GRIDD: Retroenhanced Demo

Sometimes pure arcade action is the way to go when it comes to video games, although realism is also part of the fun under the right circumstances. The genre was more popular back in the day, but retro games are making a comeback in the last few years. Hence, there is an invasion of shmups and top-down roguelikes out there, which is not a bad thing at all.

GRIDD: Retroenhanced is a procedural shoot ‘em up with a few racing mechanics added to the mix, in which you control a spaceship as you zoom across cyberpunk environments and tackle all sorts of enemies. The goal is to make it to the end alive, although there are many obstacles trying to put an end to your journey along the way, which is why you need good reflexes and a lot of patience.

You can use the spaceship’s weapons to destroy the enemies, but you have to do all this while blasting through the levels at dizzying speeds. To make things even worse, the levels are full of traps and obstacles that must be avoided, which is why you must keep moving from side to side at all times. It gets easier to handle after a while, but a fair amount of practice is needed.

The levels are procedurally-generated, at least partially, which means that the experience stays fun for longer. To make things better, the enemies change along the way, and they also get stronger later on. It takes quite a bit of practice to avoid some of the obstacles, especially since they come at you faster and faster as you progress through the stages.

Lastly, the graphics are very enjoyable and colorful, even if most of the time there is not much to see but a track ahead of you and the many traps you have to avoid. The special effects are gorgeous as well, especially since you are constantly shooting your guns and avoiding explosions. The soundtrack is brilliant as well, sporting great tracks that help with the atmosphere.

All things considered, GRIDD: Retroenhanced has all the right elements to keep you engaged for many hours, especially if you are a fan of fast-paced shmups. The soundtrack is definitely worth it, and it keeps the atmosphere exciting at all times.