Review of Rainbow Cotton

If the core problems of the original game remain unfixed, what is the point of redoing it?

Rainbow Cotton
Platform: PC, also on PlayStation, Switch, Xbox
Developer: KRITZELKRATZ 3000
Publisher: ININ Games
Release date: May 8th, 2024
Price: $19.99, $17.99 launch discount through May 15th
Digital availability: Steam

Although Cotton: Fantastic Night Dreams, an arcade game released by Success Corporation in 1991, may not have been the original cute ’em up, it certainly contributed to the subgenre’s rise in popularity. The game’s titular, candy-obsessed protagonist and her bikini-clad fairy sidekick, Silk, were endearing. The two faced up against a variety of odd monsters, including flying eyeballs and cunning imps, over the course of six stages. The experience was enhanced by the challenging yet equitable level of difficulty, despite the lovely spritework.

It should come as no surprise that this appealing visual and playable combination became popular and inspired a number of sequels. The most of these kept the game’s horizontal scrolling layout, but Panorama Cotton from 1994 changed it to a rail shooter style reminiscent of SEGA’s Space Harrier. Success took Rainbow Cotton back to the third dimension for the Dreamcast edition, which drew largely negative reviews from critics and such a lackluster reception from gamers that Yusuke Nemoto, the game’s designer, eventually issued an apology. Rainbow Cotton appears to be an unlikely choice for a remake as a result.

An Background as Rare as Willow Candy

The management choice to assign development responsibilities to KRITZELKRATZ 3000, a studio that specializes on licensed Game Boy Advance and DS products, was equally dubious. Ultimately, Rainbow Cotton’s 2024 remake offers a visual enhancement while addressing some of the problems that beset the Dreamcast version. It’s unfortunate since it would be exciting to guide the naughty witch who rises on a broomstick across a fully realistic 3D universe.

The first error made by Rainbow Cotton is not having a tutorial. Indeed, you may progress through the game’s five stages while picking up new skills as you aim and kill foes that are visible on the screen. However, a more enticing strategy would have clarified the power-up mechanism, which releases gems when gold pots are shot.

Obtain a yellow jewel to increase Cotton and Silk’s offensive potential. However, it is very simple to inadvertently shot the golden gem with turbo-fire, and it will cycle through a variety of colors. These increase the strength of your magic bomb assault that matches in hue. But for the most part, strengthening your default weapon is significantly more crucial early on. Although the color-coded scheme is Cotton canon, newbies might have benefited from even a single-screen splash page explaining the methodology.

Broomstick in the way

After over 25 years, Rainbow Cotton’s errors are even more bothersome. Cotton & Silk may unintentionally cover targets and incoming bullets because you’re playing in third person. When shooting at far-off targets in the middle of the screen, this is particularly bothersome. Furthermore, it is much harder to see exactly where you are firing when using smaller screens like those seen on the Steam Deck or ROG Ally. The creators should have included a controller trigger that would have enabled users to easily switch to first-person perspective.

It’s tea time!

The peripheral aspects of the game effectively express the joy, even though Rainbow Cotton’s play still feels like a chore. The game’s five stages can be too lengthy when years have passed. Nevertheless, they have a pleasing look, whether you’re flying past a quaint European village at Christmastime or touring a submerged metropolis. Thankfully, the on-rails shooting isn’t linear, and you’ll occasionally come across branches that let you to explore other areas.

Kenichi Hirata, on the other hand, created music that feels ageless and provides upbeat tunes for the game’s stages and boss fight. Naturally, there are also the full-motion anime scenes from the original game that narrate the plot. Visually, these are still crude, showing the same kinds of jaggies that were present in the days of TurboGrafx-CD / PC Engine CD-ROM2. Although there seems to have been some graphic tidying up, the developers’ general laissez-faire attitude is evident here.

In summary

The remake of KRITZELKRATZ 3000 functions similarly to the original game, but with improved fidelity, a more consistent framerate across most platforms (but Steam Deck gave us some lag), and autofire. But aside from these slight adjustments, this is pretty much the same game that let Dreamcast owners down. Recreation provides the opportunity for growth. Interestingly, Rainbow Cotton didn’t seize those chances.

The review code for Rainbow Cotton was obtained from the publisher and used on a PC.

Review Overview

Gameplay – 55%

Controls – 60%

Aesthetics – 75%

Content – 70%

Accessibility – 65%

Value – 60%

64%

DISAPPOINTING

Summary :Should a remake aim to raise the bar higher than the original design? The Rainbow Cotton developers adhere to historical authenticity. Rebuilding the poorly received Dreamcast game feels like a lost opportunity because most of the improvements are skipped. This is solely for devoted viewers of the show.