We live in an era when the world may be in crisis, but the video game industry, including the indie and Game Boy homebrew industry, is blossoming. We have had so many great Game Boy homebrew titles in the last couple of years. Titles like Infinity, Dragonhym, Gumball in Trick or Treat Land and many more just go to show that this part of the industry can produce stand-out titles. Annihilator is a narratively ambitious title that we can add to that list.
A shooter at its core, Annihilator has an interesting premise and addictive gameplay, but it has some harsh difficulty spikes in the later chapters. It reminds me of twin stick shooters in many ways, and it could be compared to the original Gauntlet games, where you have a projectile weapon and have to fight off waves of enemies. However, there are no RPG elements. The amount of enjoyment you’ll get out of Annihilator will probably depend on how difficult you like these kinds of games. Read on for a review of Annihilator on the Game Boy Color.
Great, gritty story
The story in Annihilator seems as if it could be inspired by classic sci-fi films such as Terminator and The Matrix. Annihilator’s story revolves around a city where people are made to suffer through torture. Their pain, and other negative emotions are used in some abstract way to run and power the city and allow it to continue prospering. Your character has broken free of this chain of suffering, and he will stop at nothing to avenge his family and stop this evil system from continuing. That is a summary of the story.
The dark sci-fi vibes of the story are made pretty clear to the player from the start. The story is told through cool-looking cut scenes that use text and images to good effect to tell the story of Annihilator. The story is definitely mature, not for the faint of heart, and interesting from a philosophical and sociological perspective.
Innovative Style
The game is split up into chapters. They can vary to some degree in terms of gameplay. Most are top-down shooter stages, where you can fire in four directions and press the B button to dash and escape enemies. The 8-bit graphics look great in motion, and playing on original hardware with an IPS kit installed is my recommendation. Some sections are more similar to horizontal shooters, where you have to avoid obstacles while destroying vehicles or structures. Levels can take around 30 minutes, especially if you are dying a lot.
However, there is an autosave system and checkpoints, so if you die you probably won’t be sent too far back into the game. The game has an intense vibe that is made all the more adrenaline-fueled due to the stakes for the character in terms of the story. The gameplay is fast, addictive, and satisfying. One thing that I think could have been included is a blood effect since the game is obviously a mature title. I feel that would have made the gameplay more satisfying (without being over the top).
Addictive shooter action
Another shooter that the gameplay could be compared to is the 2019 arena shooter, Xeno Crisis. Annihilator has the player running around a closed-off space, firing shots at enemies in a very similar way to Xeno Crisis. The main difference is that Annihilator is simpler graphically. However, the game looks great, and the action is fast-paced. The shooting is a lot of fun, and even when you die, you feel compelled to give it another go, which often results in you eventually beating the level and making progress.
Towards the end of each chapter, there is a boss. Each boss has different animations and patterns that you must adapt to, to eventually deal the boss enough damage for it to be defeated. The bosses look simple graphically, but are still cool and impressive. They are difficult (particularly in later chapters), Which means it is a great feeling when you finally defeat them. On the highest difficulty setting, the game is hardcore. The rooms don’t clear, and enemies don’t drop hearts. I would recommend playing on easy for those who have never played the game before.
Conclusion
Annihilator is a difficult top-down shooter with crisp 8-bit graphics, solid gameplay, and a gritty, adult story. In terms of criticisms, I would say that more variety in the levels would be a good thing, as the rooms look the same, and enemy types are slightly limited. Also, the game ramps up in difficulty in the later chapters. I know that some of these top -down shooters are hard as nails, but uneven difficulty spikes don’t make a gaming experience any better.
However, there is so much to like about Annihilator. The story has philosophical implications, and the game world is a memorable place, even though the premise is dark. The gameplay is fun and addictive, and the boss battles are impressive and probably the highlight of the experience. Annihilator isn’t for everyone, but for those who grew up on top-down shooters like Gauntlet and Alien Syndrome, it might be the best gaming experience that you have all year.
8/10
BongoBongo123 is an avid Zelda fan who also likes the odd game of Smash. His interests in gaming are broad but he loves a good Metroidvania or action RPGs.