Developed by Jeff Minter, Llamasoft
Published by PQube
Reviewed on PlayStation 4 (also available on PC and Xbox One)
Classic arcade games have been ported to almost every gaming generation through collections or just straight ports of said classic arcade games. Every once in awhile we get a full-on remake of classic arcade games that make it their way to digital storefronts. One such game is the classic arcade game Tempest. It was originally released in 1981 and unlike most games at the time, Tempest features progressive level design. Levels varied from each other as the player progressed through the game. I remember when I was a kid I would always find myself playing Tempest over a lot of classic arcade games. I thought its 3D plane looks really cool packaged together with simple but addicting game play that brought me back for more. Now Tempest is back with Tempest 4000 developed by Llamasoft and is currently available for most modern systems!
How does this edition fare? well, pretty good actually. Tempest 4000 does not stray away from what the game great in the first place. It just brings the franchise into the modern generation with updated graphics and music. The player will gather power ups as they blast their way their way on a geometrical plane through multiple levels. Tempest 4000 has amazing replay value as it features 100 levels and three game modes for the player to conquer. Normally in a playthrough I was able to get through about 13 levels each time I played. It left me wanting to just get to the next level to see what it looked like. The addicting gameplay is paired bright neon graphics and multiple tracks of EDM music that accompany players through their journey.
Don’t go into Tempest 4000 expecting anything other than good old fashioned Tempest. While there are three game modes there isn’t much else. The game is pretty bare bones and really does feel like it’s a classic arcade title. At $30 some players who are not familiar with Tempest might not give the game a chance. Even with the game’s high replay value it is a steep price.
If you’re familiar with Tempest then you’ll enjoy the experience that Tempest 4000 brings. However, if you have never experienced Tempest before you might feel a little disappointed with paying $30 for an upgraded version of a classic arcade title.
