Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Ultraverse Prime delivers a classic side-scrolling brawler experience that will immediately feel familiar to fans of Final Fight or Streets of Rage. You step into the shoes of Kevin Green, a thirteen-year-old boy who morphs into his adult superhero alter ego, Prime. The core mechanics revolve around punching, kicking, and jumping, but the real depth emerges when you start chaining together combos and discovering situational moves against waves of street thugs, robots, and airborne foes.

One of the standout gameplay twists comes in the form of occasional flight stages. Prime takes off at breakneck speed, giving the game a brief arcade shooter vibe: you must punch obstacles and enemies out of the sky before they drain your energy. These sections break up the typical ground-combat rhythm and provide a welcome burst of variety, though mastering the timing can be a steep challenge for newcomers.

Throughout stages, both you and your enemies can pick up improvised weapons—pipes, crates, and other hazards—to gain a momentary edge. The hit detection is generally precise, but on occasion it can feel slightly unforgiving, especially when handling multiple opponents. Still, with a bit of practice and an eye out for hidden weapon spawns, most players will find a satisfying learning curve that rewards risk-taking and exploration.

Graphics

Originally conceived as an SNES title, Ultraverse Prime retains a distinctly 16-bit color palette and sprite style, even in its Sega CD incarnation. The backgrounds are richly detailed—urban cityscapes give way to high-tech laboratories and neon-lit rooftops—and the parallax scrolling layers lend a surprising sense of depth. While the game doesn’t exploit the full graphical horsepower of the CD hardware, the visuals hold up remarkably well, evoking the golden era of early ’90s console beat ’em ups.

Character sprites are robust and expressive. Prime’s transformation animation—shifting from the lanky teenager into a buff superhero—is smooth and visually satisfying. Enemy designs range from standard street punks to more creative robotic or mutated adversaries, each with clear silhouettes that make it easy to identify threats in the heat of battle. Frame-by-frame, the animation pace feels true to its SNES roots, which will please purists but may feel a tad dated for those expecting more advanced CD-era effects.

As a bonus feature, the main menu grants access to digital scans of fifteen different Prime comic book issues. These static pages offer high-resolution artwork and color that truly shine on a CRT or a well-calibrated modern display—an unexpected treat for comic fans. Additionally, the inclusion of video interviews with the game’s writers and artists provides more visual context, though the low-bitrate FMV showcases the limitations of early CD video compression.

Story

On the surface, Ultraverse Prime’s narrative is straightforward: Kevin Green, an ordinary kid, gains extraordinary powers and must cleanse the city of escalating crime and supervillains. The in-game exposition is minimal, delivered through brief cutscenes and on-screen text before each level. While this approach ensures the action never stalls, it leaves little room for character development or surprising plot twists.

The true storytelling value comes from the bonus content. Browsing through the fifteen comic issues reveals richer backstory, introducing secondary characters, moral dilemmas, and a larger conspiracy that the game only hints at. These comics flesh out Prime’s motivations and the villains’ schemes, making the action feel more meaningful once you dive into the extra material.

For completionists or dedicated fans of superhero lore, the behind-the-scenes interviews with writers and artists add another narrative layer, discussing creative inspirations and production challenges. This meta-narrative elevates Ultraverse Prime from a simple brawler to a historical artifact of ’90s gaming culture, though casual players may never venture beyond the main stages to uncover these insights.

Overall Experience

Ultraverse Prime on Sega CD feels like discovering a lost chapter of SNES history. Its core gameplay captures the arcade-style thrills of classic beat ’em ups, complemented by flight segments that keep things fresh. While it doesn’t push the Sega CD hardware to its limits, the blend of solid combat mechanics, varied stages, and hidden weapons delivers a satisfying challenge for genre fans.

The graphical presentation is charmingly retro, and the inclusion of digital comics plus developer interviews makes the package feel substantial. However, if you’re seeking cutting-edge visuals or a narrative-driven adventure, this release may come across as a somewhat bare-bones experience. Its greatest appeal lies in nostalgia and the novelty of accessing never-before-seen Ultraverse lore.

Ultimately, Ultraverse Prime is best suited for collectors, retro enthusiasts, and players who enjoy straightforward side-scrolling brawlers with a superhero twist. Its historical significance as a shelved SNES project turned Sega CD pack-in adds a unique backstory that enriches the playing experience—just don’t expect a technological showcase. With a bit of patience and a love for old-school beat ’em ups, Prime delivers a satisfying trip down memory lane.

Retro Replay Score

6/10