GG Aleste 3

GG Aleste 3[lower-alpha 2] is a 2020 vertically scrolling shooter video game developed and published by M2. It was included as part of the Aleste Collection for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4, as well as in a Game Gear Micro variant bundled as part of a limited edition. An entry in the Aleste series, the game follows Luna Waizen, a pilot candidate scrambled into service after destruction of the Moon Child base and fight against cyber terrorists that have seized control of the Earth's satellites. It retains the same gameplay conventions as the original GG Aleste and GG Aleste 2, with the player fighting endless waves of enemies while avoiding collision with their projectiles and other obstacles.

GG Aleste 3
Developer(s)M2
Publisher(s)M2
Director(s)Manabu Namiki
Producer(s)Naoki Horii
Designer(s)Manabu Namiki
Kazuyuki Nakashima
Programmer(s)Takashi Yamashita
Artist(s)Kazuyuki Nakashima
Kisai Takayama
Shinsuke Yamakawa
Composer(s)Manabu Namiki
SeriesAleste
Platform(s)Game Gear,[lower-alpha 1] Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4
Release
  • JP: December 24, 2020 (Aleste Collection)
Genre(s)Vertically scrolling shooter
Mode(s)Single-player

GG Aleste 3 was created for the Game Gear hardware by staff who worked on shoot 'em up titles from the 1990s such as Blazing Lazers, Super Star Soldier and Battle Garegga, led by designer and composer Manabu Namiki. It garnered generally favorable reception from critics.

Gameplay
Gameplay screenshot

GG Aleste 3 is a vertical-scrolling shoot 'em up game. The plot follows Luna Waizen, a pilot candidate from the Earth Orbital Army Lunar Defense Corps, who is scrambled into service after destruction of the Moon Child base to fight against cyber terrorists that have seized control of the Earth's satellites.[1][2][3] Prior to starting, a configuration menu is presented where multiple option settings can be altered.[2] Its gameplay follows the same conventions as the original GG Aleste and GG Aleste 2;[3] The player controls the "Are Savior" fighter craft through seven increasingly difficult stages over a constantly scrolling background, populated with an assortment of enemy forces and obstacles, and the scenery never stops moving until a boss is reached, which must be fought to progress further.[1][2]

The player has a main weapon that can be powered up by collecting "Power Chips".[1][2][3] There are also six different special weapons that can be picked up and upgraded if the same weapon is picked up that is currently being used.[1][2][3] The bomb mechanic introduced in GG Aleste 2 was replaced with a shield power-up instead, which is activated once twenty Power Chips are collected and allows the player to only absorb one enemy hit.[1][2][3] Getting hit will result in losing a life, as well as a penalty of decreasing the Are Savior's firepower to its original state and the game is over once all lives are lost, though the player has limited continues to keep playing.

Development and release
A handheld video game console
GG Aleste 3 was developed for the Game Gear.

GG Aleste 3 was developed for the Game Gear hardware by M2, a company regarded for its high-quality video game re-releases.[4] Its staff was conformed by a number of people who worked on shoot 'em up titles from the 1990s.[3] It was directed by Manabu Namiki (of Battle Garegga, DoDonPachi DaiOuJou and Deathsmiles), who was also in charge as game designer and composer.[3][4][5][6] M2 CEO Naoki Horii led its development as producer.[4][5] Kazuyuki Nakashima (of Blazing Lazers, MUSHA, Seirei Senshi Spriggan and Mahou Daisakusen) acted as co-game designer.[3][5][6] Nakashima also acted as co-graphic designer alongside Shinsuke Yamakawa of Battle Garegga.[3][5] Takashi "Faw.Labo" Yamashita of Super Star Soldier and Star Parodier served as the game's programmer.[3][4][5][6] Kisai Takayama, known for bishōjo games such as KimiKiss and Amagami, was commissioned as character illustrator.[4][5][6][7] The team recounted the project's history and creation process through interviews.[4][6][8]

GG Aleste 3 was first announced at the 2020 Tokyo Game Show as part of the Aleste Collection, which was released in Japan by M2 under their publishing label M2 ShotTriggers for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 on December 24.[9][10][11] To denote its authenticity as a Game Gear title, Sega gave it an official production code, while a physical copy was also created, complete with packaging mimicking officially licensed Game Gear releases.[11][12] It was included in a Game Gear Micro variant as well, bundled as part of a limited edition for the Aleste Collection, featuring all of the same games as in the main compilation.[9][11][13] An album containing the game's original soundtrack and other games featured in the Aleste Collection was distributed in Japan by Wave Master on April 21, 2022.[14]

Reception

GG Aleste 3, as part of the Aleste Collection, garnered generally favorable reception from critics.[1][16] Nintendo Life's Kerry Brunskill regarded it as one of the best Game Gear games that pushes the hardware to its limits and a welcomed addition in the collection.[12] Hardcore Gaming 101's Kurt Kalata found it to be "an outstanding 8-bit shooter", lauding its visuals effects and impressive boss encounters. Nevertheless, Kalata questioned M2 for choosing the Game Gear hardware due to its limited screen resolution and felt that the soundtrack was noisy.[3]

