screen fire (particularly on the harder difficulty setting), makes it difficult to sight safe spaces, or to guide your ship between a barrage of enemy shots.
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This is compounded by a noticeable amount of sprite flicker on the fire animations, typically the shots travelling at intense speeds, making a tough endeavour even more taxing. Though this is understandable given the game’s origins, a little more variety to the backgrounds would have been welcome, as barring the brutal boss run that comprises the last few stages, you’re largely met with black space and the occasional sliver of planet decorating the top or bottom portions of the screen.
Still, it’s one of the most enjoyable and impressive shooters of its time and a considerable technical achievement for a single developer, on what even in Japan, has to be regarded as a fringe format. Whilst the WonderSwan Color may no longer be the most convenient means of experiencing this shoot ‘em up, it’s well worth tracking down. A textbook lesson in how to craft an explosive arcade experience on relatively modest hardware specs.
Still, it’s one of the most enjoyable and impressive shooters of its time and a considerable technical achievement for a single developer, on what even in Japan, has to be regarded as a fringe format. Whilst the WonderSwan Color may no longer be the most convenient means of experiencing this shoot ‘em up, it’s well worth tracking down. A textbook lesson in how to craft an explosive arcade experience on relatively modest hardware specs.
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VERDICT
"...one of the most enjoyable and impressive shooters of its time and a considerable technical achievement for a lone developer. Extremely tough, but well worth experiencing" OVERALL: 8/10 |