Developed By: Ratalaika Games (port), HOT B (original)
Published By: ININ Games
Categories: Retro, Compilation, Shooter
Release Date: 07.18.24
Price: $14.99

Ok, so I know what you’re thinking. And yes, we already have Steel Empire on the Switch. We have Steel Empire on a lot of things actually. Even from this same publisher, ININ Games. However, that release of Steel Empire is more a new remake/port not to dissimilar to the 3DS release, but now in HD. With these new ports, we have modern releases of the original Genesis/Mega Drive and GBA releases.

You’ve already heard my thoughts on Steel Empire, so we’re going to focus this review more on Over Horizon. But in short, a nice steampunk shooter than may be a tad boring in terms of spectacle with powerups, but more than makes up with it’s amazing graphics and atmosphere. These versions are no different, but look more appropriate to their home. The GBA version does have that screen crunch, but it works just fine. While more recent remakes or releases do look better, the Genesis release is still plenty impressive.

So about Over Horizon. Made by the same team at HOT B that would make Steel Empire a year later is one hell of a shooter for the NES. The ability to shoot both forward and backwards should feel right at home for players coming off of Steel Empire, but the general mood is much different. It’s colorful, it’s a bit spacey, and there’s more powerups. The first boss is a nasty plant monster even. I’ve always magnetized more towards the more colorful or striking of shooters. Might just be my affinity for cutemups and the like, but if your game is weird, count me in.

Biggest yet, you can customize your weaponry. No, not just picking one of each of a bomb or shot. How about positions? Make those lasers pop or home. The customization probably isn’t something majority of players will use, but I implore they do just to mess around and make a monstrosity of a fighter.

It’s pretty damn impressive for NES, or rather Famicom, as this game wouldn’t get a western release outside of Germany until this very port. Ratalaika and ININ really have been doing a great job lately on this front. I may have my issues with presentation of these ports and am sick of talking about that, but I will keep playing these ports for these games to experience what I would have never as a kid. Better yet, you can just play the Japanese versions of all of these games in the collection too if you desire.

Final Thoughts

I don’t think I’m ready for more Steel Empire playthroughs, but having the option to play either the Genesis, GBA, or Switch version of the game all on one console is spectacular. I feel so many publishers only bother with that *one* version and nothing else. I wouldn’t go as far to say this is erasing history, but when publishers have the exact opposite approach and let the floodgates open with ports, it is history. It showcases how developers really had to work hard to work around limitations that they may not have nowadays. As a huge fan of the shooter genre, it seems this happens a lot. You know how many ways you can play Gradius on Switch? It’s nuts and I love it.