RefRain -prism memories-

Developer: RebRank | Publisher: Degica | Release Date: 2016 | Genre: Action / Indie / Shooter | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

Dive deep into the M.R.S. computer network, defeat the five Central Keepers, and help the three heroines of RefRain -prism memories- unlock their memories of the past. Thanks to Degica, we’ve been seeing more classic shooters from CAVE Interactive appear on Steam, but they haven’t overlooked smaller developers, either. This is very heartening to see, as bullet hell shooters are already a very niche genre, and tracking down the more obscure titles can be almost impossible outside of Japan.

At first glance, RefRain -prism memories- may seem like your typical bullet hell shooter, but it offers a unique twist. The game doesn’t just require players to dodge projectiles, but it actually encourages a more offensive playstyle.

RefRain is a vertically scrolling shooter, giving you a top-down view of the action from the cockpit of one of three different fighters. Initially, you only have access to the “Must Viper”, piloted by Miria, but both “Blitz Lester” and “Bronx Terror” can be unlocked. While the Must Viper is the most balanced of the three, Blitz Lester excels in close range while Bronx Terror is better suited to picking off enemies from a distance. The three heroines piloting the craft also have their own stories, which are told via system logs and character message logs, accessed from each character’s desktop. The stories aren’t anything earth-shattering, but they provide enough reasons to complete the game a few times to uncover everything.

RefRain-prism memories- may only have five levels, but don’t let that fool you. It’s a challenging game, especially on the higher difficulty settings. With only two lives, two hits per life, and two continues, it’s a test of skill and endurance. Veterans will find it a satisfying challenge, while newcomers may need a few attempts to find their footing.

Typically, bullet hell shooters only require that you hold down the “shoot” button while weaving through intricate bullet patterns to survive. This can also be done in RefRain, but you won’t score as many points, and on higher skill levels, you will encounter bullet patterns that are virtually impossible to dodge. This is where the “Mood-Emotion-Feeling-Affect” attack and “Concept Reactor” come in handy. In addition to your main shot, which is great for taking out weaker enemies, the M.E.F.A2 allows you to unleash a more devastating attack. This attack can be charged up to six levels and unleashed as six individual attacks or in rapid succession for even more damage. For example, with a single tap of the M.E.F.A2 button, the Must Viper shoots out a powerful laser straight ahead. Two taps and you unleash a barrage of bombs, while at level four, you not only shoot out a potent laser, but it also knocks targets back if it hits. Obviously, the M.E.F.A2 attacks are somewhat overkill on regular foes but essential for the bosses. Since the M.E.F.A2 meter charges up quite quickly by attacking enemies, you don’t have to hold back from using it, either.

Next up is the “Concept Reactor,” which is another attack with a gauge of its own. This one charges up by collecting items dropped by defeated enemies or knocked-back bosses but can only hold three charges. The items range from level one to five, with higher levels yielding more charges but requiring you to be closer to the target when they are destroyed. Activating the concept reactor turns all incoming projectiles into prisms, which can then be shot and destroyed. This will, in turn, increase the M.E.F.A2 gauge even faster, so using these two attacks at the right time is the key to mastering the game. It is immensely rewarding to wipe the floor with bosses using a few well-timed attacks, but you’ll be left high and dry without proper timing. It also makes the game even more addictive because whenever you fail, you know you could have done better with practice.

While this is the first time that RefRain is available on Steam, it is still an older title, so the visuals are far from cutting-edge. It also uses simple polygons for the enemies and some backgrounds, so it lacks the intricate detail found in some 2D shooters. The game doesn’t support TATE mode either, and resolutions are restricted to only the 4:3 aspect ratio. However, it makes up for this with some very colorful bullet and laser patterns, which gives the action an almost hypnotic feel. This is further enhanced by the excellent electronic soundtrack that complements the visuals and feel of the game perfectly. The game even features a music player to listen to the tunes and check out the descriptions that reveal just how much thought went into each track.

RefRain doesn’t have the best-looking levels or ship designs, but it is an undeniably fun game. It is a pity that it doesn’t feature a multiplayer mode as the action is very addictive and would have been great to experience with a friend. The M.E.F.A2 and Concept Reactor make it more of a game of skill than luck, and with three different ships, as well as plenty of achievements, RefRain has a lot of replay value. If you enjoy a good shooter and don’t mind putting in a bit of practice before everything clicks into place you will love RefRain.