Mamorukun ReCurse! review

Like many classic STGs, Mamorukun ReCurse! has an involved history. Originally released in Japanese arcades in 2008 under the title Mamorukun Curse!, the game was soon ported to the Xbox 360 and later the PlayStation 3, gradually becoming a cult favorite among fans of vertical shooters. Undoubtedly, the shooter’s mixture of anime-styled characters and surprisingly challenging bullet patterns created distinction from many of its peers.

While it never reached the mainstream popularity of genre titans like DoDonPachi or Ikaruga, Mamorukun still managed to generate a respected following among shmup enthusiasts.

ReCurse! builds on co-developer’s G. rev and Gulti’s original ambitions, modernizing Mamorukun for modern hardware and allowing anyone who missed any of the game’s earlier incarnations to bask in its charms.

Set Your Own Pace

Fundamentally, Mamorukun ReCurse! plays like an intermingling of a traditional shoot-’em-up with a free-scrolling action game. You’ll select one of several characters, each equipped with unique shot types, across enemy-dense stages. But instead of tackling action that moves the screen at a steady tempo, ReCurse! let’s you determine the scrolling speed, harking back to early efforts like Capcom’s Commando. That said, a timer ensures you won’t loiter and once it expires, ReCurse! unleashes a legion of invincible grim reapers at you. But the game’s sense of navigational freedom and controllable pacing separates the title from many of its peers, with alterative paths available if you keep your eyes peeled.

As with the previous console release, ReCurse! provides the options for twin-stick controls. Whereas the original NAOMI-based coin-op limited shooting to the direction the player was facing, the modernized control scheme allows players to aim independently from their movement. For novices, this instantly makes the game more approachable, offering a level of precision that feels natural on contemporary controllers.

But for shoot ‘em up stalwarts, it opens the door to new strategies. Here, it’s easy to attack from safer angles and chain combos more efficiently. Pausing firing for a split-second, automatically pulls in score-augmenting items and power-ups and I found these hiatuses easier when using the twin-stick input method.

Where Moe Meets a Multitude of Play Modes

Pleasingly, ReCurse! provides players with a variety of play modes. Jumping into the Arcade option provides players with a brief tutorial, divulging the title’s fundamentals as well as the multiple functions of Mamorukun’s signature mechanic. Beyond providing a frothy narrative, Story Mode offers a noteworthy variant. Whereas other play choices task players from choosing from one of the game’s colorful personalities, Story Mode requires players to determine turn order for their squad of characters. Once a teammate is defeated, they are lost, and replaced with the next character on the roster, making the arrangement of your squad crucial. Beyond practice modes also offers robust local and online leaderboards to satisfy scorechasers.

Mirroring developer G. rev’s previous efforts such as Ikaruga, Under Defeat HD, and Kokuga, Mamorukun ReCurse! feels distinct thanks to the game’s eponymous shot. A Cursed Shot engulfs adversaries in a violet ring, slowing them down, dealing damage, and diluting their production of deadly projectiles. Alternatively, a quick press sends out a sphere which players can fly into. Once they penetrated the periphery of the ring, the protagonist’s arsenal is greatly upgraded, converting larger enemies into vulnerable targets.

While the hook isn’t as compelling as Treasure’s Radiant Silvergun or Ikaruga, is does endow ReCurse! with a sense of individuality, especially when coupled with the game’s twin stick-shooting option and vertically free-scrolling design decisions. One of the game’s best qualities is the gratification for learning when to use each function of the Curse Shot; especially against the game’s screen-engulfing bosses.

Bullet Ballet with a Bit of Bite

Difficulty remains one of the game’s defining traits. On the surface, Mamorukun ReCurse! looks playful and lighthearted, but the bullet patterns and enemy density quickly reveal a serious, but manageable challenge. Even on normal settings, the game demands careful movement and quick reflexes, punishing careless mistakes with quick deaths. That said, the adjustable difficulty levels and practice-friendly features help provide accessibility for those who don’t devote hours to STGs.

Classic Shooter Receives Modern Polish

Undoubtedly, Mamorukun ReCurse! succeeds as both a revival and a refinement. It maintains the eccentric charm that delighted fans more than a decade ago while enhancing the experience with modern conveniences like twin-stick aiming, online features, and sharper visuals that offer fluidity of hardware like the Steam Deck.

The difficulty curve could intimidate more casual players, but those who stick with it will find one of the most distinctive shooters in the modern era. ReCurse! is the rare effort that blends anime flair, mechanical precision, and plenty of replayability into a single, rewarding package. Consider this the definitive way to experience Mamorukun’s curious, cute, and colorful world.

Mamorukun ReCurse! was played on PC with review code provided by the publisher.