Battle Garegga is a name many fans of old school 2D shooters will recognize. Originally released in 1996 and developed by Raizing, Battle Garegga was an incredibly popular arcade game often cited as one of the best of its kind. It was only ever ported to the Sega Saturn and sadly that version did not make it outside of Japan. As a result, this release has become quite popular among importers and collectors. Copies can typically sell for about $200 or sometimes, even more! Over 20 years later and we not only have an accessible re-release of the game, but a localized one that we can play today! One of the things Battle Garegga was notable for was its use of the “rank” system. Basically, the game’s difficulty would change based on how you play it. For example, collecting too many lives and powerups will make enemies far more aggressive while, losing a life will make the game slightly easier. Managing the rank and figuring out how to manipulate it in your favor will prove to be beneficial in getting through the game especially during some of the later levels. This clever little mechanic gave the game a lot of depth and replay value as players try to master it to be able to complete the game on one credit.
This new release dubbed Battle Garegga Rev. 2016, is packed with features and ways for you to customize your experience. For starters, there are three main game modes: Arcade, Premium and Super Easy. Arcade mode is close to how the game played in 1996, while Premium mode is a new arranged mode. Super Easy as the name will imply, is another new mode designed for newcomers and they won’t have to necessarily worry about the rank system while playing in this mode. You will also have be able to select from 4 different soundtracks and enable new “gadgets” that can display information on screen such as controls, powerups, boss health, ranking graphs, lives and much more. Of course, Battle Garegga Rev. 2016 features online leaderboards and the option to reorient your screen and play in “Vertical Mode”. All in all, it seems M2 has done a great job remastering this classic game and it’s incredible to think that after all these years the game has finally received a console port outside of Japan.
Currently, Battle Garegga Rev. 2016 is a digital-only release and costs $34.99. That might seem like a steep price for a digital download but is nothing compared to how much physical copies currently sell for. Perhaps if the fans make enough noise, M2 can consider doing a physical run. For now however, we can enjoy the game on both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
