Under Defeat

Where helicopter gunship-themed video games are concerned, Under Defeat is one of the best ever. It signifies a point in time when the shoot 'em up was being propelled by a new area of creativity, and young development studios like G.Rev were leading the charge. Love it or loathe it, its lock-shot strafe and creeping bullet patterns work terrifically once you get a feel for them, and there's a cinematic scale to it all that feels somehow poignant. It's not the longest game, nor the most visually diverse, but it does what it sets out to do exceptionally well.

While Under Defeat does show its age - particularly with the UI - it still manages to be a brilliant challenging shoot-'em-up that has some quite unique elements. Boasting some glorious couch co-op action, some banging soundtrack options and a fierce challenge for any arcade shooting aficionados, this is one of the very best games of its kind.

This one’s just really darn fun to scorechase in, and I definitely see myself revisiting those Arcade leaderboards over and over in the months to come, especially with how silky smooth this port feels as a whole.

Under Defeat brings together all versions of the game and even includes a new one, even if with few differences in fact, creating an aura of a full-bodied version of a title that can be considered a modern classic of the genre. If you are a fan and enthusiast of shoot 'em ups, you definitely need to add this one to your library.

The latest iteration of Under Defeat shows just how solid the original game was and remains to this day. It's simple yet effective take on the shmmup genre still provides a great challenge with fun gameplay that drives you to keep coming back again and again to better your score. Unfortunately, if it hasn't hooked you in the past, this version isn't really going to do much else to suck you in. The new additions help sweeten the pot for long-time fans but just don't do enough to pull in any new ones.  All in all: fans of the game will enjoy coming back and appreciate having access to a shmup-great on modern consoles.

Under Defeat is a fine example of how when a good port is produced it can make a world of difference. I had this game on PS3 and it made such a little impression that I was apprehensive to cover it, but I am so glad I did. Clear River Games have absolutely knocked this game out of the park with all the available content and the clean-up job they have done, turning what was originally a “meh” game in my eyes into a top-tier shmup. It’s a hardcore shmup through and through, but with various control schemes, outstanding soundtracks, and various ways to play it through I’m absolutely in love with this title and would feverishly suggest that any fans of the genre pick this version up. It’s not only the definitive way to play the game but in my mind, the only way the game should be played. Bravo Clear River Games and City Connection for bringing this once dull gem out as a blinding diamond in the shmup genre.

This is the definitive version of the game. Under Defeat is a game that feels like it never got a chance to breathe, so it is nice to finally have the ultimate version of the game available for just about every modern console and PC. This is a must have for shooter fans, definitely worth the price of admission.

Under Defeat is a superb game, which quite rightly earned plaudits upon release and still feels like an essential part of anyone’s shoot ‘em up library.

Under Defeat is such a challenging explosion-filled shoot 'em up that it's hard to put it down, especially with its distinct modes and helicopters to pilot. Throw in flashy visuals and a great soundtrack and you have one radical arcade shooter. 🚁

Under Defeat (2025) is a remaster of the expertly crafted 2005 vertical shooter, offering tight gameplay, striking art, infectious music, and shmup-friendly extras that make its high difficulty rewarding and replayable.