Rival Megagun (2018)

A Mediocre vertical shooter with an unimpressive twist.

Rival Megagun may seem like other retro-themed shoot'em ups but its additional gameshow component makes sure to put that reading behind. While unusua,l this additional element works very well as an extra layer following the typical shooting sections and if the game's single player experience feels rather limited, the multiplayer component is very competent and enjoyable. If Rival Megagun's online community starts growing, the game will only gain from it.

Seeing as how Versus STGs are incredibly uncommon, Rival Megagun could easily get some recognition just for being part of such a rare niche. Thankfully, Spacewave Software went above and beyond to create a fantastic shooter. It has gotten the basics down pat, and delivers an exceptionally realized meta. Players are rewarded for thinking three moves ahead, reading their opponents, and finding the right opportunity to strike. For competitive gamers looking for something new, this is highly recommended.

Rival Megagun takes the old and mostly forgotten "Versus Shoot'em Up" genre, adds a lot of unique ideas to it, and the end result is a game that is not only accessible for newcomers, but also challenging for veterans at the same time. It's not flawless, but none of those flaws can decrease the amount of fun you can have by playing it.

Rival Megagun plays like a shmup but has the soul of competitive puzzle games like Super Puzzle Fighter II. Undoubtedly fun to play with others, it loses its charm when played against the AI. It's a neat idea that's been imperfectly executed, but still manages to provide a few hours of head-to-head fun.