Game:

Armored Lab Force VULVEHICLES (2022)

Duration: 44:54

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While this is a new game from the fine Doujin team at "ASTRO PORT", it's safe to say that this isn't their best work. However, if you can get past the visuals and slightly wonky translation, the game is also a ton of fun! Released in late August / early September of this year and published by Henteko Doujin on Steam, the game is part of the long-running "Astro Saga" universe with ties to past works such as "Supercharged Robot VULKAISER", "WOLFLAME", "GIGANTIC ARMY" and takes place many years after "WITCH-BOT MEGLILO" (WBM = 1977, ALFV = 2010). ASTRO PORT cranks out more serious titles, but some of their games are on the campier side with dark humor interspersed here and there. "Armored Lab Force VULVEHICHLES" packs some hardcore action with an all-female main cast that is goofier and raunchier than their past titles, and even the title is a little subjective (with "Vulvehichles" alluding to the female Vulva).

This game continues the battle against the TDF (Terran Defense Force) and Ramulon War with the heroines hailing from the Super Electric Research institute on Planet Abic. The group is comprised of different eccentric "geniuses" from various parts of the galaxy (including former adversaries from the Gogoh Army) who unite for a common cause of furthering scientific development and advancement under the tutelage and employment of Dr. Amamori. While they are "generally good", their antics are not always morally sound, which has lead to forces retaliating against them as they cause as much harm and environmental destruction as good. Their quirks serve as comical banter spread out between the games few dozen stages as you learn more about the characters and their backstories, and some of it is genuinely funny and got a few chuckles out of me. Unfortunately, the art and font is blurry and hard to digest with minimal animation or variety, which is not optimized or an issue for some prior AP titles.

The graphics during actual gameplay, however, are still low-res but stylized with some cool effects, animations and impactful pixel goodness more inline with other AP titles. It gives off the feel of a lost early 32-bit title with loads of bullets and destruction going about without skipping a beat, and this part of the game is visually pretty satisfying overall. The soundtrack is not especially memorable, but it suits the different areas you'll visit and doesn't really offend or excite. The game doesn't have any voiced dialogue, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. A few dialogues do drag on a bit longer than they should, but you are given the option to skip scenes outright, so again, not a problem.

The gameplay here is actually great and thought out pretty well as it caters to almost any playing style. It's kind of a cross of "Super SWIV / Firepower 2000", "Blaster Master" without the exploration, and Worms (where you can use the environment to your advantage), and it doesn't take itself seriously unless we're on the subject of explosions. The player can switch between twelve different Vulvehichles which come with their own weapons and quirks and can swap between three gals at a time during a mission (each gal has two different Vulvehichles). Each vehicle can fly, but not indefinitely and shoot at different rates. Landing and switching between vulvehichles will help recharge your flight meter (you will move very slow in air when empty and be at a big aerial disadvantage) and each Vulvehicle has its own health bar, Omega Weapon capacity and cooldowns, so there is some strategy in how you approach levels and what vehicles you bring. There is also a turning button.

Do you choose the small fragile vehicle with the rapid rate of fire and great cover abilities, the balanced fair-weather vehicle that can adapt to most situations, a bulky vehicle with strong destructive capabilities and a "Scorched Earth" policy, or a unique mixture of any and all traits? The game gives you this choice while also offering ability upgrades and the opportunity to change your vulvehicles after each area, but losing a vehicle during gameplay eliminates it from the rest of your run, so over-utilizing your favorite could spell disaster. You also get greater challenges and score modifiers for different difficulties based on remaining health (x1 for easy, x2 for normal, x3 for hard, etc.) and it's not just for score chasers; completing the game with 10,000,000 points or more unlocks the "Ultra" difficulty as well as "Extra" mode for even more challenges.

At $10 (and currently on sale for $8), it's a fun game that won't break the bank! Sadly, it's single-player only, but use it as a means to explore other AP titles. This is a video of the game in action. You can get it at:

https://store.steampowered.com/app/1957590/Armored_Lab_Force_VULVEHICLES/

Enjoy.

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