Formation Z was originally released for arcades in 1984 before making its way to the NES and MSX. Developer Jaleco put together an enjoyable shoot ’em up that stood out thanks to its transforming mech mechanic. Now, with the genre enjoying a modern resurgence, R-Type developer Granzella has decided it’s time to regain formation, bringing FZ: Formation Z to players around the world in the form of a full remake.

FZ: Formation Z is a horizontal scrolling shoot ’em up whose main gimmick is the ability to transform between your mech and ship forms at the press of a button. Staying in mech form doesn’t consume your limited fuel supply, while flying around in ship form gradually drains it. The trade off is well worth it, though, as the ship tears through ground based environmental hazards and lets you blaze through each stage at an alarming pace.

 

While it’s very tempting to transform into the ship and play FZ: Formation Z like a traditional shoot ’em up, the game rewards players who take their time. Those willing to explore on foot with a keen eye and a healthy trigger finger will uncover hidden areas packed with extra in game currency and other unlockables.

The mech also has the ability to aim its shots and unleash a melee attack that reflects enemy fire. It takes a little practice to really nail the timing, especially during the more hectic sections, but it’s well worth mastering. The ship, on the other hand, comes equipped with a missile barrage that almost clears the entire screen. It doesn’t quite wipe everything out, but it certainly doesn’t leave much standing!

The five stages in FZ: Formation Z slowly scroll to the right, giving you full freedom to fight both on land and in the air. Enemies come at you from every angle, while environmental hazards like the ocean and walls of fire keep you on your toes. There are some cool set pieces along the way too, with the adventure beginning on Earth before taking the fight to the alien scum attempting to enslave humanity.

The only real issue is that every stage has at least one stretch where nothing much happens. You’re simply waiting for the screen to crawl forward while maybe dodging a hazard or two until the action finally picks back up.

The stages are massive and, as mentioned, there are plenty of alternate routes for the more eagle eyed among you, rather than simply flying straight through them like a traditional shoot ’em up. It’s just a shame there aren’t more of them, because once the game reaches its third stage, it really starts to hit its stride. Still, there are five difficulty options to choose from, so you can begin on Beginner and gradually work your way up to becoming a shoot ’em up god, or simply breeze through the game for a fairly easy one credit clear. You do you.

With the in game currency you collect during each run, you’re given a grand total at the end before being let loose in the in game store. Here, you can fully customize your mech with stickers, swap out parts that alter its stats, or even treat yourself to one of the additional mechs available to purchase, including a cheeky R-Type inspired design. It adds a surprising amount of replay value, especially since those mechs cost so damn much!

FZ: Formation Z controls really well. For the most part I experienced little to no input lag, and the frame rate stayed consistently smooth outside of a few particularly hectic moments later in the game. The only real issue I had was with the transformation mechanic itself. You press the jump button, then press and hold it again to transform. Sometimes it worked perfectly, while other times I’d be scrambling for my life, either transforming too late and crashing into danger or plunging straight into the ocean and losing a life.

Visually, FZ: Formation Z is a good looking game, if a little basic. It’s the curse of many shoot ’em ups that use 3D models: everything animates well and gets the job done, but it doesn’t quite capture the charm of beautifully drawn 2D sprites. At the same time, it also doesn’t reach the visual heights of R-Type Final 3, which remains one of the best looking 3D shoot ’em ups around. Instead, FZ: Formation Z settles into a comfortable middle ground.

My only major gripe with the visuals is the enemy variety, or rather the lack of it. You’re mostly fighting a fleet of generic looking ships alongside the usual assortment of threats, and even the bosses remain criminally uninspired until the final two stages. I don’t know whether the budget simply didn’t stretch far enough or if Granzella wanted to stay as faithful as possible to the source material, which admittedly I have yet to play. Either way, it makes for one painfully boring rogues’ gallery to fight through.

FZ: Formation Z is a damn fun shoot ’em up, even if it feels a little light on content for its asking price. Yes, it offers several difficulty options and plenty of unlockable mechs, but there are still only five stages, which won’t take much more than an hour to clear. Even less once you start flying through them and learn where all the ship fuel pickups are. It definitely has the feel of a lower budget AA release, but I think Granzella has done a great job crafting a shoot ’em up that’s simply fun to play while still offering a decent challenge at times, unlike a certain R-Type Dimensions 3. It’s a great experience that’s ultimately let down by its price.