Cotton 100%/Panorama Cotton Switch Review

Cotton 100% / Panorama Cotton

Developed By: Success/Ratalaika

Published By: ININ Games

Date of Release: October 29, 2021

Price: $14.99 Each

 

 

The Cotton series of SHMUPS has always been an adorable franchise, a Cute-Em-Up if you will. Starring the cute-as-a-button candy-obsessed witch named Cotton, the series has been a gleeful romp through various fantasy worlds with no signs of slowing down at all. And now with ports of two of the best 16-bit entries in the Cotton universe, it's easier than ever to experience these titles for yourself, no need to import any cartridges!

Cotton 100% for the Super Famicom is a fine entry in the series, basically a brighter more colourful remake of the original Fantastic Night Dreams: Cotton. It featured better level designs, tight controls, and an absolutely fantastic soundtrack. It has incredibly vibrant graphics and perhaps slightly overly detailed backgrounds that can be distracting at times, but the eye candy isn't too distracting. This port from Ratalaika matches their other retro ports in quality and scope of options, though the video aspect ratio menu is bugged and has no effect. Still a solid port, and the definitive way to play this classic title.

 

 

Panorama Cotton for the SEGA MegaDrive on the other hand takes an entirely different approach to the formula. The best way to describe it would be Cotton in Space harrier form. It's a massive departure from the rest of the series with it's over-the-shoulder view of oncoming enemies and hazards, but it somehow manages to work. All the fancy options that are present in Ratalaika's other ports are present here, and the aspect ratio does actually take effect properly this time around. My only real complaint with both of these titles is they are untranslated, sticking to the original Japanese script. Still completely playable, but it would be nice to know what is going on. All in all though, both titles are amazing, and worthy of a place in any SHMUP fan's collection!