Pocky & Rocky Reshrined

Solid and definitely have an audience. There could be some hard-to-ignore faults, but the experience is fun.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined's ability to seamlessly segue from what seems like a simple remaster into a full-blown remake is brave – and it does it beautifully, too. This looks and sounds like you remember the Super Nintendo release, but is bursting with vibrant flourishes that elevate it beyond mere nostalgia. For purists, it'll no doubt be perfect – but newcomers may scoff at the archaic control scheme, which purposefully limits your capabilities and leads to significant pain.

Despite us making numerous comparisons to the Super Nintendo game, Pocky & Rocky: Reshrined is, for the vast majority, a completely new entry in the series. And that's worth celebrating for several reasons. Tengo Project, well aware of the original's pedigree, was smart enough to only use it as inspiration, rather than attempt to follow its lead beat-for-beat. Within this modern framework, the developer has constructed a thrilling tapestry of light, colour, and action-packed junctures for hardcore gamers to get their teeth into. Is it better than Natsume's venerable 1992 outing? No, but it's about on par, albeit for slightly different reasons. Pocky & Rocky: Reshrined is a blessing, a gorgeous-looking, delightfully artful new interpretation of a much-loved classic, and a noteworthy example of what can be achieved, creatively, with the 2D medium. If you're even mildly into the application of old-school gaming disciplines, it should be snapped up without a second thought.

Despite a few questionable design choices, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined delivers a thrilling and satisfying experience. The blend of nostalgia and modern polish makes every stage a visual and mechanical extravaganza. New characters and stages keep replays fresh, while the core gameplay loop of dodging, shooting, and surviving remains as addictive as ever. It’s not quite as refined as it could be, and the difficulty spikes and locked modes may alienate newcomers. However, for those who relish a challenge and adore retro shooters with a unique cultural twist, this is a worthy revival of a beloved classic.

Pocky & Rocky Reshrined successfully marries the charm of the original with contemporary gaming expectations. The dedication of the TENGO PROJECT shines through in every aspect, resulting in a game that feels both familiar and fresh. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the series or a newcomer to the world of shrine maiden shooters, Reshrined is a delightful experience that stands as a testament to the enduring appeal of classic gaming.

For those who don’t mind a short runtime and a somewhat steep price tag, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined’s old-school cool is a retro revival that evokes nostalgia while still being new. For those that appreciate a challenge, its insistence on muscle memory and pattern recognition will be just what the shrine maiden ordered.

Still, as a solo experience, and as an overall package? Reshrined still manages to be incredibly fun, and while I’ll never get why Natsume-Atari insists on making the multiplayer experiences as inaccessible as possible, the core gameplay loop is still outstanding enough that I can at least recommend this for a solo playthrough or two, and especially for the sake of those online leaderboards. Once this game finally clicks, it’s a whole lot of fun, and I am relieved that I managed to get it to finally click once I spent a good amount of time on it solo.

My Pixels Bring All The Boys To the Yard

Anyone looking for an arcade-style cooperative game definitely needs to check out Pocky & Rocky Reshrined.

Despite some strange design choices, Pocky & Rocky Reshrined captures the charm of the original game and still feels great to play all these years later. Added variety makes this the best version of Pocky & Rocky and makes me long for this dynamic duo to be given a truly original title now that they’ve fought their way out of obscurity.