Cotton Reboot Review (PlayStation 4)

by Jim Smale · August 3, 2021

For our Cotton Reboot Review, we take on Japan’s favorite shooter mascot as she finds her way into a beautiful HD game with stunning graphics and remixed soundtracks. This is the original “Cute ‘em up”, and will test your skills as well as tug on the heartstrings as Cotton and her friends are finally back in the ultimate celebration of one of Japan’s most beloved gaming mascots.

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Cotton Reboot Review Pros:

Pixel art graphics.
2.85GB download size.
Platinum trophy.
Works on Playstation 5.
Shmup gameplay.
Game settings – player lives (1-9), 3 difficulties (easy/normal/hard), event demo, event demo language, and online ranking.
Can rebind controls.
Soundtrack – arranged or X68000.
Three game modes – arrange mode, X68000, and time attack.
Online leaderboards with filters for game modes and difficulties.
Time attack has 2 minute and 5-minute variations.
Arrange mode has the 3 difficulties.
X68000 has 5 difficulties – normal, hard, hardest, you do! and beep Ed.
The game manual is your text and images based tutorial for the game.
Silk – unlockable character by finishing arrange.
Crystal drop from enemies and you shoot them to change the color. Colors correspond to which magic attacks you level up and make them stronger or they grant more exp or higher scores.
Getting hit resets your shot power but collecting the right crystals will build it up.
You only have two buttons – fire shots and magic, fire shots also do Bombs, and depending on if you hold down shoot or tap will determine the shots that come out.
Fairies – rescue them from jars in the level and you can have a total of six to fight alongside you.
Mid-level and end of level boss fights.
In-game cutscenes.
Can skip cutscenes.
The X68000 mode is the original game with a Chiptune soundtrack, classic graphics, and less modern mechanics.
X68000 has a sound test option menu.
Supports playing with either the stick or d-pad.
As you level up the magic with crystals your shot style changes.

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Cotton Reboot Review Cons:

Character selection is done in the game settings.
Can get hard to distinguish what’s an enemy projectile.
Boss fights can get tricky.
Levels can get cramped.
Controls do feel a bit too sensitive.
Dealing with enemies behind you is a nightmare.

Related Post: Chernobylite Review (Steam)

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Cotton Reboot:

Official website.

Developer: ININ | ININ Games

Publisher: ININ | ININ Games

Store Links –

PlayStation

Nintendo

8/10
Graphics - 8/10
8/10
Sound - 8/10
8/10
Accessibility - 8/10
8/10
Length - 8/10
8/10
Fun Factor - 8/10

8/10

Summary

Cotton Reboot is a Shmup that originally came out in the early 90s. This version allows you to play the game as it was back then complete with the Chiptune soundtrack. Or you can play the actual reboot which is the same game but with a lot of modern perks like cutsier graphics, better controls, a lot more enemies, and so on. What makes Cotton Reboot unique is the crystals system, you shoot crystals that drop from enemies to change their color, the color then matches a magic or gun style that changes how you shoot, you can also shoot crystals to boost your score or rack up quick exp that’s needed for better weapons and drops. It sounds a bit weird but once you get your head around it, it’s a fascinating idea that has you playing long after the short story playthrough. Cotton Reboot is a lot of fun to play, it caters to both old and new players along with some excellent bosses and enemy animations. You may finish the main story in like half an hour but it will be one hell of a half hour! It’s the crystals tho man, you come back for their crystals and try new stats to climb the leaderboards. At times the game suffers from the fact you can only shoot one way despite being able to move around freely, enemies behind be a prime example of how it breaks the system, other than that they manage to Cram a lot of action into a small space without ever making it feel claustrophobic and that should be applauded. In short Cotton, Reboot is an excellent little Shmup but it’s definitely geared towards score chasers rather than casuals due to the limited story and modes for that style.