MANTICORE
Flying your spaceship and shooting other bad spaceships will be what you will spend most of your time doing in Manticore: Galaxy on Fire. Fortunately, it"s a refined & precise experience, with easy lớn pick up controls that allow for all sorts of flashy maneuvers. The left analog stick controls your ship direction và the right one controls braking, boosting và triggering left or fight barrel rolls that can be used to lớn evade enemy locks. That is all you will need to know about flight controls & despite really responsive, we found sometimes using this default scheme made us inadvertently barrel roll while boosting và crashing our ship onto space debris or capital ships.
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Weapons systems are reserved for the shoulder buttons. ‘ZR’ will fire your infinite primary weapons while ‘ZL’ will fire your limited, missile weapons. You can use ‘R’ and ‘L’ to quickly swap between weapon mount points. Your primary weapons have different types of ammo (ballistic, laser, plasma), fire modes và range. As more of these you unlock, the more options you will be able to fit into your ship and having the right weapon type for each monster is key lớn a smooth victory.
Some ships have device slots và you can use these with ‘A’ & ‘B’, adding options lượt thích EMP pulses or cloaking devices to lớn your arsenal. If you bởi vì happen to lớn find yourself fighting a space pirate boss without the proper weapon to take him out, you can either restart và reconfigure your loadout or, if you’re stubborn like us, ram them into submission. Micromanagement of your weapon load-outs plays a big part of the game and it is particularly well implemented.
As you would expect, the highlight of the game goes lớn the spaceships you will be able to fly. There are a total of nine different vessels, divided into three categories (fighter, scout và gunship) and faction (Terran, Nivelian và Vossk). All of them have different hull, energy, shield and missile ratings. Just like all primary and secondary weapons, these can be upgraded, limited to your current level and available Mhaan-Tiq. Unlike the miễn phí mobile version, you don’t have khổng lồ pay for these as they are rewarded upon successful mission completion. Regardless of your choice of upgrades, there is no denying these ships look absolutely stunning.
The chiến dịch is divided into three long acts, with plot exposure being delivered by very welcome voice acting for all characters. The Manticore mercenaries take on a breadcrumb approach at hunting down space pirate factions by taking down their leaders one by one, thus most of the missions will evolve you destroying a particular quái vật ship. Repetition might be a bit of an issue for some, but we prefer lớn celebrate instead the amount of ways the developer found khổng lồ keep things interesting, adding several other types of mission lớn break up the usual ace pirate dog fight: escort missions, cargo inspection missions, capital ship take downs, combat air patrol for the Manticore itself và even the odd race here and there. You are never quite sure of what is around the corner và it certainly motivates the player to keep going not only to know where the plot is being driven but what the developers have come up for you next.
Apart from the regular missions, there is also an optional free exploration of each sector you do battle in. In these you are often left alone to lớn explore with your probe satellite for hidden data cubes, items that will unlock hundreds of lore codex entries where you can delve deep into the lore of the Galaxy on Fire series. These can sometimes get a bit frustrating if you spend trăng tròn minutes scouring every inch of a sector for that last illusive bit of intel, but players who bởi vì take these on will also be able to lớn recover 15 different prototype Terran ship parts which will then be added to lớn your hangar as a flyable option. When you’re done, you can either warp straight into your next mission or dock onto the Manticore to lớn tweak your ride.
It is impossible not to reviews Manticore without making sure you take a good look at this game"s graphics. Every sector you fly into battle is an exquisite canvas of lovely stellar backgrounds adorned with all sort of science fiction props such as space stations, jump gates, capital ships, aftermath wreckage from epic battles you can only imagine in your head & so on. You can even hit ‘+’ at any time & enter "Action Freeze", a photo mode that lets you freely fill your Switch photo library with gorgeous space vistas and your ship from any angle you desire.
All of this running at a smooth 60fps, courtesy of the improvements made to lớn the trò chơi when jumping to lớn Switch hardware. It is true that if you ever played the developers more recent PC offerings you will notice there are less dynamic lightning effects, but what was accomplished within the limited Tegra hardware here is no short of a masterpiece. If you grew up on TV shows lượt thích Babylon 5, Manticore looks exactly lượt thích you imagined video clip games in the future would look like.
Sound was not overlooked either. Besides the aforementioned great voice acting (with hilarious quips from your ship’s AI making you forget the Link-like mute stance of your pilot) & despite the fact that there is no way for sound lớn travel in the void of space, a quiet trò chơi Manticore it is not: Sound effects for your weapons are meaty và satisfying, explosions are frequent và pack the appropriate punch while interactive music means it will pick up the pace when you are engaged in battle and play out moody, sci-fi eerie melodies when you’re out exploring.
