Rogue Flight’s release trailer immediately drew me in with its VHS effects. These carefully simulated signs of wear and tear, along with a hint of 80s and 90s piracy, are a real call to action for fans of anime from the era. This is just one of the many nostalgic audiovisual references that developers at Truant Pixel and publishers at Perp Games have lovingly incorporated into this game. Rogue Flight is a stylized, cel-shaded arcade space shooter, reminiscent of titles like StarFox, Galaxy Force II, and SoulStar, as well as anime classics like Gunbuster and Macross (aka Robotech). It’s impressive what this small studio from Ohio has accomplished.
The story of the game is as classic as it gets. Hundreds of years in the future, ARGUS, an artificial intelligence tasked with keeping the peace, becomes aware and turns human weaponry against its creators, forcing the remaining humanity to seek refuge deep beneath the Earth’s surface. While hiding underground, ex-Commander Griffin Dawes and scientist Mason Sul discover a secret facility and the blueprints for a weapon that could turn the tide of battle in humanity’s favor.
Three years later, humanity returns with one last desperate plan to destroy ARGUS. The plan involves an experimental starfighter, called The Arrow, and the skills of talented young pilot Nadia Sawas. But will that be enough?
Flying in Rogue Flight is reminiscent of piloting Fox McCloud’s Arwing in StarFox, but here players use the left analog stick to control both the Arrow’s movement and targeting enemies via the large scope. This means that the player is guiding the Arrow more than directly piloting it, following the trajectory of the crosshairs. The advantage of this system is that the view is not riveted to the fighter’s engines, but allows observing dynamic movements and avoiding enemy fire from different angles. The downside is a slight delay in movement, which can make it difficult to avoid obstacles or enemy fire.
Although Rogue Flight is a 3D shooter with third-person and cockpit options, the optional weapon selection can make it feel like a classic top-down shmup game. In addition to the main Vulcan cannon and Macross- and Afterburner-inspired “lazy missiles,” other power-ups are revealed during missions. But to unlock them for later mods, players must survive and successfully collect them.
Collecting these power-ups carries some risk. You must first destroy the enemy robot carrying them, then either approach the item or use Arrow’s Vortex ability to attract them. During this process the Arrow slows down, becoming vulnerable to enemy fire. Later in the game, you can unlock powerful weapons like the Wave Cannon that deflects enemy fire, the Lightning Cannon that fires electrically charged plasma, the Laser Cannon that deals precision damage and drains the energy of shields, and Seraph drones that increase the damage of the main weapon.
Arrow also has two special attacks for when things get too chaotic. Wingtrail is a 360-degree maneuver that slows down time and creates a shockwave that cuts through waves of enemies. Boost mode speeds up movement and repels incoming fire. Like shields, both abilities recharge quickly through a string of combo kills.
All ship and weapon performance can be further improved through the Modulus Component Upgrade System, which allows the application of aero and tactical modifications to the Arrow. These upgrades are unlocked by playing at higher difficulty levels and completing various achievements.
Rogue Flight is not a game that punishes players like classic bullet-hell titles. With a wide arsenal and mods that are gradually unlocked through multiple playthroughs, the game encourages players to dive right into the action. Stringing combo kills restores shield energy, and barrel roll maneuvers nullify damage from enemy bullets.
The main campaign offers a map of star systems with three branching paths: Alpha (α), Beta (β) and Gamma (γ). Players will want to explore all three paths to unlock the New Game+ mode, which features the “true” ending, as well as the more challenging Rogueflite and Rogueflite+ modes, with additional weapon modifiers and cosmetics.
While Rogue Flight’s story may not be among the best anime or sci-fi plots, some of the mission explanations given by Mason and Griffin come across as techno-jargon. However, it is clear that the authors draw on influences from the 80s and 90s.
The story of a brave pilot and his ship fighting against insurmountable obstacles never gets old (eg The Last Starfighter, SoulStar). At the same time, the quiet horror of infinite space and the perils of interdimensional travel evoke the sense of existential dread I feel every time I look up at the stars (eg Gunbuster, Macross). If this resonates with you, Rogue Flight is the game for you.
The game’s VHS-era anime-inspired audiovisuals are gorgeous, and the attention to detail charms at every turn. For example, Nadia’s 3D model in Picture-in-Picture view reacts in real time to explosions and sudden movements. The sound of debris and rocks hitting the ship’s hull while passing through the Badlands adds a sense of urgency and intensity. There’s even an unlockable RETRO MODE, which turns all sounds and graphics into 16-bit style, with pixelated character portraits, a PCM soundtrack and raspy vocals.
The music for the game is composed by the duo Fat Bard, with vocal contributions from Rinn. and Itoki Hana. The soundtrack combines Japanese butt rock, electronica, EDM and J-Pop, perfectly harmonizing the action moments. The song for the Badlands level is a particular standout.
Aside from aiming issues and a few minor frustrations, Rogue Flight’s gameplay is solid. Using a DualSense Edge controller or similar programmable controller can help with the awkward layout of controls. Also, some enemies hide off-screen and prolong fights. Still, all tiers would benefit from being cut by a third.
In the end, all boss fighters deserve a big, satisfying StarFox-style explosion – no exceptions!
At just $19.99, Rogue Flight is the perfect impulse buy for fans of top-down shmup games and space shooters that evoke nostalgia for anime and sci-fi titles from the 80s and 90s.
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