Genre: Simulation
Developer: Quintet
Publisher: Enix

As a launch-window title, ActRaiser's visuals put most other early Super Nintendo games to shame, particularly when it comes to the "action mode" segments, which aesthetically appear to be inspired by Capcom's "Ghouls'n Ghosts"; as such, they feature ultra rich colors, loads of parallax scrolling, and wonderful animation. While the city-building segments aren't as detailed, their clean and polished approach lends itself well anyway.

Yuzo Koshiro is best known for his Genesis work, particularly with regards to the Streets of Rage series. What's lesser realized is that, as an independent contractor, he also composed and programmed the soundtracks to games such as this. And what a job he did! Completely different in style from many of his other games, but just as good, ActRaiser's score is heavily influenced by famous baroque composers of yore, and is both sophisticated and memorable. The title's sound effects are just as interesting, even if the "text scrolling" sound becomes grating after a time.

ActRaiser alternates between "action mode" segments, reminiscent of the Shinobi or Ninja Gaiden series, and SimCity-like city-building sections. The action stages are well-paced and thoughtfully designed, with nuanced physics and interesting bosses-- even if they are a bit too easy. The simulation levels aren't particularly sophisticated-- nowhere near the complexity levels of actual genre stalwarts-- but are engaging enough, since the player also flies around killing enemies while the mode is running.

Titles like ActRaiser-- with superlative, "labor-of-love"-style aesthetics married to genre-busting gameplay fusion-- is the kind of game that the contemporary industry needs to start making. It's not overly challenging, but between its sensible and occasionally outstanding visuals, excellent pacing, and successful use of experimental mechanics, it is a game that should serve as a reminder of what game creators should be aspiring to do: create high quality, innovative games that feature entirely new modes of play and that aspire to be timeless classics, not cheap consumables.