When it comes to the cute-’em-up sub-genre, the characterful witch Cotton and the series to which she lends her name are effectively royalty. There are other games that have been important in defining a niche where shmups’ staple fighter craft, tanks and laser turrets are replaced with kittens, candy canes and cuddly toys, of course. Konami’s Gradius spin-off series Parodius, and SEGA’s beloved Fantasy Zone titles, for example, have long delighted players and troubled collectors’ savings. But the Cotton games’ blend of charismatic presentation and hyperactive action has made them among the best loved shmups there are, cute or otherwise.
And now, amidst a flurry of Cotton ports and remasters timed to just about coincide with the first game’s 30th anniversary, Cotton Rock 'n' Roll: Superlative Night Dreams has arrived on Switch, landing shortly after two slightly distinct arcade versions. Western console owners will soon be able to pick up a digital and limited physical release locally under the name Cotton Fantasy — but importing a copy proved tricky to resist when the series’ name alone promises a bounty of quality. Fortunately, Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll almost entirely meets the expectation set by its heritage.
Firing up Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll for the first time, however, it appears to be a rather bare bones offering. There is the main game mode, and the opportunity to practice single levels that you have completed. That could be deemed rather measly at a time when so many shmup releases go with bundling up several versions and arrangements in a single package — or even a collection of titles.
But Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll’s single game mode in fact offers a striking variety of different experiences, delivering not just depth of experience, but also tremendous breadth. There are a lot of ways to play — and master — what Success’ latest has to offer.
Before we get to that, though, it’s worth picking through the core game that sits at Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll’s heart. Firstly, this is no bullet hell shooter. The projectile count does have its moments in the later stage game, but early on bullets are notably low in number unless you crank up the difficulty. That doesn’t mean Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll doesn’t have plenty going on from the off — but it isn’t simply about pounding you with densely packed streams of neon ordnance.
What Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll is is pacey and energetic. Set in a cheerfully gothic world, it’s protagonist witch has set out to uncover the mystery of the disappearance of the series’ magical candy known as Willow. That takes her to a place exuding personality, where a flow of eccentric enemies constantly fill the screen. Things move fast, and thanks to a superb variety of approaches to level design, you’ll face all kinds of different challenges, from claustrophobic sections somewhat reminiscent of R-Type’s core gameplay to battles with level-sized flying fortresses, as well as vertically scrolling horizontal sections and races tearing through continually closing gaps. Play through from beginning to end, and you’re consuming a diverse feast of shmup experiences.
And it is the level design that is one of Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll’s strongest elements. Dynamic, detailed and full of sweeping set-pieces and elegant shifts around the player characters, they also prove that polygonal visuals can bring style and class to a game set in a 2D playfield. The odd character model is a little rough around the edges on closer inspection, but visually, Cotton’s latest presents a sumptuous world.
The bosses also showcase confident design flair, and are packed with interesting concepts, attacks that engender all kinds of different playstyles, and the same abundance of characters found throughout the game. Indeed, their only weakness is that the bosses don't last too long played at the default ‘Normal’ difficulty. Too often, their second form only reveals itself with a handful of seconds left until they meet their end.
On the matter of difficulty, Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll is comparable to Cave’s own witch-centric shooter Deathsmiles, in that played purely to survive, it is more welcoming that it is overwhelming. Play seriously for score, though, and you’ll find yourself in a space with a skill ceiling high enough to satisfy the most devoted, skilled shmup players. That’s all the more true at higher difficulty levels, where you do get to see a little more of what the wonderfully weird boss battles have to offer.
And whatever your skill level, Cotton has a great deal to explore and master. It essentially comes down to the cast of player characters available. Across the six playable characters — plus at least one more if you beat the game on any number of credits — a dizzyingly varied ability set is offered. Each effectively brings an entirely different way to play and score.
Cotton is the main character, of course. Beyond a standard shot and bomb, she can release various magical attacks that clear much of the screen of danger while spawning reams of point scoring items. Downing certain enemies, meanwhile, produces colour changing crystals. Depending on the colour at the point of pick up, they will either grant magic attacks or add to a metre that levels up your attacks. Cotton’s set-up demands fast, reactive play, darting about the screen to juggle priorities.
Tackle the game with Ria, meanwhile, and you essentially get a reproduction of the weapon and scoring systems of Success’ wonderful shooter series Psyvariar. As such, there are almost no gems, no magic attacks and very different billowing clouds of point items. Instead, ‘buzzing’ enemy bullets levels up your weapons, frequently providing a brief shield that lets you smash through bullet patterns to spawn point items, or point blank enemies. Play through the game’s same eight stages with Ria instead of Cotton, and you have to develop entirely different survival and scoring strategies.
Or there’s Fine from Success’ most niche shmup, Sanvien, where a time system keeps you moments from death. Or Luffee, who boils the game down to a much more traditional shooter. You’ll even unlock the game’s antagonist final boss, who again brings new ways to play with a throwable option in a play system similar to R-Type’s.
If that weren’t enough variety, completing the game with each character unlocks a fresh console-exclusive level built around their theme and abilities — at least with every character we’ve bested Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll with thus far. So with Ria you are treated to a horizontal interpretation of the previously-vertical Psyvariar, right down to enemies, bullet patterns and backdrops. Cotton, meanwhile, unlocks a modern reworking of a classic opening stage from her past.
Any playthrough of Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll lets you choose a certain number of stages in any order you choose. Swapping out standard levels for the extra means even more ways to explore new means to score.
