Macross -Shooting Insight- Review: PS5 Shmup Features Varied Gameplay
The long-running Macross series has received a handful of movies, dozens of video games, multiple anime series, and every other type of media you can imagine. The series' latest entry, which is now available for PlayStation 4 and 5, brings together five characters from different anime series into a time-traveling space adventure. While I can't say I followed much of the plot as a newcomer, there's no doubt that the vibes of Macross -Shooting Insight- were immaculate as I controlled cool mecha and destroyed giant bosses while idols sang catch songs.
If you are a hardcore fan of the series, then seeing the five fan-favorite characters (from Macross Plus, 7, Zero, Frontier, and Delta) feature in a new original story is probably a real treat. As a Macross newbie, I found myself lost, but thankfully, even if you don't know what's going on, you've got a really well-polished bullet hell shooter to enjoy at its core. There are five characters, each with different stats and attack types, to choose from and a 10-stage story mode for each to go through.
The gameplay is where Macross -Shooting Insight- really shines, as it is constantly switching things up. While the game starts as a vertical shooter, levels will then transition to horizontal segments and even dual-stick shooter levels, where you have full 360-degree control over where you're firing. This could go totally wrong if these weren't all fun to play, but thankfully, I never felt bummed when the game shifted gameplay as I had a great time in each different variation. There are also some cinematic camera moments as well, where the game really takes advantage of its 3D gameplay. It's all extremely polished, besides the overly busy user interface sometimes hiding enemies behind screen elements telling you which song is playing.
Naturally, the game gets very hard if you up the difficulty as this is a bullet hell shooter. There are options to make it easier, such as two easy difficulties and an auto-recovery mode that disables the leaderboard, so you can make your way through the difficulties and really get a lot of value out of the game. That's good since the story isn't very long, as it takes about an hour or so to go through 10 stages as long as you're not failing repeatedly, like my very ill-thought-out attempt at very hard mode.
Beyond the aforementioned high-score grind, there is also a nice variety of different ways to play. Besides the main story mode, there's an arcade mode, a boss rush, and the ability to play through selected areas to hone your skills. There are also battle simulations called Ace Battle that have you battling against other pilots in one-on-one dogfights. I found the latter to be a real blast, although you'll have to unlock more opponents over time rather than being able to do them all from the get-go.
Whether you're a Macross veteran or someone who has always wanted to check out the series, Macross -Shooting Insight- features a ton of shoot 'em up fun. Thanks to the constantly changing gameplay, stages always keep players on their toes. With plenty of difficulty options and five different characters with their own story modes, it features great variety and replayability as long as you're looking to embrace a bullet hell game with idols singing over it (which you should).
Highly replayable
Range of difficulty options
Varied gameplay
New fans will likely be lost with the story
UI can hide enemies
8
Disclosure: The publisher provided a PlayStation 5 copy for our Macross -Shooting Insight- review. Reviewed on version 1.000.000.
The post Macross -Shooting Insight- Review: PS5 Shmup Features Varied Gameplay appeared first on PlayStation LifeStyle.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Engadget
5 days ago
- Engadget
Final Fantasy Tactics is getting a remake in The Ivalice Chronicles
To view this content, you'll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the "Content and social-media partners" setting to do so. Remasters and remakes seem like they're a dime a dozen these days, but here's one I'm selfishly pretty stoked for. Square Enix announced during PlayStation's State of Play event that is revisiting the 1997 strategy RPG chapter from its famous franchise. Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles is due out on September 25, 2025 for both the PlayStation 5 and PlayStation 4. This updated version of the turn-based strategy game introduces some welcome additions to the original. You'll find new graphics, an updated user interface and voiced dialogue in the enhanced version. It also brings some quality of life improvements, such as a more beginner-friendly Squire difficulty level. But if you want to immerse in the nostalgia and the challenge, you can swap back to the original graphics, gameplay and English translation. The original version also boasts a few modern upgrades, like an auto-save system. As someone who has clocked several hundred hours in the Fire Emblem series, I've always had Final Fantasy Tactics hovering in my to-play queue. Whether you're a first-timer like me or are already well versed in the political intrigues of Tactics , this fall seems like an excellent change to check out the game.
