Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Astro Fang: Super Machine delivers a high-octane racing experience set on the ominous Black Line highway of planet RS-121. From the moment you take control of Riber’s sleek vehicle, the game tests your reflexes and decision-making. You’ll weave between rival racers determined to shove you off the road, forcing you to master both evasive maneuvers and aggressive tactics.

The pseudo-3D perspective creates a thrilling sense of speed and depth, with sharp turns, sudden obstacles, and looming rivals that emerge from the horizon. Pressing Down to shrink your car becomes a critical skill—timing your compression perfectly can mean the difference between skidding off the edge and maintaining top speed. Meanwhile, your limited supply of missiles adds a strategic layer: should you save them for desperate situations or use them to clear a path in tighter sections?

Between races, the scattered repair and upgrade shops along the Black Line provide brief but vital reprieves. Earned credits let you reinforce armor, boost engine performance, or improve your missile capacity. These progression elements ensure that each successful run not only feels rewarding in the moment but also prepares you for increasingly deadly competitions ahead.

Graphics

Visually, Astro Fang leans into a retro-futuristic aesthetic that blends vibrant colors with stark, desolate backdrops. The barren landscapes of RS-121 stretch out in looped tile maps, punctuated by jagged rock formations and the occasional crumbling outpost. Despite the simple geometry, the game’s parallax scrolling and dynamic roadside hazards keep the scenery from feeling repetitive.

Vehicle sprites are crisply animated, with exhaust flames and smoke trails that flicker convincingly at high speeds. When using missiles or suffering collisions, the screen shudders and flashes, heightening the impact of each crash or explosion. These effects may look modest by modern standards, but they stoke the tension in every race.

Lighting and color palettes shift subtly as you progress farther along the Black Line, transitioning from dusty oranges to cold blues and ominous purples. This progression reflects the changing environment—and the escalating difficulty—while maintaining a coherent visual identity that’s both stylish and functional.

Story

The narrative in Astro Fang is lean but compelling. RS-121 is a planet devastated by catastrophic events, leaving only the Black Line as a testament to a lost civilization. Whispers of an ancient legend tied to this highway add a layer of mystery to each race, driving your character Riber to uncover hidden truths.

Riber’s motivations are hinted at through sparse in-race dialogue and atmospheric cutscenes: part adventurer, part thrill-seeker, he’s drawn by both the promise of fame and the allure of discovering the Black Line’s secrets. This minimal storytelling approach keeps the focus on gameplay while still providing enough context to invest players emotionally in each victory or setback.

Encounters with rival drivers occasionally reveal snippets of their own backstories, whether it’s a challenger seeking redemption or a mercenary aiming for the largest payday. These brief interactions peppered throughout the game enrich the mythos around RS-121 and lend personality to the otherwise stark highway.

Overall Experience

Astro Fang: Super Machine strikes a satisfying balance between arcade-style thrills and strategic depth. The core racing loop—dodge, attack, upgrade—remains engaging through dozens of stages, with each new segment of the Black Line introducing fresh hazards and rival behaviors. The sense of risk is never far from the player’s mind, making each checkpoint feel like a hard-won achievement.

While the graphics and narrative are intentionally retro, they serve the fast-paced gameplay elegantly. The limited missile supply and vehicle shrinking mechanic add strategic layers that differentiate Astro Fang from more straightforward racers. For players seeking a vintage-flavored challenge with modern polish, this game hits the mark.

Whether you’re drawn in by the mystery of RS-121’s legend or simply craving heart-pounding races on a futuristic highway, Astro Fang: Super Machine offers a memorable ride. Just be prepared: one wrong move on the Black Line, and you might discover just how deadly this ancient thoroughfare can be.

Retro Replay Score

null/10