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Alright, so there I was, diving into this game called Exo-Calibre, right? It’s from eastasiasoft and Vampixel — honestly, their names are as funky as the game itself. Picture this: I’ve got my PS5 controller, feeling all retro with this 2D shoot ’em up vibe. Just like old times, but you know, with a shiny twist.
So, what’s the deal? You play as one of these Ex-Calibre Knights. Basically, think of them as super-fancy pilots with some crazy exo-suits. And they’re here to save us from, wait for it, rogue AI drones. Talk about a plot, huh? Anyway, you’ve got three knights to choose from, and each one brings their own flavor to the battle — different shooting styles and melee weapons. It’s like picking your favorite candy, except this candy shoots lasers.
And the modes, oh boy. Story Mode? You can mess up as much as you like, the game’s got your back with unlimited lives. But Arcade Mode? Not so forgiving, my friend. Limited lives, and you’ll have to get that heart racing as you dodge and weave through enemies. Oh, and there’s a Boss Rush Mode. I mean, if facing all bosses in a row sounds like fun to you, go for it. There’s also a Time Rush Mode which is kind of like watching sand slip through an hourglass — fast and nerve-wracking.
Ah, and the scraps! You take down enemies, get these little bits — don’t ask me why I find collecting these things so satisfying. But the trick is, shoot the scraps a bunch before they explode into more scraps. You use these to jazz up your knight, you know? More firepower, maybe some extra lives, because let’s face it, I’m not a gaming pro, and mistakes? Yeah, they happen.
Controls are pretty much what you’d expect. Use the left stick or D-Pad for moving around. R2 for blasting away remotely, and square for a good old up-close melee smack. If things get dicey, there’s a boost with the L2 that helps you dodge stuff. Or, just smash into things harder. And for the record, reflecting projectiles with the melee attack — surprisingly satisfying.
Let’s not forget the trophies — for all you collectors out there. Platinum’s up for grabs, and if you’re buying this game on PS5, hey, you also get it on PS4. Cross-Buy magic. Trophies for doing all sorts of things like taking down bosses, collecting scrap, and, yeah, boosting through foes because sometimes avoiding them is totally overrated.
So, Exo-Calibre? It’s like a love letter to old-school gaming with just the right splash of modern chaos. Not gonna lie, taking on the evil AIs — there’s something ridiculously fun about it. And all this for $6.99? Feels like a steal. Anyway, I’m off to defeat some AI baddies again. Who knew saving the world could feel this retro?