A few issues vì pop up & shatter the illusion of being a part of a galaxy torn by warfare & unlawfulness. The enemy AI pilots are often a bit on the daft side of the spectrum, even in the highest difficulty settings. While most of the attacking waves will serve less than mere annoyances to lớn your mighty arsenal, it is often sad to see them unable to successfully navigate the intricate mix piece the developers phối up for them to vì battle in. This becomes a true glaring issue when you spot the enemy ace space pirate ships smacking straight into say, a space station (and if you’re not careful, you right along with it). Nothing too khuyến mãi breaking, but still a shame since addressing some of these issues would results in a better overall experience. The lack of any sort of multiplayer is understandable due to lớn the game’s roots but still somewhat disappointing.
Conclusion
Manticore: Galaxy on Fire is an outstanding example of mobile-to-Switch done right. A gorgeous looking, content-heavy slice of space shooting action with a deep plot, set in a lore filled universe that has taken years lớn mature during a decade since the Galaxy on Fire series premiered in the smartphone market. True that just like the games of old within this genre, this remains niche & will possibly only tickle the fancy of a very specific target audience with the whole Switch owner population. If you happen to be one of these individuals, jump right in và be prepared for some great space antics ahead, hunting down alien criminals we are very sure were named by the developer’s cats running wild in their keyboards. Plus on đứng đầu of it all: It is an exceptional tease & proof-of-concept for the up and coming conversion of EverSpace to lớn the Switch. See you, space cowboys.
Great 8/10
Scoring PolicyReview copy provided by Koch Media
Regular person by day, super video clip game player by night, Gonçalo lives in eager anticipation that the prophecy of a new F-Zero will soon be fulfilled. When not messing about making weird music he can be found with a Super Nintendo pad in hand, replaying a Japanese wrestling game no one has ever heard of.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
This was on my "wait-for-review-then-decide" list!Since it got an 8/10 - I"m gonna get it!
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Game looks gorgeous and plays smooth as butter. If you"re a fan hâm mộ of StarFox i say this is a must buy!
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Looks amazing & was waiting on the review, also will wait lớn see if physical comes out. Will give it a year then i will get it as my backlog is mental
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Are these space battles on-rails sequences, or can I move freely?
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Could you địa chỉ cửa hàng the price of the games in these reviews?
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Mr_Horizon Nice avatar!Nothing is on rails here, you can freely fly wherever you want within the contained pocket of space your mission takes place. When you stray too far off the mission, you get a warning & then the autopilot will force you back into the sector.
Minor plot spoilers in the clip ahead, but you get the sense of the "free flight":
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
I ain"t paying 18 freaking pounds for a damn điện thoại port.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
timson72 In my country it costs €19.99.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
I have it & I love it ! Fun, fast và exciting !The only issue I see is that you can pass through some of the set parts during your flight.It"s not that important but I find this a little illusion-breaker !
dunnyone This mentality is exactly why I did my very best to lớn make people understand this is no mere ios-to-switch cheap port, but I guess I would never be able khổng lồ reach all...
gurtifus Yes, I did find some "no clip" sections mostly inside probably parts where I was not suppose khổng lồ be flying in anyway. I dind"t think it was game breaking either.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Shiryu it must be a hard life being the smartest person in the bình luận section.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
dunnyone Excuse me? I wrote this reviews knowing fully well that there is a version of this game không tính phí on iOS & took that into consideration while pondering if this Switch port had enough incentives to break way from the freemium model into a paid game. From where did you assume I insulted you or anyone else for doing my job?
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Definitely another great game on Switch. What a library we have access to lớn eh?
FWIW, I gave it an 8 first thing this morning when adding it khổng lồ my NL "collection", so good to lớn see we on the same wavelength
And for those worrying, its definitely worth the price vs the "free" smartphone game. If you paid for the same features you have on the Switch version, it would work out a lot more expensive.
Plus on Switch you have access khổng lồ TV play, physical controls (as of now, the quả táo version doesnt have MFI tư vấn oddly).
The devs are going to release this Switch version as a "premium" sản phẩm on quả táo shortly as well. Be interesting to lớn see if they match the Switch pricing, but I"m guessing it will be £9.99 on iOS.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
pbb76 It is impossible lớn understate how much better physical inputs are for this sort of games.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Shiryu It really is - I"d say its borderline unplayable on ios - at least khổng lồ the cấp độ you can play it on Switch.
I"m grateful GoF2 on ios has MFI tư vấn as it is the better trò chơi (depth wise).
