[Review] Ultracore

Released on June 23, 2020 for PS4 and Nintendo Switch, Ultracore is a fast-paced run and gun platformer that really challenges the player’s reflexes. I had a lot of fun playing this game. The game is very challenging and comes with some fun and intense gameplay.

The plot isn’t too complex, and you’ll learn about certain plot points either throughout the levels or in a cutscene after you’ve completed a level. Your base is surprise-attacked by a ruthless army led by the villain known as Vance, and you must stop him before he can begin his invasion on the planet.

The visuals were amazing for this style of game. They looked fresh while keeping that classic look you would expect when playing a game like this. And since it was supposed to release in the 90’s, it also has that nostalgic feel to it. Video games from the 90’s compared to today’s games are completely different, but Ultracore really holds up without sacrificing anything important to the game’s visuals or play.

The weapons each had their own style of shooting, and I even found that using certain weapons against certain situations helped me out tremendously. The default weapon is nice and reliable, but once you start to save up some ammo, you’ll find the other weapons will help you out more in the long run.

The controls were simple and easy to learn. I wasn’t a fan of multiple buttons having the same action. Both bumper buttons on the Nintendo Switch make you jump and sometimes it would cause me to jump on accident, which occasionally resulted in losing a life. Unfortunately, there is no option to rearrange the buttons to avoid mistakes like that. I did like the shooting controls; being able to use the right thumb stick to shoot made it easier to take on the continuous onslaught of enemies. The right trigger is also a viable option to use to shoot your weapon, but I found that the stick was easier.

While playing Ultracore on PS4, we also took advantage of Sony’s official “back button” attachment, which came in handy during heated moments of enemies and gunfire littering the screen. Sometimes in those extreme exchanges, it can be difficult when you can’t remove your right thumb from the right stick (used to direction fire your weapon) to press X to perform a jump. Simply program one of your back buttons to jump/X or to toggle through your weapons inventory easily, and this instantly gives you the one-up on your merciless adversaries.

There are multiple sound options that revolve around two different soundtracks: FM Music (Classic 90’s Style) or CD Music (Features multiple bands). There wasn’t anything wrong with the CD Music option, but I liked the classic 90’s style better. The music helped give the game its intensity, and it was really good during the boss battles. The soundtrack complimented the game’s style and pacing, and was overall very enjoyable. I really couldn’t find anything I didn’t like when it came to the game’s music.

Ultracore definitely has some replay-ability to it. The run and gun playstyle is something I think is very cool, and Ultracore doesn’t disappoint in that aspect. It would’ve been nice if there was difficulty setting for those who would like an even greater challenge, but unfortunately there isn’t. There aren’t any alternate game modes to play once you beat the game, but I didn’t really mind because you are able to replay each of the levels once you’ve completed them.

Overall, Ultracore is a fun, challenging, action-packed game that I think everyone should play. With sweet soundtracks to go with it, you’ll easily find yourself playing this game for hours. If you haven’t played Ultracore, I would definitely recommend playing it, since it’s now available on PS4 and Nintendo Switch.

Below you can watch the official trailer for Ultracore:

TCN was provided review copies of Ultracore for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 for the intent of review purposes by the publisher/PR.

Have you played Ultracore? If so, what are your thoughts on the game? Let us know in the comments!