Ultracore
Ultracore
Initialement développé sous le nom de Hardcore par le studio Digital Illusions CE il y a près de vingt-cinq ans sur du matériel de développement Sega Mega Drive, le jeu n'avait jamais vu le jour avant d'être récupéré et finalisé pour une sortie commerciale le 25 mars 2019 sous le titre Ultracore. Conçu pour respecter la vision originale de l'époque, le titre a été porté sur les plateformes modernes, se retrouvant ainsi disponible sur PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation Vita ainsi que sur sa machine d'origine, la Sega Mega Drive. Édité par Strictly Limited Games, ININ Games et Columbus Circle, Ultracore se présente comme un jeu de tir arcade et de plateforme qui assume pleinement son héritage des années 90.
L'accueil critique et public a souligné cette authenticité rétro. Video Chums s'est réjoui que le jeu n'ait pas subi le sort d'une annulation définitive, qualifiant l'expérience de « fantastique régal ». GameGrin a décrit l'œuvre comme une « capsule temporelle agréable », tout en notant qu'elle pouvait paraître « un peu injuste en raison de son âge combiné à des contrôles particuliers ». Du côté des joueurs, un avis sur Metacritic a confirmé le sentiment d'avoir « beaucoup de plaisir » à y jouer, estimant qu'il « ressemble et donne véritablement l'impression d'être un jeu de tir des années 90 qui aurait été un énorme succès s'il était sorti à l'époque ».
Médias
Avis des critiques et joueurs
Critiques de la Presse (Metacritic)
« 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. »
« 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. »
« 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. »
« Keeping most of its early 1990s sidescrolling action conventions and tropes intact, it's a good throwback for fans of similar efforts but it also feels that it's stuck in its original development age at too many moments. Fortunately the control system works like a charm and the experience is overall fluid and smooth. As such, Ultracore can be forgiven if some of its pillars seem outdated. »
« 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. »
« 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. »
« Personally, I wish Ultracore were a better game. I was so excited to give it a whirl due to its being such a marvel for its time. I wanted to like it badly. However, it’s such a slog to play and so cheap with its deaths. It is one of those titles where you never feel like a demise is your fault. I mean, there were moments when a robot would fall on my head from up above, leaving me no time to react! 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. »
« As a historical document, Ultracore is an interesting 2D run-and-gunner on Switch. It’s just a shame that modern takes on the genre have bested it at its own game. Do seek out the Strictly Limited Games CE, though. »
Avis des Joueurs (Metacritic)
« I have had a lot of fun playing this game. As advertised, it genuinely looks and feels like a 90's shooter that would have been a huge hit had it been released on the Genesis or Amiga 500. The levels have all been thoughtfully designed - they are large, action-packed, and chocked full of secrets - similar to the level designs of the Turrican games. Using the right thumbstick to aim and shoot your gun also works really well. The graphics are authentic and the music does an excellent job at reinforcing the retro vibe. Ultrcore does have some flaws - there are some fiddly platforming sections, levels 1-4 all look pretty similar, and the final level (5) is much more difficult than the first 4. Most of this doesn't really matter if you are prepared to use the cheat code. You can use it as often as you like to reset your lives to 30, which means anyone can comfortably beat the game. I'm sure I will return to Ultracore several times over the next few years. I picked it up on sale for only $3 and I am really pleased I did! »
