Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Dead Moon delivers classic side-scrolling shoot ’em up action with a modern sheen. Players pilot a lone U.N. interceptor craft through six distinct stages, alternating between Earth’s beleaguered surface, the vacuum of space, and the cratered plains of the moon. The controls are tight and responsive, making sudden enemy swarms and mini-boss patterns feel fair yet challenging. While veteran shoot ’em up fans will appreciate the precise hitboxes and smooth strafing, newcomers can lean on the generous checkpoint system to learn enemy attack patterns without too much frustration.

The weapon system is where Dead Moon really shines. You have access to four primary weapons—spread shot, laser beam, homing missiles, and rapid-fire pulse—and an array of secondary armaments like screen-clearing bombs and temporary shields. Picking up weapon icons during each stage swaps your loadout on the fly, encouraging adaptive play. Facing a heavily armored mini-boss? Switch to the laser beam. Need crowd control against swarms? Unleash rapid-fire pulses or detonate a secondary bomb. This flexibility keeps each level feeling fresh, even as you replay to improve your performance.

Stage design balances linear progression with occasional branching paths and secret rooms. Early levels on Earth introduce standard enemy ships and ground turrets, while mid-game space stages demand tight navigation through asteroid fields. The moon stages culminate in sprawling boss arenas where positioning and weapon choice become critical. Though a six-level campaign may feel brief to completionists, the variety of environments and escalating challenge curve ensure that each playthrough demands focus and strategy.

Graphics

Dead Moon’s pixel art aesthetic strikes a nostalgic chord without feeling outdated. Backgrounds transition seamlessly from shattered cityscapes on Earth to vast starfields and the harsh gray surface of the moon. Subtle parallax scrolling adds depth to each stage, giving the sense of a three-dimensional battlefield even as you remain on a two-dimensional plane. Explosive VFX are punchy and colorful, making every missile impact and enemy death feel impactful.

Enemy and boss designs lean heavily into mechanical and alien motifs. The war machines unearthed at the comet’s impact site sport intricate armor plating, glowing energy cores, and articulated limbs that animate smoothly. Mini-bosses break up the pace with unique attack patterns—some unfurl sweeping flamethrowers, others unleash barrages of homing rockets. Each new adversary introduction is accompanied by a brief animation flourish that underscores its threat, keeping visual variety high throughout.

Performance remains rock-solid even in the most chaotic moments, with minimal frame drops or slowdown. On both console and PC platforms, Dead Moon maintains a consistent 60 frames per second, preserving the tight controls needed for precision dodging and shooting. Audio design complements the visuals with pulsing electronic beats and dramatic boss fanfares. The soundtrack’s retro-inspired chiptune melodies underscore the action without overstaying their welcome.

Story

The narrative setup of Dead Moon feels like a sci-fi serial ripped straight from 1980s pulp magazines. Two centuries in the future, astronomers discover a comet hurtling toward Earth, only to deflect it into the moon at the last second. The explosion reveals alien war machines bent on invasion. It’s simple, it’s dramatic, and it provides just enough context for why you’re blasting through waves of extraterrestrial hardware.

Story beats are delivered through brief interstitial text and minimal voiceover, freeing up the action to take center stage. After each level, you receive mission updates briefing you on the ever-escalating alien threat—from initial reconnaissance failures on Earth to desperate firefights in lunar caverns. While there’s no deep character development or moral quandaries, this light approach keeps the pace brisk and the stakes clear: eliminate the invaders before humanity’s last line of defense crumbles.

Environmental storytelling fills in additional lore. Ruined city skylines, derelict research outposts in orbit, and vast lunar tunnels adorned with alien hieroglyphics hint at a broader conflict. Collectible data logs unlock snippets about the alien civilization’s motives and technology, adding optional depth for lore-hungry players. It’s not the most ambitious narrative in modern gaming, but it serves its purpose: fuel your drive to see the mission through.

Overall Experience

Dead Moon is a love letter to retro shoot ’em ups that succeeds on its core strengths: tight controls, varied weapons, and engaging boss encounters. Its six stages offer a satisfying mix of enemy types and environments, each culminating in memorable boss battles that test both reflexes and strategy. The weapon customization and branching paths provide replay incentives for those chasing high scores and hidden secrets.

On the downside, some players may find the campaign a bit short, and the absence of cooperative or multiplayer modes limits social play. Difficulty spikes toward the final moon levels can feel punishing without upgraded weapons, making the run toward the end boss a stern trial for unprepared pilots. Still, the built-in “New Game Plus” mode—carrying over all upgrades—mitigates these spikes and encourages mastery.

For fans of the genre, Dead Moon is a compelling purchase. It balances old-school appeal with modern polish, delivering an action-packed journey from Earth’s surface to the lunar frontier. While it may not reinvent the wheel, it refines every element of classic side-scrolling shooters into a tight, replayable package that will satisfy both nostalgists and newcomers alike. If you’re looking for a crisply designed, weapon-rich shooter experience with a crunchy sci-fi premise, Dead Moon should be on your radar.

Retro Replay Score

6.8/10