Shockwave Triggers PS5 Review - Arcade Action With A Shocking Shoot 'Em Up Twist

Developer Shinu Real Arts and publisher eastasiasoft ship yet another sci-fi shoot 'em up straight to the PS5 console, under the title Shockwave Triggers . This bullet hell aerial adventure featuring two named pilots, and a rescue mission for an abducted sister is steeped in Westernized anime aesthetics and Middle Eastern cultural flair. As Amira or the mechanic Tool B. you are tasked with rescuing Amira's sister from the grips of the enigmatic Mister W, and his supporting generals before they use her powers for their own. In hot pursuit of the target fight takes to flight in this future dystopian aerospace world as bullets rain down, and crystals are collected to fund the efforts thereof.

The Story ...

For gamers buying into this vertical bullet hell shooter you will find little story revealed within the six arcade stages set before you in Arcade mode. This vaguely hinted at story is included in every cutscene between Amira, Tool B., and the generals that you fight at the end of each area. In gist you are on a rescue mission. Your goal is to recover your sister from Mister W, and his henchmen/women. This entails putting to use a simple power-up system, two different styles of play, and a lucrative shockwave mechanic that differs in execution between pilots.

The Gameplay ...

Through the hands-on tutorial you'll learn about Shockwave Triggers' core mechanics that include a focused shot, a basic shot, turret add-ons, and shockwave blasts that turn bullet hell projectiles into crystals. Crystals, as they were, act as the game's shop currency, and further unlock modes and bonus features, in-game. As far as combat goes power-ups of three differing types including a bonus crystals, shot power-ups, and extra super/shockwaves will be acquirable throughout each stage playthrough boosting your pilot's combat capabilities. Depending on difficulty (Bullet Heaven, Bullet Normal, Bullet Challenge, Bullet Hell) obtaining and maintaining these power-ups can be easier said than done though. Thankfully extra continue credits can be bought and learning the layout and enemy attack patterns in each area will make the mission doable at each difficulty setting.

Playthroughs in Shockwave Triggers are an area to area affair wherein short lived vertically oriented stages have your pilot moving ever upward as waves of statically positioned enemies come into view dumping bullets onto the screen. This is where scoring opportunities come into play and where the shockwave use is able to maximize scoring efforts if timed correctly, especially when bullet hell has filled the screen. 

In total there are six areas or stages in Shockwave Triggers, and each come with an end boss that must be defeated to get to the next area and boss in line. Between here and there though there are bonus moments in each area where you'll be gifted the choice of one of three additional power-up items before advancing further and a sort of loot goblin ship that will appear raining down crystals upon you when shot like a stripper being showered by dollar bills at a gentleman's club. 

Aside from Arcade mode you can challenge yourself against all bosses and only the bosses in the Boss Rush mode. Either that or play co-op with a local partner in Arcade mode. This is the limitation of available modes, but it still offers plenty for the asking price.

For extras the game allows you to unlock bonus modes and features through the crystals earned and the game shop located within the Bonus menu. This includes an art gallery, a Jukebox, a Boss Rush mode, and extra credits for continuing through a playthrough after the ship stock is depleted. It's a goal that will eventually run it's course leaving only the thrill of shooting in it's wake.

The Presentation ...

With all the fittings of a 90's arcade cabinet experience Shockwave Triggers manages to nail the nostalgia while keeping the pixel art, and anime aesthetics it's own. The anime inspiration is definitely there, but is more crudely applied and more Western in appearance in comparison to more prestigious Asian releases. That being said the pixel art during actual gameplay more than makes up for these amateurish shortcomings. Even the soundtrack harbors adequate arcade inspiration with voiced sound bytes that are fitting of that bygone era of gaming. The music is upbeat, and synth in nature with a hint of chiptune application here and there. For those looking for screen filters, border art, and tate modes you will find that here as well with various options to fine tune the experience the way you see fit. Even hit box clarity can be toggled on or off for both players.

The Verdict ...

For $15 Shockwave Triggers scratches that itchy trigger finger for those bullet hell enthusiasts looking for a holdover until the next AA or AAA release. It's a competently created experience with standard bells and whistles that doesn't really add anything new, but suffices to offer solid gameplay and impressive pixel art in a nostalgia filled package, regardless. Do keep in mind though that at the time of this review I did experience a game breaking bug that froze the game in black screen not giving an error code. I think at times the game's gameplay can overload performance, and cause issues. I've even seen slowdown at times as animation loads. That in mind, if it is patched, $15 isn't too steep an asking price for what you get though in all honesty other eastasiasoft titles of a similar genre have offered similar features for less.