This fusion of shmup sensibilities is most pronounced when you consider the game’s accessibility, especially in a genre that is often regarded as punishing and uber-challenging. It’s a sublime twin-stick shooter that fuses together Western style arena shooting with Japanese style danmaku (or “bullet hell”) and it does so with elegance and flair. Now, let’s cut to the chase, no-one really plays twin-stick shooters for their narratives and AAC is no different. The story essentially boils down to a sort of robot uprising on the Genki Star and it’s your task to put an end to it and vanquish those pesky robots. The game is framed in a wonderful anime and saturday-morning-cartoon aesthetic which is, a lot like its gameplay, a splendid blend of Eastern and Western design philosophies. Yep, it’s cheesy and super 80’s but in a really charming and deliberate way. Instead, she does what any 80’s hero would be proud to do she smashes slap bang into the side of the Genki Star, lands on some unassuming, nasty robots and risks it all to save the day. However, Cactus is the sort of chick that doesn’t give up that easily. On her approach, the Genki Star begins to open fire on Cactus and in classic popcorn TV and movie fashion, Cactus’ boss orders her to abort the mission and return to base. Cactus has been sent to investigate a distress signal from a civilian space freighter called the Genki Star. You begin the game as the titular Cactus, a sort of junior space cop of sorts. Related reading: Sam’s review of the PC version of Assault Android Cactus. Aussie developer Witch Beam should be applauded for absolutely nailing that fiendishly addictive, “one more go” feeling that twin-stick shooter stalwarts hunger for. Assault Android Cactus (AAC) is a pure, distilled, frantic, fast-paced, edge-of-your-seat ride that is elegantly constructed and lovingly crafted.
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