With all that interacting variety there are some cases where a character's abilities seem an awkward fit with the stage design. This seems to be a title first and foremost designed to pair with Cotton’s abilities. Yet there are few shmups with so much potential variety in a single game mode. There are moments where the screen gets so cluttered with activity it can be hard to track those pesky bullets. And Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll certainly looks better when played with the Switch docked.
But this release meets a quality bar that has defined much of Cotton’s 20-year history. Few shmups offer so many ways to play, nor deliver such an enchanting world quite so alive with personality. So whether you’re a shmup devotee, or have always longed for a gateway to the shooter genre, Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll offers a colossal amount to enjoy.
Conclusion
While staying true to the series that it extends, Cotton Rock ‘n’ Roll / Fantasy brings so many different experiences in a single shmup that it may as well be a compilation release — and unlike the arcade versions, it is all presented in English language. The more time you give it, the more the replay value snowballs. The faults to be found are few and far between, while sharp level design and a joyful, even mischievous personality define Success’ latest. Simply put, Cotton Fantasy has a lot of fun to give.
Comments 31
Looks like fun.
Sound great! This one goes straight to the wish list
Now, if only the Parodius series got this kind of treatment from Konami...
If you had told me even a few years ago that the Cotton series would have a presence in the 21st century I wouldn't have believed you. As someone who always had to spend crazy money collecting shmups I'm so happy the genre has been getting the proper curation it deserves in the last few years.
I like how every review mentions low difficulty. Maybe this could be a shmup for me
Why did you change the thumbnail of the review? The first one was fine.
Will check the game out.
Great review.
I’ve decided to not buy anything else from Inin until they fix (at least partially, currently they’re in unplayable state) the dumpster fire that were the 2 Saturn Tribute Cottons and Guardian Force, 45€ down the drain there…
Guardian Force is especially AMAZING and it’s a crime to leave it in such horrible state.
@DashKappei Patch should be imminent for that one:
https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2021/12/cotton-guardian-force-saturn-tribute-is-getting-an-update-to-improve-input-delay
No mention of lag on this review so presumably it's fine
@DashKappei
>the dumpster fire that were the 2 Saturn Tribute Cottons and Guardian Force, 45€ down the drain there…
patch for input lag issues is expected sooner or later so I guess it's not a total waste for you.
I myself am waiting for PC release with said patch included right from the start and with a more reasonable price as well.
@Tobiaku I think we all know why lol
Speaking of review...
Considering that Cotton Reboot got 8/10 from NL, and as it seems all other things being equal, Cotton Fantasy totaly deserves 8.5 or 9/10 just because now it is a completely new game, not a remake.
This looks nice, but… this isn't really Cotton. To me it looks like somebody got the license, did whatever game he already had in his head and simply slapped Cotton over it…
That's not necessarily a bad thing, a bit of experimentation doesn't hurt I guess, but personally I find it a bit off putting.
Regardless, I'll probably still get it, it does look quite creative.
@Chunkboi79 I can venture a guess, but if its why I think it is I want to know why they used that thumbnail in the first place if it was so problematic they needed to change it.
I really like this one, even though I might prefer Cotton Reboot a smidge. Both games are great though and I highly recommend both if you like cute shoot ém ups.
My question is, is this game fully translated, unlike the earlier Cotton games?
I haven't gotten a Cotton game yet but they look fun and I want to. This one will definitely go on my wishlist but I'll have to decide which Cotton game is best to try.
Looks pretty fun. I only played Cotton Reboot and thought it was decent. Maybe under a sale, I'll dip into Cotton Fantasy...
On a somewhat related note, I hope the first three Umihara Kawase games come to Switch. Fresh! is amazing (and underrated) in spite of its changes while BaZooKa! is a mixed bag.
Probably getting this. If for no other reason than to support an actual new Cotton game… not a rerelease, a newly developed Cotton game in 2022! (Or 2021)
@StephenYap3 I’d love to play the original Umihara Kawase games.
So frame rate is good in this one?
@Tobiaku what was the original image like?
I'm curious.
Didn't realize there were this many Cotton games on Switch.
@GoldenSunRM Angry Cotton looking at the fairy (maybe right after hitting the fairy or something) with the fairy bending backward face towards us seeing the picture with her boobs right up.
Most likely the fairy boobs that got them to change the picture I guess, but would like to know the actual reason and why put it up just to change it not long after
@Mariotag It is. Everything is in English except for the voice-overs, but every piece of text and dialogue is completely in English.
@John_Deacon Yup, it's 60FPS. I did run into just the tiniest bit of frame drops during a super-hectic part on the final stage, but other than that, it's silky smooth.
Anybody know where I can snag a copy from before it reaches the west in March? Can't find on Playasia or Jpn Eshop...?
@Texasinstrument There is a link to it under the review. The Japanese release is named 'Rock n roll', instead of 'Fantasy'.
@Tobiaku Much obliged thanks👌
I’ve been enjoying a lot Cotton games recently. So I’ll get this once it’s released.
Glad to see the Reboot entry made the series popular enough for them to continue localizing games, new as this one or from its past like Cotton 100% and Panorama Cotton recently.
By the way, Cotton Fantasy will be available in non limited stores at least in Europe.
@Mariotag All the screenshots show nothing but English and it's coming to the West in March, so I would imagine it's a full localisation.
Which one of the cottons is now the best.. was about to buy reboot, but now i see this (and there were so saturn emu caveats, weren't there?)
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