Enemy
Mind is a game I wouldn’t have stumbled upon
had it not been for the Humble Bundle. After spending some time with it, though, I’m
glad I found it, because it ended up being an extremely unique and surprisingly
complex arcade game.
Enemy
Mind is a retro, 2D-scrolling space
shooter, a la R-Type or Gradius, complete with clean, pixelated
visuals and a chiptune soundtrack. The thing that sets Enemy Mind apart from others is that the player has the ability to
take control of any ship on the screen.
Each ship has its own unique attack, as
well as health and ammo stats. If the ammo drops to zero, the ship becomes
little more than a mobile hull, and if the hull energy is depleted, a life is
lost and you have to restart the wave.
Enemy
Mind is easy to pick up and play, but it
also provides decent challenge, especially as the game progresses. Later on,
the game could even be considered a bullet-hell shooter, as projectiles fill
the screen and you’re left to search for the smallest gaps.
The game is relatively short, being
composed of eight levels, each containing about nine waves and a boss battle.
Despite its length, both the combat and story have a surprising amount of
depth.
Players control a third party caught
between a war between humans and a hive-mind alien race. Making no official alliances in the conflict, players have to
survive attacks from both sides. Players can jump between either factions’
ships, and this is where the aforementioned depth comes into play.
Gameplay wise, when both armies’ ships
are on the screen, they will attack not only the player, but also the opposing
members. This can be advantageous by planning jumps accordingly in order keep
your enemies focused on each other, rather than you.
At the end of each wave, players are
treated to a small bit of dialogue from either the humans or the aliens.
Possessing human ships will result in radio messages from the commander, while
controlling alien ships will yield a transmission from the hive-mind.
While the main story is short, the game
has a lot of elements that will have you coming back for more. There are at
least two different endings, with a speculated hidden third ending. Alongside
the story mode is Arcade Mode, which challenges players against endless waves
of enemies, and Boss Rush mode, which give players three lives and pits them
against all of the games bosses back to back. These are unlocked after beating
the campaign.
There are also a handful of mini games
that are free to play at anytime. Another great feature is that every mode
contains its own leaderboards, for the competitive types, and optional co-op
for up to four people, for the friendly types.
Between its great style and sound,
easy-to-learn, hard-to-master gameplay, surprisingly compelling story, and
abundant replayability, Enemy Mind is
a game that does not deserve to be overlooked.
Images: Gamecola, Robin Valentine
