Review

Sine Mora (Vita)

Let me begin by saying I’m stoked to be reviewing my first Vita title. Kenny and I have been conversing about titles on the Vita and if it was worth buying the system. Well thankfully the Vita is starting to bring the fire and Sine Mora is one of its embers!

Sine Mora is a side scrolling arcade shooter that seems to take place in an alternate war time. Though the planes look WW2 like, they have awesome weapons and time control powers. Gamers will embark on a quest for revenge and the honor of a destroyed country. This includes flying through different levels at superfast speeds all while battling waves of enemies. Honestly, it’s a sight to see. Speaking of which, the graphics on the Vita version of this game were surprisingly beautiful. It still has higher definition quality than any other handheld I’ve seen, even though it may not be as crisp as the console arcade versions. Every map and enemy looks awesome. The bosses are gorgeous; you can really see the emphasis the developers put into each boss fight.

While on the subject of bosses, they are easily some of the most difficult I have ever played in a game of this genre. The gameplay is what you would expect from a side scrolling aerial shooter. Of course it’s all about how well you can maneuver around bullets while shooting enemies simultaneously. The power ups on display should be familiar to anyone who’s played this type of game before (like increased firepower, shields, missiles, etc.). What really sets this game apart is the ability to control time. You are given a bar that allows the slowing of time, making it easier to maneuver through parts of the level as well as avoid some heavy fire from enemies. Proper use of time is a must…you know, if you don’t like being blown out of the sky.

The sound quality in this game is decent at best. Though the characters are speaking a language I don’t understand, no matter what they are saying, it always sounds aggressive. It would have been nice to have some unique voice overs for these animal-looking characters; might have given a better sense of their individual personalities. I think Grasshopper missed a good chance to pay homage to the great Star Fox titles by adding some cool voices to this strange cast. When it comes to the soundtrack, it’s what you’d expect from this type of game (again, decent but nothing special).

Sine Mora is a great addition to the Vita lineup and can be extremely addictive. Each level is harder than the next and more fun than the last. This is an easy pickup for anyone who wants that nostalgic arcade feel on the handheld. So get out there and wreak havoc in the skies!