I’d like to take a moment to speak up for Boom. I’m probably a textbook example of someone who truly admires shoot-’em-ups but simply isn’t very good at playing them. In Katakis I fail before even reaching the first boss, and in Metal Dust I’m lucky if I make it past the first big asteroid. Joystick acrobatics just aren’t my strength. I usually prefer strategy, exploration, or puzzle-solving without time pressure — in other words, the exact opposite of what classic shoot-’em-ups tend to demand. And yet, I supported Boom by buying it. What has been achieved here is genuinely impressive.
I personally went for the boxed edition. Unboxing it was a joy. The package is beautifully designed, the manual presents itself as a stylish “Pilot’s Guide,” there’s an SD card, strictly confidential bonus material (which I probably shouldn’t elaborate on), a poster, a photo of the coders — which, by the way, I took myself at DoReCo — and of course the cartridge containing the heavily enhanced version of the game. I plugged it in right away. Even though the game’s origins go back many years, everything feels surprisingly fresh. Great music, no loading times, and the right atmosphere from the very first second.
That said, all of this is just the lovely packaging around it. What really matters is the game itself — and that’s exactly the same experience you get with the download version.
As a non-expert in this genre, I naturally chose “Easy” mode — and off the mission goes. On my very first attempt, I reached the end of the first level and even defeated the boss. Oh yeah! A small personal victory. I didn’t get far into level two on my first try, but still.
The game is extremely well balanced. On “Easy,” even players like me can progress quite far without using trainers or cheats. It remains challenging, but never frustrating. That allows me to explore the levels, appreciate the graphics, enjoy the soundtrack, and really take in all the action happening on screen.
So I can wholeheartedly recommend this game. If you’re a true joystick virtuoso, you can tackle “Insane.” That enables the original version, which is truly insane to master. Everyone else can choose “Easy,” “Medium,” or “Hard.” That way, anyone can support and enjoy this project with a clear conscience, regardless of their individual skill level in this genre. The extensive modifications of the original game were absolutely the right call. It makes the game playable for guys like me. And the true joystick acrobats can still choose the "insane" level and save the universe this way.