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
This trò chơi had my curiosity, now it has my attention. I just wanted khổng lồ know for sure that it was heavy on content and would take a decent amount of time to lớn beat. The worst thing about smaller games is that they end up being short, brief experiences. Whether a trò chơi is 2d or 3D, indie or AAA, I look for meaty experiences, and this trò chơi sounds like it has what I"m looking for.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Seriously thinking about getting this after that review. Looks fun và I don"t have anything like it on Switch.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Now I can"t decide between this one or the bi-planes one.What"s needed is a WW2 one with a red-and-white checkerboard decal on the Spitfire so I can gladly take this one.
QwertyQwerty I"ve been looking everywhere for that review. Saw it this morning, thought I"d read it later và now it"s disappeared!
Guessing they broke the embargo by mistake. It happens, hopefully no slapped wrists from Ubi.
Anyway, back on topic - great reviews as always from Shiryu!
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Sounds like a good game, but I"ll wait for the Everspace port. I"d probably crack và get this if I didn"t pick up Wings of Fury DX when that dropped. I"ll never say never on this one though. If I find myself with some spare eshop money on my birthday....
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
I"ll probably get this at some point then. I was just waiting to lớn see if it would review well.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
> Implying you need sound waves khổng lồ physically collide with your ear in the future.Obviously tech on your ship use one of a billion other ways khổng lồ detect vibrations that would"ve caused sound in a normal atmosphere, và relay it khổng lồ you the way you would"ve heard it.
Freelancer is one of my favourite games in this genre và this game doesn"t quite live up to lớn it. But it"s close enough khổng lồ scratch an itch, I hope more games like it come for the Switch in the future.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
On mobile, this thing is the worst with its in-app purchases. So I don"t think you can compare those two...
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Happy to hear they pulled this one off so well!
It"s a very slick looking title, & it"d be a crying shame if the game was just haphazardly shoveled unto to switch.
Axlroselm buy the cheaper version? Let us know where that exists right now?
The one in tiện ích stores today is the không tính tiền game full of micro transactions và it"s a different trò chơi as it"s made for in tiện ích purchases.
Plus which version vày you think controls better?
SmaggTheSmug Don"t want to ring any bells, but Sky Rogue is also due this week. Three different games, three different aesthetic styles, all with the same awesome flying gameplay that has been absent from the Switch game"s library. April is a month of spoiled choices for virtual fly boys.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Generally when I hear a trò chơi began on mobile, I always dismiss it. But the sci-fi buff in me really wants to lớn hope this game is good. I might cave và give it a chance.
Shiryu would be nice lớn have the info in the review,saves me having lớn go on the eshop all the time.
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Shiryu Great, now what we need is a WW2 game (even if Mustang was the better plane, Spitfire had the coolest name) & maybe some kind of adaptation of Guns of Icarus style gameplay. So we can have multiple ages of real world flight, spaceships and airships! Followed maybe by a đoạn phim game adaptation of Deff Skwadron for some hilarious orky flying/crashing.
And then, hopefully, that darn pigeon can be finally caught.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Nice reviews and I think this will be a purchase this evening. I’ll have to lớn look into everspace too!
To echo a bình luận above, it would be handy to have the price included in the reviews. As a frugal gamer, it can swing it for me.
$15-20 is pretty much an impulse buy & a definite wish lister for games scoring 8. 7 if it’s a genre or character I really like.
$60 và I hum and har for months on over (looking at you Splatoon 2 và Mario Rabbids).
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
timson72 But there are too many zones and too many currencies. :x
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
SmaggTheSmug If only we could get The Sky Crawlers: Innocent Aces ported over... I hope these games sell well enough for Project Aces to wise up.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Shiryu Great review, How would you say this compares to Rogue Squadron ?
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Gerald They"re both different games since this one doesn"t have any ground missions & doesn"t rely on previous established rules like the Star Wars universe. While Rogue Squadron is by far the star Wars you always dreamed when you were a kid, Manticore is the clip game you would watch as a serialized TV series back in the 90"s.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Been waiting for your review, gonna get it now. Still, didn"t expect it to get such high rating (compared lớn many others who gave it a really low one).
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
The only thing I"m not liking about the game is that, at times, it feels too much lượt thích a thiết bị di động game. Which cheapens the experience somehow.
However, the trò chơi is fun and responsive.
eldair There is a niche target audience for this one. I sense those will be the only people who will truly appreciate what is on offer here.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
I remember trying to get into this series on mobile & PC, and just didn"t lượt thích the control schemes in either of them. Hopefully having a controller helps sort that out.
timson72 I thought so too... Until I realised the € prices vary from game to trò chơi all over Europe eShop zones.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Shiryu So I WAS trying khổng lồ hold out for EVERSPACE, but now it seems I have khổng lồ play this.... ; )
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
WhiteTrashGuy Despite similar engines, both games play a very different game. This one is campaign driven, linear mission type affair while EverSpace is a more Dark Souls style experience where you grow your ship/skills the farther ahead you manage khổng lồ reach.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Look"s like a good game, but just not digging the $20 price tag would have been a definitive purchase if it was priced at $14.99. So I will just hold out for a sale on this game.
