MACROSS: Shooting Insight Review
MACROSS: Shooting Insight doesn’t have much to offer shooter fans who aren’t fans of the series.
MACROSS: Shooting Insight. Credit: Red Art Games / Kaminari Games, Bushiroad
Red Art Games has launched MACROSS: Shooting Insight in the West, following its exclusive release in Japan by developer Kaminari Games and publisher Bushiroad. This marks the first time a game from the Macross series has been officially released on consoles in the West. Shooting Insight is a shoot ‘em up (SHMUP) that features an original story and incorporates characters from across the decades-long Macross franchise.
The game features pilots, songstresses, and various other characters from across five different Macross series: Macross Plus, Macross Zero, Macross 7, Macross Frontier, and Macross Delta. These characters find themselves transported through dimensional rifts to the Battle 7. Depending on the pilot you choose, one of five unique stories unfolds.
MACROSS: Shooting Insight. Credit: Red Art Games / Kaminari Games, Bushiroad
The game’s levels feeature sidescrolling, vertical scrolling, and 360° top-down sequences. Each pilot comes equipped with different weapons, but the gameplay remains consistent: you move, shoot, dodge, or lock onto enemies to fire homing missiles. Additionally, a Support Strike gauge fills as you play, allowing you to unleash an all-out, screen-filling attack when it’s full. Shooting Insight doesn’t introduce anything particularly innovative or groundbreaking for SHMUP gameplay; none of the features significantly alter the typical experience. In fact, the gameplay feels quite generic, and I quickly lost interest, even though the game presents a considerable challenge.
The new release introduces a feature that allows players to heal between levels, which is a welcome addition for those struggling with the game's challenging arcadestyle difficulty. Additionally, players can now continue from the last stage they reached before getting a "Game Over.”
The graphics look outdated. The game could have been released two console generations ago and looked the same. After playing the gorgeous CYGNI: All Guns Blazing from KeelWorks and Konami, it’s evident there could have been a lot more done to make the game a more immersive and satisfying sensory experience. Clearly, it would have taken a larger budget; it feels like Shooting Insight is just trying to skate by on the strength of its IP.
If you’re a fan of the Macross series, Shooting Insight may be worth checking out. However, be warned that outside of the franchise-centric features, there isn’t much meat in the game and you may leave dissatisfied if you’re looking for the next great SHMUP, especially for its high price tag.
MACROSS: Shooting Insight is available now on PlayStation 4/5 and Nintendo Switch.
Overall Score: 4/10
Played on: PlayStation 5
