Even to this day, R-Type is the series that scrolling shoot-’em-ups are compared to. The likes of Ikaruga and Sine Mora have done a lot to redefine the genre, but still only one takes precedent in many people’s mindsets. Laserpitium, as you’ll learn in this review, seems to ignore all the progress made. Instead it opts for a more rudimentary design. It’s not bad by any means. But in the same regards, it’s not going to grab any headlines.

The story line is about as innovative as any scrolling shoot-’em-up. In some far flung future, the leaders of the galaxy signed a peace treaty. To better organise the flow of goods, military operations and keep the peace, an artificial intelligence was created and… well, if you can’t see what’s coming your about as smart as the galaxy leaders of 2357.

Laserpitium screenshot

You pilot one of three ships, challenged with taking down enemies and bosses in increasingly difficult levels. An odd design decision comes immediately from this. Laspitium‘s innovation in largely outside of the gameplay itself and in the set-up. There’s five difficulty settings and two scenarios in each. The first allows you to play level-by-level, choosing from two optional levels to progress upon completion. The second scenario has you choose five starting levels, followed by random subsequent levels. As great an idea as this is on paper, in practice the level design has a definite difficulty curve. As such, you could well begin with a level that’s much harder than you’re anticipating.

The gameplay itself is very basic. Each ship has two different firing functions – such as forward and backward, or a V shape – and maneuvers slightly differently. Strewn across the levels are numerous power-ups and bonus items. These rarely have an affect on the gameplay but are an incentive to replay levels, as many are in locations you’ll need to be prepared for as the screen continues it’s endless scroll. The boss fights can cause some issue, but their weakspot is highlighted prior to the stage beginning, so you’re never unprepared.

Laserpitium screenshot

As you will know doubt have learned from this review, Laserpitium It’s a by-the-numbers scrolling shoot-’em-up. It’s bright colour palette and interesting level structure isn’t enough to save it from being consigned to mediocrity, especially in the face of many other eastasiasoft shoot-’em-ups. The likes of Z-Warp and Hyper-5 have a lot more uniqueness and intrigue. Even Spacewing War lived on nostalgia, of which there is none in Laserpitium. Instead of ranking highly among it’s brethren, Laserpitium only further highlights what each of these titles did right. If you’re going to by a scrolling shoot-’em-up today, check out one of the many others from eastasiasoft.

Categories: Games