The old-fashioned and the future-fantastic often mix. Live Arcade sure isn’t wanting for old-school–style shooting games, and we can’t see them going away anytime soon. But Sine Mora isn’t just a retro throwback, even though it initially looks like one. Working with Hungarian studio Digital Reality, quirky developer Grasshopper Manufacture has created an old-fashioned game with some very modern elements.
Right off the bat, Sine Mora’s most striking aspects are its setting and visual design. The game’s distinct “dieselpunk” world is filled with beautiful environments and mechanical enemy designs. There’s a story to go along with these setpieces, too: Sine Mora’s cast of anthropomorphic characters feature in a surprisingly dark tale of war and time. Couple it all with an atmospheric soundtrack by Akira Yamaoka (Silent Hill, Shadows of the Damned), and you’ve got a game that feels unlike anything else.
In boss fights, figuring out where to aim first is key.Beyond its presentation, though, Sine Mora puts some interesting spins on traditional shooting-game elements. Play modes are pretty typical: Story Mode presents scenes from ongoing plot amid the action, while Arcade Mode is a straightforward (and considerably more difficult) flight through the various stages. You’ll also find Score Attack and boss-practice modes. Sequences in the game are given a countdown timer, and instead of taking damage when you get hit, you lose a certain number of ticks off the clock. Drop to zero seconds, and it’s game over.
Fortunately, time-extends are doled out throughout the levels, and various power-ups let pilots upgrade their main shot and use a limited stock of a unique sub-weapon. The most interesting element, however, is the pre-selected “capsule” items, which can erect bullet-reflecting shields, slow down enemy attack movement, and even rewind time. You’ll need to use these items wisely against the bosses, who throw out some very fierce and creative attack patterns.
It’s a solid package, but we have some gripes: ship movement often feels slightly oversensitive, and it’s sometimes difficult to tell why you took damage, especially if the environment isn’t clear on what is and isn’t a hazard. Dropping powerups when you take damage is also incredibly irritating, as you’ll likely take more hits struggling to retrieve them.
Nevertheless, Sine Mora remains a challenging, beautiful, and fascinating experience. Not all players will be on its wavelength, but those who are will be in for something incredibly special.
PUBLISHER: Microsoft • DEVELOPERS: Grasshopper Manufacture, Digital Reality • ESRB: Mature • MULTIPLAYER: None • ACHIEVEMENTS: Difficult • COST: 1,200 Microsoft Points ($15)
+ Gorgeous visuals and environment design; atmospheric soundtrack.
+ Bosses and bullet patterns are challenging but not overwhelming.
– Too many instances of “Where did that hit come from?”; some small control issues.
? How many players will turn up their nose at this game just because its characters are furries?
