In 2021, there are plenty of games attempting to recapture the feeling of difficult, quarter-guzzling arcade cabinet adventures, from the ever-popular Shovel Knight to recent games like Cyber Shadow. However, there are few that turn back the clock quite as much as Golden Force, a side-scrolling action-platformer from French developer Storybird Games that laughs in the face of modern convenience and presents a captivating retro gauntlet.
Players take up the role of one of four adventurers on the high seas, each with larger than life weaponry and a penchant for gold. The titular Golden Force accepts a contract to rid a series of islands from invading demonic creatures, setting up 22 levels of clearing out enemies and leaping across spike pits. The choice of characters seems to only affect aesthetics since each hero plays the same way, which is certainly a missed opportunity. Still, the unique design of both the main crew and their antagonists really comes alive thanks to the excellent pixel art on display.
Each level is full of sharp, colorful sprites that pops off the screen. From a dragon with a full head of hair dashing toward victory to a giant shark submarine, players won't get bored of anything Golden Force throws at them. The animations of everything from running forward and enemies leaping out of the ground all the way to massive bosses winding up their attacks are distinctive and cartoony. Furthermore, each new level has players discovering great visual surprises, all while jaunty chiptunes propel players forward and perfectly compliment the action. The full package creates an impressive overall presentation that really elevates the game beyond the ordinary retro throwback.
Golden Force doesn't shine as brightly in its gameplay, although it's less in the execution and more in what's being presented. This is a game seemingly proud to shun any advancement in the genre since the days of blowing into cartridges, meaning that combat is a straightforward and sometimes frustrating gameplay affair. There are cheap hits from enemies who charge in at all angles, including directly below the player, while bullet hell-esque boss fights challenge a player's focus with four or five different attack patterns running simultaneously. It's a lot to keep track of.
Players have no option to block incoming fire and few options to parry, making maneuverability the only true way to avoid attacks reliably. However, attacks are short range with very few options for a projectile. In practice, this means players have to rush in for a few strikes, dodge back and jump around damaging blows, and then repeat the motion a few dozen times to take down the biggest foes - all while surviving with five hit points in total and scant few power-up opportunities. It's doable with trial and error, but it doesn't have the same satisfaction of the more difficult but fair options in the genre as of late.
It's also worth mentioning that Golden Force runs into consistent slowdown issues on Nintendo Switch, particularly in larger areas where the camera zooms out and tries to fit more coins and enemies on-screen. It was a regular occurrence throughout many levels, which could be either a nostalgic throwback to an era of unoptimized gaming or a frustrating way to die and warp back to the start of a stage. Either way, it might be worth it to seek out the game on more powerful gaming platforms just for a smoother overall experience.
While games like Shovel Knight utilize the rose-tinted memories of retro gaming to full effect, Golden Force delivers the white-knuckle reality. For those who regularly replay older games, Golden Force will feel right at home and take some time to fully master. For those who are just looking for a good time, the game is harder to recommend simply because of the frustration inherent in progressing through it.
Golden Force will be available on January 28 on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. A Switch code was provided to Screen Rant for the purposes of this review.