In what marks a welcome change from battling inside of a dungeon or a castle comes Phosphorescent Lantse from Amzy. Comparable to the 3DS’s Liberation Maiden and the air levels of Kid Icarus: Uprising in being a flight-simulation and shoot-em-up hybrid. Phosphorescent Lantse (also translated as Rinkou no Lanze) boasts both an amazing framerate and possibly the greatest soundtrack on the 3DS being one of the most impressive portable titles aesthetically speaking.
Storyline-wise the game is set in the future and plays somewhat like an air version of the TV show of Total Carnage with the aim being the videogame norm of destroying all opposition. Two forms of body can be undertaken: fight form and flight form which both can be switched (via the L button) to and from at any moment. Both showcase certain advantages with fight form with you as the girl protagonist being better at close combat and the other with the girl as a spaceship and better at the flying elements.
The bottom screen plays host to the radar informing your girl where the enemies are located with the d-pad switching between wide-area radar and short-range radar. The two different modes do affect the strategies needed to complete each mission with both necessary at certain times although the variance in gameplay isn’t as significant as found in say, Kid Icarus: Uprising. Upon completing missions in the campaign mode you both unlock the shop and free mode (where levels can be replayed).
It’s ironic that the most criticism levelled at the aforementioned game titles on the 3DS that Phosphorescent Lantse is most similar to (Liberation Maiden and Kid Icarus: Uprising) are those of the control methods with both circle pad and touchscreen needing to be utilised, that the largest fault I found with Phosphorescent Lantse was also that of the controls but without the need of the touchscreen due to your ship (or girl) being almost uncontrollable at times, especially within battle.
This is probably accelerated more due to the gigantic NWA (that’s National Wrestling Alliance, not the other one) steel cage which whilst probably necessary to impose some limitations on an otherwise free-form universe can be entirely tricky once you collide with the mesh. The game also seems to forcefully transfer you from ship to girl upon occasion and even if it is to the benefit of the player it takes away the freedom of said player. I actually found standing still and moving when missile is launched to be the only way to alleviate this and advance.
Despite possibly the greatest music on the 3DS the voiceover soon gets annoying and the missile lock-on beeping is on a par with the half a heart sound on The Legend of Zelda. Perhaps the criticism I’ve levied at Phosphorescent Lantse is a tad unfair as the game is admittedly way too difficult for this reviewer and if you are an expert gamer loving both aforementioned titles as well as Ace Combat and Zone of the Enders, or you want to see one of the most technically impressive games on the 3DS then Phosphorescent Lantse could be for you. For all other players, approach with caution.
6/10
