Chaos Field Review

Field of Dreams?

That's not to say the game is bad, because it isn't. In fact, it can be quite a lot of fun. Like with most space shooters, the concept of Chaos Field is quite simple -- shoot them before they shoot you. However, the game does feature a pair of different weapons (blasters and a sword, controlled with the B and A buttons respectively), regenerating shields (R), a lock-on feature (L) and the ability to switch between two unique modes of combat, the safer order field or the more intense chaos field, with the single push of the X or Y button. Hence the game's moniker.

So what's the difference? In order field, the action moves slower and the enemy has fewer attacks. But then, so do you. In chaos field, the action heats up considerably. You have more attacks and additional shields, but you can expect to have to deal with a lot of firepower. This is where you can rack up huge attack combos and improve your high score, but order field tends to work better for those trying to make it all the way through the game. Some argue that this game lacks strategy, but in reality, formulating an offensive or defensive attack plan and deciding which weapons to use and which field to battle help make Chaos Field more than just a simple button-masher.

Utter Chaos

Graphics are of vast importance in shoot-'em-ups, and while the visuals in this game aren't cutting edge, they are colorful and frenetic. Simply put, they get the job done, nothing more and nothing less. Likewise, the techno-beats of the background music can sometimes get your blood pumping, but they won't stick in your head once you shut the game off. Slowdown wasn't a problem at all, and the action remained fast and furious from the start of the game until the end, when either you die or the final boss does.

Said ending comes sooner than you might think. In Arcade Mode, there are only a handful of fights. Each battle puts you one-on-one against a much larger ship. Original Mode tries to shake things up a little by adding in a few waves of smaller enemies, more in line with most other offerings in this genre. Sadly, though, it feels tacked on -- kind of like a half-hearted effort. Some fans may like Chaos Field's unique take on the shooter, while others will find themselves getting bored by the repetition of battling the exact same handful of foes over and over and over again.

An Order of Mediocrity

Which brings us to one of this game's major problems -- the difficulty level. One has a hard time determining just who the game was made for. Hardcore shmup fans and veterans of games like Ikaruga and Einhander will find themselves blowing through this one like there's no tomorrow. Meanwhile, those not as well versed in twitch gaming will struggle with the fact that the game has no save function and limited continues. Thankfully, difficulty is selectable, but it can still quickly grow into a tiresome exercise for gamers who can either finish the game without batting an eye or constantly fall to the same enemy time and time again -- say, as an example, the first battle of the fourth level. Hypothetically speaking, of course.

Last Word

In the end, Chaos Field is a good rental. It's the kind of game you can pick up for 15-20 minutes at a time, make a run through it as far as you can, and feel content with the time spent. Yet, it just doesn't have the lasting value to make it worthy of a purchase. Before too long, most gamers will either get bored or frustrated to the point where it simply isn't that much fun to play anymore. Not to mention the fact that, despite the shrinking number of shooters released in the States these days, there are other yet vastly superior products available. Pick this one up only if you're a die-hard shmup fanatic.