Attack of the Kraken Review

I was a little young to experience Attack of the Mutant Camels the first time round back in the 1980s, but those who loved it are going to feel at home with Attack of the Kraken.

It's as simplistic title as you'd expect from a side scrolling shooter. You control a small spaceship as you fly across the screen shooting at the giant Krakens and other baddies coming out of the ocean below you. That's pretty much it. There's a story but it's not overly compelling.

There are 10 different enemies to fight against, each with their own mannerisms, as well as 16 different levels to fly across and 7 different environments to stare at while you're doing so. They all stick to a familiar retro feel and it's clear that Attack of the Kraken is not trying to be cutting edge in any way; the graphics do feel quite limited. It's quite good fun though even if it won't win any prizes for originality.

There are a few features that developers, Quantum Sheep, have introduced to make things a little different. Each enemy has different strengths and skills. More interestingly there's a form of research which can be conducted via killing enemies at full health. Once researched, the enemy is then easier to kill. You can access the research screen from the main menu to check how you're doing with each enemy type. It's a nice bonus that's quite well thought out and adds a much needed layer of depth.

The controls are easy to get to grips with; there's a form of virtual d-pad which is responsive and does the job just fine. The soundtrack also keeps to the 80s formula and, while not to my taste, I can see how it would bring back memories of the 80s arcade classics. It's got that vibe to it.

Attack of the Kraken won't set the world alight with its originality. It feels like a frivolous game rather than one that you'd spend hours with, but it is fun in short bursts. Just don't expect a revolution in gaming: it's a shallow affair but one that's still quite fun to indulge in.