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Ultratron hearkens back to a certain era of eighties arcade game, borrowing some of its concept and features from the game Robotron. In it, the human race has been killed off by evil robots, and you, a remaining humanoid droid, are faced with the task of avenging mankind by blowing the bad bots to bits.

At the outset Ultratron looks to be a haven of innocent fun. Quirky sound effects mesh well with the ebb and flow of simplistic electronic beats and fluctuating drone-humming. The atmosphere buzzes with hypnotic warmth, and the luminescence of color on a dark background is relaxing on the eyes. As blocky robots surround your character you are left with two methods of recourse: running and shooting. Level by level the surroundings, music, and enemy characteristics transform, but all are variations on a theme. This gradual integration of elements is natural and well-executed, and the fixed screen, rather than limiting action, provides a stage for rapidly advancing play. Ultratron manages to look and sound sharp while still dishing up an authentic old-school vibe.

The adrenaline rush resulting from taking out clumps of enemies makes the game deceptively addictive. Unluckily for those who do become invested, you are only given one life. You can apparently obtain more through a particular power-up, but it seems very difficult to nail that part of the power-up cycle. In an hour of game play I did not catch it once. With forty levels and constant changes in the lineup of bad guys, this is perverse. In addition, the power-ups and points systems are not very comprehensive to the casual player without intense study, which alienates the average gamer.

The most serious problem involves the control setup. This style of game, no matter how badly it needed to be revived, does not transfer well to a keyboard-and-mouse scheme. Robotron was an early example of the separation of control for movement and firing with a dual joystick setup, and this scheme is integral to the format. But here the mouse and the arrow pad are both available for firing, and there are additional keys designated for movement. The (albeit intentionally) antiquated technology clashes with the high level of precision offered by the mouse, while the arrow keys are clumsy primitive excuses for the same thing. These plus the movement control keys is a recipe for headaches and carpal tunnel.

Frankly, if this game is for you, you probably already know it. Assessing its appeal objectively is near impossible because by virtue of its very existence it stands relative to a certain niche. What some may see as a tribute to classic gaming will appear to others a monster of parody, despite the updated graphics and sound effects. Those of us looking for innocent fun might want to set our sights elsewhere. With all due respect to its creators and fans, this brand of aged cheese is likely to be worth it only to the connoisseur. (3/5)

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