Toki was an interesting game back in the day. The story saw you play as a caveman turned into an ape and going on a quest to rescue a kidnaped cavewoman. Despite the weird premise, this hybrid of shmup and platformer was a hit in the arcades and got a well received NES port back in the day that actually improved several elements and aspects of the game a bit. After years of having been doomed to semi-obscurity, publisher Microids re-released Toki with new visuals and various improvements, and the result is rather interesting.
Toki is definitely a throwback in terms of gameplay, but that is not a bad thing. The side scrolling run ‘n gun style of gameplay is still fun and I enjoyed myself immensely, but something did stand out to me. While there have been a few minor adjustments made to account for differences on modern devices, Toki plays remarkably like it did back in the arcades. This is both a good thing and a bad thing, as while the great action has been preserved with steps taken to ensure it feels right, this does mean that the game doesn’t have the benefits that the NES port had. These improvements, such as using smaller sprites and giving you more of the screen, actually helped reduce a lot of cheap deaths in the arcade, and that was a big improvement to the gameplay experience.
The standout feature of this re-release is the visuals. Toki has been given a beautiful HD remaster and it looks fantastic. The closest I have to compare this to is the remake of Wonder Boy The Dragon’s Trap by DotEmu, because this remaster has the same situation. Give a classic a new coat of paint to make it shine and make adjustments to the gameplay that are minor but still improve the overall flow, The game is fun overall, and provides a decent challenge.
In terms of gameplay, as mentioned above, Toki is a run ‘n gun platformer, but feels more like Cuphead in that it comes off as a shmup and platformer hybrid. Each stage is well developed and there are a number of challenges to face, and the game will constantly keep you on your toes. The music is great here, and gets you into the swing of the action ( pun intended) and the blend of shmup and platforming gameplay works great. This is a title I can see myself coming back to time and again, even with the flaws. The bosses are unique and provide a tough experience, and you will find yourself drawn to the offbeat nature of the game.
Overall, aside from my disappointment over it being a bit too true to the original arcade release ( and yes I realize the entire point wad to remaster the arcade version), I found Toki to be an excellent experience. It will definitely please fans of old school gaming and those who yearns for the days of the arcade. I would definitely recommend checking this out for a retro experience with a modern day polish to it.
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