Ultracore Reviews

Ultracore is ranked in the 34th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
7.5 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2020

Ultracore is a very solid 2D action game, if a bit unfair at times. Retro game enthusiasts would adore the deftly crafted pixel art ,and classic run and gun gameplay.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jun 23, 2020

Quite literally a blast from the past, Ultracore is a product of love, having been restored from an originally unreleased Mega Drive title by the well-known developer Digital Illusions (now known as DICE)...

Read full review

Simon Brown
Top Critic
7.5 / 10.0
Jun 25, 2020

An enjoyable time capsule of a game that can unfortunately feel a bit unfair due to its age combined with some quirky controls. Non-stop retro action with great pixel art and two stunning soundtracks that is worth your time if it's something that appeals.

Read full review

Liked
Jun 27, 2020

Ultracore feels like a Mega Drive rom just released onto Switch. To some this will be fine. Its a complete Mega Drive game that never got it’s time in the spotlight back in the day. Besides adjusted controls and soundtrack the game offers no quality of life improvements. No options to adjust the graphics, no save states, no gameplay modifiers. Whilst it’s absolutely nice to play it on Switch, this game package is really stuck in the past. Whilst I have my grievances I’m a retro guy and as an old Mega Drive game I did like this title. It’s just a shame more attention wasn’t given to this port. Retro lovers should absolutely look into adding this to their library, but I don’t think there is enough here to convince newcomers. For me, this took me back to the nineties playing my Mega Drive instead of the Switch. Nostalgic time travel at its best.

Read full review

Evan Norris
Top Critic
6 / 10
Jun 28, 2020

It's great news that Ultracore can now see the light of day, after 25 years in the dark.

Read full review

Jun 29, 2020

I'm very happy that a game as cool as Ultracore didn't suffer the fate of being cancelled forever as playing it is a fantastic treat.

Read full review

Jul 1, 2020

A slice of Mega Drive life, while the lack of a save system does harm it, it’s only a flesh wound & the none stop run and gun action more than makes this a title any retro enthusiast will love.

Read full review

3 / 5.0
Jul 2, 2020

If you’re a die-hard retro gamer or a fan of Eurostyle shooters and can look past its often messy platforming and dated design choices, Ultracore is a game that’s sure to fill that Turrican-shaped void in your heart.

Read full review

7 / 10
Jul 5, 2020

it's really cool that a cancelled 1994 game can get a new lease of life like this, and Ultracore is a good example of its genre. The lack of a save feature, though, is a black mark against it – we can't understand why such an option wasn't included, given other modern features (twin-stick control, the switchable soundtracks) are present and correct. Still, this is solid retro action and a fascinating "what could have been" experience. Of course, in this case, "what could have been" eventually was.

Read full review

Expansive
Jay Jones
Liked
Jul 6, 2020

The quality, fantastic score, and pulse-pounding action are the perfect throwback to one of gaming’s greatest eras. Platformers were in their prime in the 90s and Ultracore is a great example of the creativity that studios were dishing out back then. If you’ve been desperate for a slice of 16 bit quality shooters, Ultracore will absolutely scratch that itch.

Read full review

Noisy Pixel
Ian Goudelock
7.5 / 10.0
Jul 7, 2020

With a wave of retro-inspired games released, it seems only fitting that an actual retro game finally gets some needed attention after all these years. Ultracore is like a time capsule of what made this genre so fun and addicting, however, the platforming mechanics didn’t age as well as the shooting action. Still, it’s clear from the first moments that this release was a labor of love and I am glad to have finally had the opportunity to play it.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Jul 10, 2020

Decades after being cancelled at the last minute, the revived Ultracore offers a fun and tight action-packed retro experience even if it's a little unfair in various parts.

Read full review

80 / 100
Jul 15, 2020

Ultracore is a fairly platform-oriented, exploration-focused run & gun that was programmed by DICE in 1995 and which, after being canceled in its day, finally it was released last year. 5 labyrinthine levels await you where you can destroy hundreds of enemies with improved control and an inviting soundtrack. Pure nostalgia with certain touches that suit him very well, and certain flaws that we do not understand how they have been maintained, even so, it is very much worth it.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

ZTGD
Top Critic
Unscored
Jul 16, 2020

How do I review something that I can barely play? I suppose I can start by not recommending it as that section is so brutally unfair that it’s not fun.

Read full review

5.5 / 10.0
Jul 16, 2020

Granted, you could memorize levels through a lot of trial and error and become an Ultracore master. But for me at least, it's not worth the time and effort.

Read full review

8 / 10
Jul 21, 2020

It doesn’t offer anything new in “old school” regards, but the solid run-and-gun gameplay paired with two cracking soundtrack options should appeal to the curious.

Read full review

8 / 10.0
Jul 25, 2020

If this ends up being the Vita’s swan song, then I definitely won’t mind. Ultraforce ended up being a fantastic fit for the system and I doubt I would have enjoyed it as much as I did on the Switch or the PS4.

Read full review

Cubed3
Athanasios
Top Critic
5 / 10
Jul 29, 2020

While impressive from a technical standpoint, Ultracore carries way too many flaws from the past to be a solid recommendation, whether you are a retro fan or not. Repetitive, unpolished, somewhat unfair, and very trial-and-error-y, it's pretty evident that the game's current owner didn't really do much before porting this interesting piece of old-school history to modern systems.

Read full review

65 / 100
Aug 4, 2020

Ultracore is a blast from the past game that really nails what many side-scrolling shooters were like in the 90s; and coupled with modern controls, it's a game worth playing. Though there are a few oversights like getting hit and not knowing it, unlabeled special items, and low difficulty, it's worth a try.

Read full review

7 / 10.0
Aug 5, 2020

Enjoyable, fun and a reminder of days past. Ultracore is quite simple and sometimes difficult but a refreshing break from overly-bloated games of the modern era.

Read full review