Rival Megagun Reviews
Rival Megagun may fall short of the standards set by genre masterworks like Cave's Ketsui, Seibu Kaihatsu's Raiden Fighters Jet or Raizing's Battle Garegga. But those are some of the finest pieces of game design of all time, and failing to meet their lofty standards doesn't stop Spacewave's creation being a tremendously fun and rather distinct shmup that really does offer something fresh, and serves as a great demonstration of the Switch's multiplayer prowess in the process.
A classic shump that brings some unique twist to the old arcadey games that we played on the arcades 20 years ago, but falls a bit short while doing it, specially if you are playing alone.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Rival Megagun is a lot of fun to play, but that fun is short-lived if you’re only playing by yourself. It’s best to pit your skills against another human player for the most enjoyment, so you can really enjoy those super-cool retro vibes.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Rival Megagun isn't a perfect package, but it offers a unique gameplay experience that nobody else is trying to create right now. Shoot 'em ups are blood-pumping adrenaline adventures, and adapting that into a competitive game is a feat that Rival Megagun does impressively well. While some gameplay balance issues and a bland story mode tarnish the final product, Rival Megagun is still an engaging title worth checking out if you and a loved one need a new way to settle your arguments.
Rival Megagun is a fun, frantic bullet hell game with a unique competitive mechanic. The retro-inspired art style is pixel-perfect, which is paired with an equally retro soundtrack. Each character's campaign may be short at just a handful of levels apiece, but there are six characters, each with different weapons and strategies to employ. Online multiplayer support, plus various collectibles and unlocks only seal the deal. Retro fans should pick up Rival Megagun without hesitation.
Overall, I did enjoy Rival Megagun, even if I did find the occasional fault.
Anyone looking for a fun time with friends or a new breed of arcade shooter should pick up Rival Megagun and any fan of game music should definitely listen to Dominic Ninmark’s soundtrack. Stellar work all around.
Rival Megagun has what every good shoot-em up has and tops it off with engaging competitive play. Apart from a few disparages, Rival Megagun offers a unique idea to an old formula and comes out on top.
Part shmup with a light sprinkling of Puyo Puyo hijinks on the side, Rival Megagun is a competitive shoot-em-up that has two players battling on opposite sides to make life miserable for each other. The story and stage design could be improved and the lack of a large online community makes it tough to find folks to play with. Nice shooting mechanics combined with an interesting and unique take on the shmup genre, however, make Rival Megagun worth pulling the trigger on for shmup fans looking for something different.
Rival Megagun may seem like other retro-themed shoot'em ups but its additional gameshow component makes sure to put that reading behind. While unusua,l this additional element works very well as an extra layer following the typical shooting sections and if the game's single player experience feels rather limited, the multiplayer component is very competent and enjoyable. If Rival Megagun's online community starts growing, the game will only gain from it.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Rival Megagun plays like a shmup but has the soul of competitive puzzle games like Super Puzzle Fighter II. Undoubtedly fun to play with others, it loses its charm when played against the AI. It's a neat idea that's been imperfectly executed, but still manages to provide a few hours of head-to-head fun.
Rival Megagun is a rough diamond, a concept proof that screams to be more worked, developed, and polished, but at the same time have incredibly solid core mechanics.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Despite all the great things, you can figure out enemy patterns through repetitive play, the online community is lacking, and unless you have people to play with, the overall experience outstays its welcome after a while. Still, those looking for a unique indie on the Switch will definitely find some fun in Rival Megagun.
By mixing the shooter genre will the old versus fighting mechanics, Rival Megagun delivers an interesting experience that might seem curious players looking for an brand new old-school experience. With its tiny roster falling short, Rival Megagun will still deliver fun duels, thanks to its fury jauge that will make each fight different and interesting. Too bad its short solo mode and terrible character design weighs down the game, which still delivers beautiful 2D sprites and background.
Review in French | Read full review
Rival Megagun successfully blends the tried-and-true shmup formula with a competitive fighter. The single-player is fun though a little short, but the multiplayer mode offers plenty of options for all-out shooter battles with your friends.
Rival Megagun, as I said, is a fun experience. For those that played a lot of these types of titles back in the day, it'll draw some serious nostalgia. Even now listening to the music while writing this, it sounds very reminiscent of the 16-bit era. My only major concerns with the game are the keyboard controls (easily fixed by using a controller) and the shortness of it. Like I mentioned earlier, the story mode is excellent, but once you've run through the handful of levels with multiple characters, it loses some of its charm. Sure you can play on harder difficulties, but that's mostly in the form of challenge only so you can collect some more cards. Expect to win some and lose some while playing online, which I hope will continue to have some legs. I was able to find matches quickly, but it's hard to judge what the community will look like in 6 months to a year.
Rival Megagun's added wrinkle of competitive gameplay to frantic, well-designed overhead shmup action is an interesting twist, but the limited game modes might not be enough for the amount of money being asked for.
All in all, Rival Megagun manages to bring something new to the table; a rare thing in this day and age.
Seeing as how Versus STGs are incredibly uncommon, Rival Megagun could easily get some recognition just for being part of such a rare niche. Thankfully, Spacewave Software went above and beyond to create a fantastic shooter. It has gotten the basics down pat, and delivers an exceptionally realized meta. Players are rewarded for thinking three moves ahead, reading their opponents, and finding the right opportunity to strike. For competitive gamers looking for something new, this is highly recommended.
In any case, the combination of melancholy, frustration, and joy Rival Megagun brings to players mustn't be underestimated. It's an almost perfect blend of genres that just might spawn some fantastic sequels.