Review of Missile Dancer 2

The delights of pressing a single button to destroy a whole enemy squadron.

Missile Dancer 2
Platform: PC, also on Switch
Developer: Terarin Games
Publisher: Terarin Games
Release date: March 27th, 2024
Price: $14.99, $13.49 launch price until April 3rd
Digital availability: Steam

Junichi Terayama obviously has a soft spot for vintage shoot ’em ups. He has created a string of works under the publishing name Terarin Games that collectively harken back to the heyday of coin-op and 16-bit strategy video games. Playing a Terarin game often feels like unearthing a lost classic, from Terra Flame’s reference to Technosoft’s Thunder Force series to Raging Blaster’s homage to Hudson Soft’s Star Soldier series.

References for the 2018 Missile Dancer included the Ray-series and Soukyugurentai/Terra Diver. Like the previously mentioned Taito and Eighting games, Missile Dancer was distinguished from its vertically scrolling counterparts by a lock-on mechanism. Yu Suzuki’s 1987 arcade blockbuster, Afterburner, with its sprite-scaling, on-rails action, served as the model for the sequel Missile Dancer 2. Terayama’s sequel keeps the ability to lock onto targets, but the action moves to 2.5D, increasing the intensity of the action on screen.

Route to the Danger Area

Similar to previous video games, there isn’t much time to prepare before taking on your initial enemies. Missile Dancer 2 prefers explosions over explanation, whether you choose to go through the tutorial, the sixteen-stage Arcade mode, or the three-minute time trial found in Caravan mode. Now that you’ve chosen one of the three difficulty levels, it’s time to take to the sky.

Yes, the action and your aircraft move at a fast speed as you “paint” targets, take out opponents, and shoot missiles with an endless amount of ammunition. Your ship can execute a barrel roll defensively, which grants a limited amount of invincibility frames. One innovation is a little pane on your HUD that shows threats in a top-down manner. However, because it can be fatal to look away from the main screen, its usefulness is restricted.

Vapor Trails and Overcame Opponents

It may be rather thrilling to amass a large number of missile locks before pressing the trigger to unleash a Macross-style onslaught, as Panzer Dragon once showed. And with a barrage of warheads firing roughly every three seconds, that is undoubtedly the situation here.

Stages are often well-paced, letting you eliminate a group of enemies before they intensify their attacks. Missile Dancer 2 quickly captures your attention as you attempt to avoid enemy bullets that fill the screen while simultaneously trying to target them. In certain games, levels that last four minutes seem like they last thirty. Dancer 2 counts up your performance bonuses at the end-of-stage summary screen, giving you just enough time to catch your breath before sending you hurtling through increasingly deadlier airspaces.

Of Opportunities and Unrealized Potential

You can choose from a variety of missile variations in each mission in the game by using airborne symbols. Many lock-ons can be obtained by players with the “M” insignia, which is advantageous while facing groups of weaker opponents but less useful when facing armored ones. As an alternative, you might use the Spear or Napalm missiles, which prioritize speed and power, respectively. The boss bouts in the game appear to be best executed when it comes to warhead types. Here, you’ll need to use your might to take down a flying fortress that is defended, or your quickness to shoot down a flying mecha-dragon that is emerging from the protection of the earth.

Of course, having a variety of projectile kinds is a great idea, but Missile Dancer 2 could have used a few more advancements. Since arcade mode is linear, it’s difficult to ignore the possibility that OutRun-style branching routes could have added a little more lifespan. The widescreen architecture of the game makes good use of the edges for things like combo data and missiles, but your immobile pilot picture is the only drawback. A small smile following a difficult takedown or other simple facial movements may have added some individuality. And while this is a small complaint, it can be quite difficult to complete a single credit run if you are unable to repair your ship’s shielding. Positively, you do receive additional ships at certain scoring thresholds.

In summary

That being said, Missile Dancer 2 is not without its attractions. A female announcer plays sounds such as crashes and scoring bonuses, the latter of which gives you a fun little stutter when you fly through a series of rings. The twelve-song soundtrack by HIROKEY and Taku Shiiba is available in two versions: regular and FM-synthesis.Either tenor—a chiptuned or more contemporary one—delivers driving anthems that keep up with the fast beat of the song. The attraction of seeing your name on the internet scoreboard is one. It’s still possible to monitor your mid-field standing in the global rankings even if you fall short of reaching Missile Dancer 2’s upper levels. Lastly, Caravan Mode offers an additional stage where you can hone your combo-completing and scoring skills.

A genuine homage to the coin-op games that came out at the close of the 1980s is Missile Dancer 2. And although though gamers used to more modern games might not be drawn to that era, those who want fast-paced, arcade-style action should definitely check the demo.

On a PC, Missile Dancer 2 was played using a review code that the publisher sent.

Review Overview

Gameplay – 80%

Controls – 80%

Aesthetics – 75%

Content – 70%

Accessibility – 75%

Value – 80%

77%

VERY GOOD

Summary :Missile Dancer 2 is laser-focused on delivering late ’80s, frantic, arcade-style excitement, much like its primary weapon. This masterfully done tribute to Afterburner and Galaxy Force will surely be a big hit for everyone who enjoys old school video games.