Developer: Raizing Publisher: Electronic Arts Release: 02/26/96 Genre: Shooter
In the early 2000s I learned about a great many shooters on internet forums. While Radiant Silvergun and Dodonpachi dominated the conversation there were a few others that had an equally large reputation. Battle Garegga even back then had a reputation as one of the most brutal shooters around. As someone who had started to drift away from the genre it was enough to keep me away. Playing it for myself in recent years I can say all the talk was true. Battle Garegga pulls no punches. But there is a method to the madness even if it is invisible to the player. Whether you stick with it depends on your love of the genre. I like it but damn does it try my patience.
The Wayne Brothers were the foremost mechanical engineers in their country. After inheriting their father’s automobile factory they were able to take its success to even greater heights. The brothers reputation attracted the attention of the Federation, who offered them a lucrative contract to produce their military vehicles. The brothers accept but soon the Federation uses their newfound air fleet to ravage the world. Both brothers take to the skies in planes of their own design they kept secret from the Federation to right their mistake.
Battle Garegga was an arcade Smash in 1996 among a crowded shooter lineup. Curiously only the Saturn would receive a home port at the time. While the action gets heavy at times it is nothing the PlayStation could not handle at the time but I digress. The Saturn version contains a number of options that help ease the high difficulty. If you want to see the credits it does that with ease. But if you want to maximize your score you have a lot to learn and the game will not hold your hand.
The weapon system in Battle Garegga is not that complex. Your primary cannon has five power levels that require a varying number of items to achieve. Tapping the fire button produces normal shots while holding it produces rapid fire. However due to the rank system I will explain later this is not always ideal. All ships have a unique special weapon that differs in terms of radius, deployment time, and invincibility frames, one of its most crucial factors. The special weapons use ammo that builds up by collecting weapon fragments. Forty small fragments equals one large stock of which you can hold five. However you can use small fragments for a brief charge of your special if need be. There are also options with each craft holding up to four. Options can assume different formations, five initially with many more in secret, to govern their behavior and firing pattern.
Initially there are four ships although you can unlock four playable characters from Kingdom Grand Prix. Each of the four ships has a unique main shot and special weapon while the options are standardized. Some like the Flying Baron and Wild Snail have weapons that do not fully evolve until level three or four. Others like the Silver Sword are straightforward. Each ship has three variants but these go beyond mere paint jobs. Each variant is unique: they either increase your default speed, the size of your hit box, or both. While the default ships are relatively normal the hidden characters have incredibly cool weapons that significantly alter the gameplay experience. They go a long way toward evening the odds in this ridiculously difficult game.
The most notable feature in Battle Garegga is its brutal ranking system. This has to be one of the most complex and punishing rank systems I have come across and what will turn most away. Nearly every action you take affects rank in some way. Firing shots indiscriminately, collecting too many items, even using special weapons raises your rank in some capacity. As rank rises enemies become stronger, more aggressive, and bullets and items will travel faster. The worst aspect of this is that it does not become readily apparent to the second half of the game. You will know immediately it if it too high as the game will be all but impossible which to be honest sucks.
However it is possible to manage your rank. Some of the easiest ways are to fire only when there are enemies present, only collecting certain power-ups and if you can actually believe it, death. When you die rank drops one level and with less lives it can drop further. This is the best way to make Battle Garegga tolerable. As insane as it sounds death is a viable strategy. Once you learn the ins and outs of the scoring system you can earn extra lives for the express purpose of sacrificing one to keep the difficulty in check. Having said all that it is easier said than done. The complexity of this system is the reason the later revision of the game from 2016 makes its various intricacies more transparent if you want. As troublesome as it is I will say it is implemented well and makes the game distinct.
Your experience with Battle Garegga varies depending on engagement and tolerance of its various systems. When the ranking system is low the game is fantastic. The intricate pixel art is some of the best on the system and the action, at least at first is measured. Waves are predictable, bullets are easy to guide creating openings, and bosses are not massive bullet sponges. You can engage in the simple scoring system to rack up high scores and get closer to extensions which you will need. But the game’s design almost punishes you for having too much fun and I will be frank, that is bad. Having to try and keep track of so many factors to make the late game playable puts a damper on the fun. It is frustrating, probably too frustrating for most, but I do think the time spent getting good at the game is worth it.
In Closing
Battle Garegga is a great game but is also divisive. I can laud its unique features while also criticizing their lack of transparency. If you stick with it you will find a fantastic shooter with an intensity few can match. But it is not for everyone and that is okay.