Tom's Guide
5 days ago
- Tom's Guide
As a golf fanatic, I was skeptical about 'Stick' — but the new Apple TV Plus show won me over
Apple TV Plus has entered the golf world. It didn't follow in Netflix's footsteps with a documentary like "Full Swing," though. Instead, it carved a similar path to its breakout soccer hit "Ted Lasso" with the Owen Wilson-led "Stick." I've had a chance to watch the entire first season of "Stick." As someone who's addicted to golf, I had to pull myself away from the course for a weekend to watch the 10-episode half-hour sports comedy — which is easier said than done when you live in New England and only get so many decent weather weekends to play. Overall, I like "Stick." It's not without some flaws, and the actual golf play could be a bigger part of the show, but it's still enjoyable enough that I hope Apple TV Plus brings it back for "Stick" season 2. At the end of the day, "Stick" is a lighthearted comedy with some dramatic elements sprinkled in. If you're going into the show thinking it's going to be all about on-course golf action, you'll be disappointed. The golf is the backdrop for the character interplay involving Pryce "Stick" Cahill (Owen Wilson), Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager), Zero (Lilli Kay), Mitts (Marc Maron) and Santi's mother Elena (Mariana Trevino). Who will fall in love? Will Cahill be able to serve as a coach and father figure for the troubled Santi? Will the golf world accept the ultra-woke Zero? These are the big questions "Stick" puts forth, and they're all answered satisfyingly by the end of the season. It's a little too clean and happy in the end, but since it's a feel-good show, it fits. I found myself hooked on the show throughout, and while I enjoyed watching Setti rise through the golf ranks with his incredible driving power and volatile short game, it was the attachment to the characters that kept me coming back. Pryce's issues with his ex-wife, Santi's dad's problems, budding romances and the perils of life on the road sucked me in and didn't let go until the credits rolled on the final episode. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. The biggest thing I enjoy about the golf in "Stick" is that it doesn't try to artificially make it more exciting (like "Happy Gilmore" does). No one drives the ball 400 yards. Santi doesn't go from never putting a ball in his life to suddenly being a virtuoso. "Stick" taps real-life golf commentators Trevor Immelman and Jim Nantz to increase the authenticity of the golf. Santi grew up golfing and took a few years off due to some family turmoil with his father (who left him and his mother). His proficiency in golf makes sense in the context of the life the teen has been through; he grew up as a prodigy. As the show progresses, the actual golf play becomes more and more ingrained in the show. You see a lot of Santi hitting shots and dealing with his mental issues on the course, and it's done well. It feels exciting for someone who knows golf and, more importantly, it feels plausible. Overall, "Stick" gets a lot right from a golfer's perspective. Nothing about the golf play feels unrealistic, but it's broken down to encapsulate the most exciting parts of the game. And, putting the golf aside for a moment, the characters grabbed me. I cared about Santi's quest to become a golfer. I cared about Pryce trying to rebuild his life. Zero annoyed me for a large part of the show, but it seemed like they were meant to (at least at the beginning). While the character is ultra-woke, the way the older characters poke the bear with their lack of knowledge on woke culture is entertaining without being offensive. I hope "Stick" comes back for another season. Sure, I don't see it being the breakout hit that "Ted Lasso" is, but I still think it has a place in the Apple TV Plus catalog for at least one more season.
Android Authority
6 days ago
- Android Authority
Forget PS3, you can already emulate these PS4 games
TL;DR Sony PlayStation 4 emulator ShadPS4 has updated its compatibility list after update 0.9.0. It's still early in development, but a few dozen games are listed as playable, and more get in-game. Playable games include Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, and more. 2025 has been an excellent year for emulation, with everything from the Nintendo Switch to the Sony PlayStation 3 making huge strides. The latest system added to the list is the Sony PlayStation 4, and after a new update the groundbreaking ShadPS4 emulator is now capable of playing more games than ever. The latest testing comes after update 0.9.0, which launched a few weeks ago. The patch notes are very technical, but the end result is improvements in both compatibility and performance. The ShadPS4 team specifically points to games like Tomb Raider: Definitive Edition, Guilty Gear Xrd REV 2, Lords of the Fallen, The Witch and the Hundred Knight 2, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutants in Manhattan, and Odin Sphere Leifthrasir as playable after the latest patch. Others, such as Nier Automata and Catherine Fullbody, have improved but still fall short of being fully playable. Dozens of PS4 games can now be emulated on Windows for the first time. On Windows, the ShadPS4 compatibility page now lists 33 games as playable, with 81 more launching into the game. Linux and MacOS list 21 and five playable games, respectively. As of writing, there is still no Android build in the works, unlike RPCS3, which got a (semi) official port earlier this year. Granted, the emulator is still very early in development, so you'll need to temper your expectations. Just because games are playable doesn't mean they don't have graphical glitches or crashing. It's not all that unlike Nintendo Switch emulation, which requires significant testing and tweaking to work, and even then, it may crash at any point. Regardless, it's remarkable progress for a system as new and powerful as the PS4. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
