Hybrid side-scrolling retro game
Space Force Hero isn’t your typical adventure game. Developed by RESETgame, this free side-scroller throws a unique curveball as it lets you experience the same game in two completely different eras. It offers a modern take on a classic side-scroller and an emulation of a limited-resource 1970s arcade game, representing over 40 years of video game evolution.
In Space Force Hero, your mission is to rescue a princess abducted by aliens. Wearing a spacesuit and wielding plasma weapons, you have to fight aliens as you travel across space and free your damsel in distress from their grips.
Dual eras of space adventure
Reminiscent of Super Mario Run, the gameplay of Space Force Hero is a familiar one. As a knight in a shining spacesuit, you have to save a princess abducted by aliens using plasma-powered weapons and an energy defense shield. Aside from spaceships, your spacesuit comes with rocket-powered flight boots to get you from one platform to another. 20 levels filled with cunning aliens and challenging obstacles await you.
The exciting part, however, is that you can choose which era you want to play the game. In the present mode, you can accomplish the rescue mission in smooth 120 FPS with 3D graphics, physics that make your every move weighty, and even real-time shadows. Meanwhile, in the past mode, retro enthusiasts can experience what it was like playing during the 70s with the raw challenges of early arcade titles.
Since this platformer is an experiment of sorts, it is not without limitations. Game balance can be frustrating for those who just want to kill time since you have to restart the game for every attempt, and it is almost impossible to progress. While the graphics used in the present mode are a visual feast, the pixelated graphics in the past mode can be awkward for younger players.
Homage to arcade games
If you're a fan of retro gaming and appreciate the historical significance of early titles, Space Force Hero is a unique experiment worth exploring. Featuring two modes that represent two distinct eras in video game history, it lets you experience what it is like to play video games before and now. It is a love letter to the golden age of arcades for those willing to embrace its flaws.
