Developer: Make Software Publisher: Nichibutsu Release: 11/27/92 Genre: Shooter
Terra Cresta is a game I thought very little of. It is not a bad game but at the same time it did not stand out. While the NES is not the first platform you think of when it comes to shooters it has a more than respectable library nonetheless. Sadly Terra Cresta is just another title filling the shelves. What I did not know was that it was the first in a long running series that persists today. Terra Cresta II graced the PC Engine as an exclusive which helps it stand out among the many arcade ports. But like its predecessor it is merely an OK game.
Despite the numeral in the title Terra Cresta II is the fifth title in the series. Most of the Cresta games are arcade games that never received home ports like UFO Robo Dangar and Terra Force. However it would soon transition to home console releases of varying quality. Terra Cresta II is one of the better entries that suffers due to being too long for its own good. I am all for giving players more bang for their buck but in this case they went about it the wrong way.
The weapon system is Terra Cresta II’s most distinct attribute. It is both simple yet has plenty of depth. Your craft starts out as a basic ship with minimal firepower. Throughout each level power canisters with numbered modules appear. These modules attach to your ship and increase its firepower with unique weapons, be it rear shots, a piercing laser, or rear shield. These modules stack until your ship barely resembles its base form. Wielding all these weapons simultaneously is near game breaking but the game tempers that by making them destructible.
But there is more! You can store three formation items and at the press of a button your modules will assume a formation with a unique attack for a brief period. These attacks are massive and differ based on how many modules you currently have equipped. You can also create your own formations prior to the start of the game for further customization. If you collect more than three formation items you will transform in to an indestructible phoenix for about twenty seconds. Surprisingly you can achieve this state fairly frequently which is really cool. Most games would make this a rare occurrence to make it feel special. Here it feels like a regular part of your arsenal.
At twelve levels Terra Cresta II covers a lot of ground. There are enough stages for a large variety of environments and generally the level design is good. Due to the versatility of the formation system waves attack in irregular patterns to throw you off. A lot of the enemies are designed to neutralize your movement and box you in. I like this; they know you have a lot of tools at your disposal and limit your options. The problem is the pacing takes a nose dive in the second half. The levels become excruciatingly long, especially the last three. I suppose they wanted to give the end game an epic feel but it has the opposite effect and makes it tiresome. There is a twist that re-contextualizes your journey but it is not enough to offset the monotony of facing the same bosses and enemies multiple times in succession.
Unlike most games in the genre Terra Cresta II is very easy. With each module you can take one more hit and they appear fairly frequently. It is rare that you will ever find yourself reduced to the basic ship which is nice. Some of the formations are grossly overpowered; the homing phoenixes and rotating lasers shred enemies and bosses like butter. You can attain the phoenix power at least once or twice per stage which trivializes a large part of each level as well. The bosses are cool but absolute pushovers which I found surprising. Aside from being bullet sponges their patterns are simple. Nothing wrong with that but I think I was expecting more. My biggest challenge was staying awake during the last few stages that dragged on way too long.
In Closing
I like Terra Cresta II in spite of its pacing issues. The weapon system is still pretty unique and fun and the game gives plenty of opportunity to use it. But the overly long levels, repetitive boss rushes and limited enemy variety make it a slog. If they were to trim the fat Terra Cresta II could have been a better title. But as it is I lost interest long before its conclusion.
