Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Raid 2020 delivers a classic side-scrolling action experience that will feel immediately familiar to fans of retro shooters, yet fresh enough for modern audiences. As Shadow, the elite narc, you navigate a series of hazardous environments, from ruined city streets to high-security drug labs, all while dispatching Pit Bull’s brainwashed minions. The core combat loop revolves around precise movement, strategic weapon selection, and split-second reactions to traps like exploding mines and laser grids.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

One of the game’s strongest points is the weapon variety. Throughout each level, you can upgrade your standard pistol to rapid-fire submachine guns, energy rifles, or even experimental plasma launchers. Each armament comes with its own recoil patterns, ammo constraints, and special abilities, encouraging you to adapt your playstyle on the fly. Finding the right combination of weapons for tight corridors or open battlefields adds a rewarding layer of tactical depth.

Level design keeps you on your toes by mixing frenetic combat arenas with precision-platforming sections. You’ll leap over electrified floors, dodge swinging pendulums, and time wall-jumps to avoid turret fire. While some may find the difficulty spike a bit steep in later stages, the game’s checkpoint system is generous enough to let you retry sections quickly without losing hard-earned upgrades. This balance of challenge and accessibility ensures Raid 2020 remains engaging from start to finish.

Graphics

Raid 2020 embraces a vibrant, neon-infused pixel art style that captures the gritty, futuristic setting of a world under Pit Bull’s oppressive rule. Character sprites are detailed, with fluid animations that bring each soldier, cyborg, and mutant guard to life. Explosions pack a satisfying punch, and the varied color palettes for different zones—from rusted industrial complexes to rain-soaked streets—lend each stage its own distinct personality.

The background layers are surprisingly rich, often featuring parallax scrolling that gives depth to the environments. You might spot distant billboards flickering with propaganda, or glimpse clandestine labs through shattered windows. Occasional weather effects, like acid rain drizzling in toxic green or flickering electricity arcing across rooftop antennas, further immerse you in this dystopian vision of 2020.

Performance remains rock-solid throughout even the most hectic encounters. There’s virtually no slowdown when dozens of enemies, projectiles, and explosive hazards fill the screen. This technical stability is crucial for maintaining the precise timing Raid 2020 demands. Whether you’re on a high-end console or a modest PC setup, the game’s graphics settings let you fine-tune resolution and frame-rate options without sacrificing visual flair.

Story

Despite its arcade-style gameplay, Raid 2020 weaves a surprisingly engaging narrative. The premise is straightforward: Earth has fallen under the sway of Pit Bull, a ruthless druglord whose brainwashed followers enforce his reign of terror. You step into the boots of Shadow, a lone operative with clandestine training and a personal vendetta. It’s a classic “underdog versus overlord” tale, but the gritty near-future setting gives it fresh urgency.

Story beats unfold through brief but impactful cutscenes that transition seamlessly into gameplay. You’ll witness Shadow infiltrate fortified compounds, rescue captured civilians, and gather intelligence on Pit Bull’s dark experiments. These interludes strike the right balance of exposition without bogging down the action, and well-placed voiceover snippets add a cinematic sheen.

Character development is lean but effective. Shadow’s motivations emerge organically as you learn more about the druglord’s hold on society, and side characters—like the rebellious scientist who provides your upgrades—add emotional stakes. The final confrontation with Pit Bull ties the narrative threads together in a satisfying climax, making your victory feel genuinely hard-won.

Overall Experience

Raid 2020 shines as a modern homage to classic side-scrolling action games, combining tight controls, diverse weaponry, and pulse-pounding level design. It strikes an effective balance between challenge and reward, ensuring that each failed attempt teaches you something new about enemy patterns or environmental hazards. The game’s pacing never lags, with fresh mechanics and enemy types introduced at regular intervals.

While its story is relatively straightforward, the dystopian 2020 setting and well-crafted world-building elevate the overall package. Visually, the neon-soaked pixel art and dynamic backgrounds immerse you in the struggle against Pit Bull’s regime, and the sound design—complete with gritty synth tracks and impactful gunfire—amplifies the tension of every firefight.

For fans of side-scrollers seeking a challenging solo adventure, Raid 2020 is a compelling entry. It respects its retro roots while injecting modern sensibilities in level variety and progression systems. Whether you’re driven by nostalgia or simply looking for a robust, action-packed journey, Shadow’s mission to dethrone Pit Bull is well worth undertaking.

Retro Replay Score

null/10