Core, blimey!
Lost classic proves a surprisingly enjoyable blast from the past for veteran gamers
ULTRACORE (PEGI 7) PS4, Switch, PSV ★★★★★
THE saying goes that some things are worth waiting for ... and in this case we’ve been waiting a very long time.
When Psygnosis of Liverpool was first planning for the release of Ultracore (then titled Hardcore) in 1994, I was sitting in a school gym over the River Mersey doing my GCSEs.
But while I completed my exams – with varying degrees of success – Hardcore was quietly shelved, just months from completion, with Psygnosis fearing the 16-bit Sega Genesis game wouldn’t be able to hold its own against Sony’s new kid on the block – the PlayStation, and the 32-bit gaming goodness it offered.
They were probably right. But now, riding on the crest of a wave for retro gaming, Ultracore has been salvaged from the scrap heap by German publisher Strictly Limited Games.
It’s always been considered a title that got away, with various videos of its gameplay being leaked over the years, but it was still a shock when it was announced in 2018 that there were plans to finish and release the mythical run-and-gunner.
ININ Games – which has a fierce reputation for releasing feel-good retro and arcade games – called in a little help from some of the game’s original development team at Swedish studio DICE.
The title was lovingly completed using an original Sega Genesis development kit and ported for the new generation consoles.
Now called Ultracore (there were licensing issues around the original Hardcore name), the result is a beautiful, mid-90s experience which I imagine will be a bigger hit with gamers of a certain age.
The heady wave of nostalgia that hits when the game starts is palpable, that mix of chirpy, chip music, blocky 2D graphics and side-scrolling action transported me back to my teenage years.
As with most games of that era, there’s little to no plot here. You play as a soldier whose base has been overrun by killer robots intent on taking over the world.
You have to find and defeat the robots’ leader, Vance, and thwart his attack.
Gameplay is just as hard as games of that age used to be, the first few levels lulling you into a false sense of security as you easily dispatch the waves of enemies that attack. You’d think having to defend in front and behind would make life easier – but you’d be wrong, and if you don’t keep your finger on the trigger you’ll soon find yourself overpowered.
The problem is that in order to shoot behind you, the character has to stop in their tracks and turn around to commence firing. It’s an action which takes seconds, but when every precious second counts it did cost me lives on numerous occasions.
Timing is also something which is crucial during the game’s platforming levels – the familiar increase in heart rate as you count out the seconds you have to make the jump, and inevitably get kersplatted.
Discovering Ultracore made me feel a little like a lazy Lara Croft (minus the vast wealth and intellect) rediscovering a gaming artefact that had been lost to the sands of time from the comfort of my living room.
I could see the novelty of Ultracore would wear thin on younger gamers, its basic game mechanics and frustratingly hard action making it more trouble than it’s worth.
But I loved every second of it, a wonderful title that captures the feel of a far more innocent time.
It’s always been considered a title that got away, with various videos of its gameplay being leaked over the years...
Buy it: £15.99 from store.playstation.com/