Wireframe's Ryan Lambie reviewed the Nintendo Switch version of the collection, praising it for capturing a "cinematic sense of occasion" compared to modern shooters. Lambie called it a "satisfying throwback" to shooters by Compile, commending its fresh balance, design and fast-pacing, but expressed disappointment that the collection was only available in Japan.[15] Eurogamer's Thomas Nickel highlighted its large bosses, pixel art and balanced difficulty curve. Nickel wrote that "It's a magnificent trip down memory lane for the old school-shooter-crowd."[4] Rice Digital's Pete Davison commended its useful subweapons, bosses, solid difficulty and soundtrack. Davidson wrote that it stood up "very well next to the very best titles the 16-bit home consoles have to offer."[17]

Notes
  1. The game is programmed for and runs on Game Gear consoles. It never received a physical release for the platform, but the ROM image was released on the Game Gear Micro microhandheld.
  2. Japanese: GGアレスタ3, Hepburn: GG Aresuta 3

References
  1. "ゲームギア最新タイトル『GGアレスタ3』体験版最速プレイレポート。圧巻の作り込みはシューター要チェック" [Game Gear latest title "GG Aleste 3" trial version fastest play report. Check out the shooter to make a masterpiece]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. November 6, 2020. Archived from the original on 2022-02-07. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  2. GG Aleste 3 取扱説明書 (Game Gear, JP)
  3. Kalata, Kurt (January 16, 2021). "GG Aleste 3". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  4. Nickel, Thomas (March 1, 2021). "How M2 went back to the Game Gear for its magnum opus — Aleste'd development". Eurogamer. Gamer Network. Archived from the original on 2022-06-23. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  5. M2 (December 24, 2020). GG Aleste 3 (Game Gear). M2. Level/area: GG Aleste 3 Development Staff.
  6. "『GGアレスタ』シリーズ大鼎談！ シリーズのキーマン小玉氏、並木氏、ナカシマ氏が裏話を語り尽くす" ["GG Aleste" series big talk! Mr. Kodama, Mr. Namiki, and Mr. Nakashima, the key men of the series, tell the story behind the scenes.]. Dengeki Online (in Japanese). ASCII Media Works. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-06-16. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  7. Kalata, Kurt (January 16, 2021). "Aleste Collection". Hardcore Gaming 101. Archived from the original on 2022-02-15. Retrieved 2022-07-10.
  8. Yamoto, Shinichi (October 6, 2020). "30年を経て，あの携帯ゲーム機が蘇る。「ゲームギアミクロ」発売記念，セガ＆エムツーのキーマン3名にインタビュー" [After 30 years, that handheld game console is back. Interview with 3 key men of Sega & M2 to commemorate the release of "Game Gear Micro"]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas Inc. Archived from the original on 2022-03-12. Retrieved 2022-07-12.
  9. Dabi (September 26, 2020). "［TGS 2020］「アレスタコレクション」に完全新作「GGアレスタ3」が収録決定。限定版付属のゲームギアミクロでも遊べる" [[TGS 2020] Completely new work "GG Aleste 3" will be included in "Aleste Collection". You can also play with the game gear micro that comes with the limited edition]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas Inc. Archived from the original on 2021-06-23. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  10. Romano, Sal (September 26, 2020). "Aleste Collection adds GG Aleste 3, a new title made for Game Gear". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 2022-05-22. Retrieved 2022-07-06.
  11. McFerran, Damien (September 26, 2020). "M2 Is Bringing Aleste Collection To Switch And Making A Special Game Gear Micro (Update: An all-new game has been added)". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 2022-03-10. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  12. Brunskill, Kerry (December 30, 2020). "Aleste Collection Review (Switch) — Vintage shmup action on Switch". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. Archived from the original on 2022-04-05. Retrieved 2022-06-23.
  13. "Say Hello To The Most Desirable (And Expensive) Game Gear Micro". Nintendo Life. Nlife Media. January 12, 2021. Archived from the original on 2021-01-13. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  14. "「アレスタコレクション」のサウンドトラックCDが4月21日にリリース" ["Aleste Collection" soundtrack CD released on April 21st]. 4Gamer.net (in Japanese). Aetas Inc. March 14, 2022. Archived from the original on 2022-03-14. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  15. Lambie, Ryan (February 4, 2021). "Rated - Review: GG Aleste 3 — It's a mega blast (Format: Switch [tested])". Wireframe. No. 47. Raspberry Pi Foundation. p. 94. (Transcription by Wireframe. Archived 2022-06-24 at the Wayback Machine).
  16. Normandin, Marc (May 9, 2022). "7 Great Japanese Shmups You Have to Play on the Nintendo Switch". Paste. Paste Media Group. Archived from the original on 2022-06-18. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
  17. Davison, Pete (September 20, 2021). "Blissful Death: Brand new 8-bit shooting action with GG Aleste 3". Rice Digital. Rice Digital Ltd. Archived from the original on 2022-05-23. Retrieved 2022-06-24.
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