Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

E.S.P. delivers a fast-paced side-scrolling shooter experience that will appeal to fans of classic arcade action. You pilot a nimble, robot-like flying device through a series of increasingly challenging stages, blasting your way through swarms of both organic and mechanical foes. The core mechanics feel tight and responsive: you can move in all four cardinal directions while carefully adjusting your firing angle to tackle enemies at different heights and distances.

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One of the game’s most notable features is its single, multifunctional power-up represented by a floating letter “P.” Grabbing this icon not only extends the range of your primary fire but also grants you a secondary weapon—blue spheres that can be angled independently. This dual-weapon system adds strategic depth, as you’ll often need to position yourself just right to unleash coordinated attacks from both arms of your arsenal.

The absence of a conventional health bar means each hit is instantly fatal, sending you back to the very start of the stage. While that might sound punishing, unlimited continues soften the blow, encouraging players to learn enemy patterns and stage layouts through repeated attempts. Boss encounters in particular demand a memorization of attack sequences and precise timing for dodges and counterattacks, creating a high-stakes puzzle-like tension that keeps each run engaging.

Graphics

E.S.P. showcases hand-drawn sprites with a distinct retro flair. The robotic device you control is rendered in crisp detail, and enemy designs cleverly blend biological motifs—such as slug-like creatures or insectoid drones—with mechanical parts like gears and missile turrets. The result is a menagerie of adversaries that feel varied despite the game’s generally limited color palette.

Stage backgrounds are kept relatively simple, focusing your attention on the foreground action. You’ll glide over barren alien landscapes, industrial complexes, and alien cocoons, each environment switching up the visual tone just enough to stay fresh. The parallax scrolling effect is modest but effective, adding depth without distracting from the relentless onslaught of enemies.

Perhaps the most jarring graphical inclusion comes after each level: an unrelated erotic still of a young girl. Not only does this break immersion, it also raises serious questions about the game’s presentation and intended audience. Technically, these images are sharp and clear, but their thematic incongruence with the sci-fi shooter gameplay can be unsettling and off-putting for many players.

Story

In the traditional sense, E.S.P. offers virtually no narrative to guide you. There’s no introductory sequence, character backstory, or overarching plot to uncover. You inhabit a flying combat unit simply identified by its role—to eliminate waves of hostile forces and overcome each stage’s bosses. This stripped-down approach keeps the focus squarely on pure gameplay rather than lore or world-building.

The game’s lack of connective tissue between levels means you’ll rarely pause to wonder “why” you’re fighting. Progression is signified only by advancing to the next stage and by the appearance of that offbeat erotic illustration at the end of each mission. Rather than developing a cohesive story, the game seems content to intersperse arbitrary risqué visuals that have no narrative link to the action you just completed.

While some players may enjoy a shooter that doesn’t bog them down with lengthy cut-scenes or expository dialogue, the sudden juxtaposition of adult-themed images can feel like a disjointed afterthought. If you’re seeking a shooter with a fully realized sci-fi storyline or memorable characters, you may find E.S.P.’s narrative void and peculiar presentation frustrating rather than refreshing.

Overall Experience

E.S.P. is, at its heart, a throwback to the heyday of arcades—simple to pick up, brutally challenging, and reliant on player perseverance rather than immersive storytelling. The core shooting mechanics are solid, the power-up system adds an extra layer of strategy, and the boss battles deliver a satisfying test of memorization and reflexes. If you thrive on mastering tight, no-frills shooters, you’ll appreciate what this game offers.

That said, the game’s most controversial element—the erotic end-of-stage images—casts a long shadow over an otherwise competent shooter. These unrelated pictures can be distracting, raise age-rating concerns, and leave you questioning the developer’s intentions. In a genre already crowded with memorable and well-polished titles, E.S.P. risks being overshadowed by its own puzzling content choices.

Ultimately, E.S.P. is best approached with tempered expectations. Go in for the challenging, angle-based shooting action and the addictive memorization of enemy patterns. But be prepared for an experience that eschews narrative cohesion and includes content that some players will undoubtedly find uncomfortable. If you can look past its odd presentation quirks, you’ll find a shooter that offers solid arcade thrills—but don’t say we didn’t warn you about the unexpected artistic detours.

Retro Replay Score

null/10