Shiryu Yup, I was just about lớn say that. Getting alot of freelancer vibe. How does it compare to lớn freelancer?
seph_patrick In aesthetics it is almost 1:1! Controls are equally smooth but instead of having several sectors interlinked where you can freely explore, this follow more a Wing Commander / Star Lancer chiến dịch path where missions unlock new sectors lớn explore.
Shiryu does the gameplay remind you of Star Fox 64 ??? Because if it does at least a little i will buy it asap.
Mr_Horizon Not on rails. It plays a lot like the all range mode in Star Fox except with very large 3d (X,Y,Z) environments. I posted some clips on my twitter
Metroidkiller64 absolutely. I keep thinking this is the kind of trò chơi I have wanted a StarFox sequel to be since 64. Its excellent.
Metroidkiller64 kiểm tra the đoạn phim I posted in the comments above so you understand why this is different. There are no on rails levels, the game is an ongoing set of "all range mode" missions in space. But if you want the stylish space ships, lasers & explosions, you he come to the right place.
eldair Quite, they give you a reason khổng lồ explore. After the main combat or objective of a màn chơi is done you can go around and search the area, spacestations, destroyed capital ships, asteroids & there are items. The leveling up & upgrades really gives you motivation.
eldair Most of the experience/levelling up are there just so you can raise the cap on the upgrades you can get for your ships và weapons. Managing your hangar lớn get your ships just right is probably the most satisfying non-flying-in-outerpace-blowing-stuff-up bit of the game.
Shiryu great review! I was looking forward to lớn this game và I am not disappointed. It reminds me a bit of Wing Commander.
Rogueleader76 Well, you"re not in the army here, you"re a gun for hire but other than that, it is a similar plot/campaign style affair.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
GremmPaltakin awesome definitely downloading it when i get home
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
This looks and sounds awesome! I am in!
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
I am interested, but I think I will probably wait for Everspace for my spacefaring adventures.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Is this the same version as on the táo bị cắn dở tv4? If its i see no reason to lớn purchase it- and lượt thích most smartphone games it does not Feel like a real deep game.
Mon 23rd Apr 2018
Thanks for the review Shiryu! I bought it this weekend. I love the voice acting (wow is there a lot), và the graphics are impressive. I am waiting for the chơi game to pick up a little, but I"m still on my first ship and have not fully grasped the nâng cấp system (here"s where a printed manual would be great).
One knock: when I beat a boss, I want lớn to see his ship gloriously explode . . . Not a cutscene with one last statement of bravado.
bluedogrulez I vì believe the initial ios version had no voice overs, but a post launch update added them và it truly adds a ton of atmosphere khổng lồ the whole thing.
Tue 24th Apr 2018
Fantastic review, amazing game. Immortal Redneck has stolen my attention atm, but slowly digging back in. This, Skies of Fury, và soon Sky Rogue, make me so happy. Now we just need 4x games.
Shiryu good point, it reminds me of Wing Commander, in the fact that you fly around, take out enemies, và have wingmen...ok, so that describes a lot of games....
Sun 29th Apr 2018
Loved Implosion - also a điện thoại to Switch port, but it was great. I loved GoF 2 & I’ll pick this up based on this review. I have manticore on game ios (ATV) but I didn’t care much for the controls. This ticks the boxes for me.
Fake-E-Lee I don"t think you will be disappointed, despite this being a linear progression campaign, there is a ton of stuff khổng lồ see, blow up và discover.
Fake-E-Lee Just make sure you take your time lớn enjoy the sights so you can fill your Switch photo album with stuff lượt thích this:
Tue 1st May 2018
I think it"s boring. Slow pace, no real action, always the same, lame impact & repetive. Extremely cool graphics though. Not more than 6.
Fri 24th Aug 2018
Really, really surprised how highly this trò chơi has been rated here. It"s good fun and a nice diversion but is quite light-weight - from the controls, the missions, the "RPG elements" (really?) - it didn"t surprise me at all that it"s come from a mobile game, because the missions are all small morsels and the controls basic.
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I guess as there is very little competition for this kind of game on the Switch I would give it a 6/10, but as a game of this type it"s not even a scrap of something like Elite. Và there are far better shooters out there also if that"s your thing.
