I’m a fan of inspired “shmups,” or shoot-em-ups. There’s something about you fighting against an army, using special tools of the trade to eradicate them completely. I could sit here and spend all day listing favorites, but Polygon Bird’s Birdcage is right up there with the best ones I’ve seen over the past few months.
Originally introduced on Steam a while back, Eastasiasoft has finally brought the game to consoles – and for the very reasonable price tag of $14.99. For such a low price tag, you really get a lot of bang for your buck. Not to mention the advantages you get out of the gameplay, in which there are quite a few. In fact, this one could easily sit next to Treasure’s masterpiece Radiant Silvergun without breaking a sweat. It’s that good.
In the game, you take control of the RADON gunship HALCYON. It’s capable of firing a multitude of bullets, but the real weapon here is your sword. You can actually activate this with the press of a button, and either fire it like a projectile or swivel it around you like a bullet shield. The twin stick controls give you plenty of options as well, as you can manually aim the sword for throwing or simply let it hit whoever it’s targeting. The end result is still satisfying, and adds a gameplay element missing from most “shmups.”
Of course, the action across the six stages never lets up, concluding with some of the best boss battles I’ve seen in a shooter lately. These are multi-layered freaks that fire off bullets like water from a fountain. But with the right amount of savvy, you’ll live to fight another day.
The game does come to an end all too soon, and the narrative is…a bit odd. I mean, these characters are great and all, but the story isn’t quite all there. Still, considering the fantasy narrative, it’s not terrible either.
But the real depth comes from replaying the stages through different modes. Story Mode, obviously, lets you see what’s happening with RADON and the people within it. Arcade Mode skips the nitty-gritty and jumps right into high-scoring fever. And Score Attack is excellent, allowing you to build the highest point value possible within a certain time frame. And, yes, there are online leaderboards.
As for Birdcage’s presentation, it absolutely kicks. Like the Steam version before it, the console versions hold up quite well. The visual layout definitely has some Silvergun-like inspirations, but it’s the speed, enemy layout and stage design that really pop off the screen. In fact, the later stages are some of my favorites, so you’ll enjoy what you see when you eventually get to them. This game is just as joyful to watch as it is to play.
Then there’s the music, which I also think is great. I didn’t quite catch the name of the composer, but they do a tremendous job capturing the tone of war within each stage. Plus the sound effects are really good, especially the explosions that come from each blissful destruction.
So, yes, Birdcage is a must-play. Could more have been done with the story? Perhaps. But for a mere $15, you get a lot of value here. Not to mention it’s paradise for high-score achievers looking to show off their skills. I love it on Steam and I love it on consoles, and something tells me you will, too.
Does this score the GTM Burton seal of approval? Absolutely. It’s one of the year’s best.
Thanks to Eastasiasoft for providing a review code!
