Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

The first few minutes of Elevator Action: Deluxe are all about learning to respect the elevator. It is your route between floors, your escape plan, and often the thing that gets you trapped when guards close in. You duck behind doors to stay out of sight, pop back into the corridor to collect secret documents, and try to keep moving before a straightforward stealth job becomes a frantic shootout.

That push and pull gives the game its bite. A handgun handles the basic guard problem, while later pickups such as the machine gun, rocket, and lasers turn tense corridors into more aggressive arcade encounters. The important part is not simply shooting; it is deciding when to expose yourself, when to hide, and when an elevator ride is safer than trying to force your way across a floor.

Fifty campaign stages is generous for a premise this compact, and the changing skyscraper, hotel, and factory locations at least give the climb a different backdrop. The downside is that the central loop does not dramatically evolve, so repetition can set in if you want every stage to feel like a new idea. Local play for up to four people helps considerably: cooperative runs add welcome chaos, while competitive play gives the familiar race for progress and survival a sharper edge. The included original Elevator Action arcade game is also a smart extra, letting you jump from the remake back to the stripped-down source.

Graphics

The remake puts 3D polygonal characters and buildings on a 2D side-view plane. Elevators, doors, floors, guards, and weapon fire remain arranged around the clear, classic structure, while the skyscraper, hotel, and factory settings provide more variety than a single repeating tower.

Story

This is espionage reduced to the useful arcade essentials. You are a spy entering buildings, stealing secret documents, and escaping; that is enough to give every descent and elevator stop a purpose.

Do not come in expecting a densely written spy thriller. The story exists to frame the action, and the real drama comes from the moment a guarded floor forces you to improvise your route.

That simplicity suits the game. The mission is always easy to understand, so you can focus on the practical question that matters most: can you get the remaining documents and still make it out?

Overall Experience

Elevator Action: Deluxe is a faithful arcade-minded remake rather than a reinvention. Its best moments arrive when hiding, shooting, and elevator timing all collide and you narrowly keep a run alive.

The campaign’s length is a double-edged sword. There is plenty to play, but the core idea can feel stretched when you are not in the mood for another round of similar building-by-building infiltration. A shorter session, or a few people on the couch, is where it is easiest to appreciate.

At a 6/10, it is a decent recommendation for fans of old-school action who value a crisp, uncomplicated challenge over novelty. Give it a chance if the original’s premise still sounds irresistible and you want more stages plus multiplayer; skip it if you need the campaign to keep reinventing itself.

Retro Replay Score

6/10