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Revamped arcade action at its finest – Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute Quick Review
14K View2022-12-22PLAY IT OR SKIP IT?
Play it. 2D action shooters don’t get much better than Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute. It takes elements of original Elevator Action and combines them with the best parts of another arcade classic, Rolling Thunder. The Sega Saturn version (that’s what the S-Tribute in the title is referring to) was good, but this version is better because of all the options that make it less frustrating and allowed me to enjoy Elevator Action for what it is – pure arcade shooty-bang-bang goodness.
TIME PLAYED
I played Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute for about three hours. I had to pry the controller from my own hands to stop, because I would have kept on playing it all night unless, well, duty called.
WHAT’S AWESOME
• Twitchy arcade action. Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute really nails the twitch-shooter mechanics and can be quite chaotic (in the best ways possible) at times. I truly enjoy these kinds of experiences because they really allow me to get a zone and just keep hammering that fire button until all the enemies are smoldering corpses when I reach the end of a level.
• Quality-of-life improvements. Enhancements from the Sega Saturn version include rewind, slow mode, quick save/load, unlimited credits, stage select, increased healing, and extra lives. This game can be tough as nails at times—it was originally designed as a quarter munching arcade game, after all—so all of these are most welcome options.
• The original arcade game is included. Yes, the 1983 Taito classic is playable from the get-go. As far as I recall, it was only unlocked in the Saturn version after you completed the game.
• Over the top madness. Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute absolutely nails the utterly ridiculous vibe of a good many mid-’90s anime and games. At the time, I’m sure the developers at Taito thought they were being edgy and cool, but with twenty-five years of perspective, it’s pretty ridiculous...but again, in the best ways possible.
WHAT SUCKS
• You have to jump through a couple hoops to get a controller to work. For whatever reason the gamepad configuration doesn’t automatically load when you boot up this game. So, you have to right click on the Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute icon in your Steam Library to select and manage the controller layout before you even start the game. And I only found that out because I looked it up on the Steam forums.
• I is dum. I kept getting crushed to death by the moving elevators because I continually forgot it’s a real thing that actually happens in this game.
💬 Are you going to play Elevator Action Returns S-Tribute or skip it? Let me hear what you have to say in the comments below!
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I still own the original elevator action nintendo cartridge. I'm suprised to see this.... kinda funny XD
2022-12-23
Author likedYeah, I always liked the arcade original (and the NES version), but this version really takes that core gameplay to the next level.
2022-12-24
I'm gonna PLAY IT! even though I suck at arcade stuff
2022-12-23
Author likedYou should. As I mention in the review, you can dial down the difficulty, the speed, and give yourself like nine guys to make it easier if you need to.
2022-12-23
the UI was remember me to metal slug
2022-12-23
Author likedmore like contra for me
2022-12-23
Author liked