The Classic Dreamcast Shoot 'Em Up Returns With Remastered Visuals, New Gameplay Modes, and Fully Localized Anime Cutscenes
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In Rainbow Cotton HD Remake, players take control of the adorably mischievous witch Cotton and her fairy companions as they embark on a sugary sweet quest to gather up delicious Willow candies. Using an arsenal of whimsical spells and magical attacks, Cotton must fend off an onslaught of demonic enemies and outrageous bosses across vibrant, fantasy-themed stages. It's a wild and wondrous romp that beautifully captures the series' trademark blend of intense shoot 'em up action and offbeat, lighthearted storytelling.
"The original Rainbow Cotton was a beloved cult classic that really pushed the boundaries of the shoot 'em up genre with its charming characters, creative spellcasting mechanics, and delightfully quirky sense of humor," said Takashi Izuka, director at developer Success. "With this HD remake, we've carefully preserved all the whimsical gameplay that made the original so special while also overhauling the graphics, adding awesome new features, and finally giving Western audiences a chance to experience the full story with localized anime cutscenes."
While the core shooting mechanics that Rainbow Cotton fans know and love remain fully intact, the HD remake introduces a slew of enticing new enhancements. The visuals have been completely remastered in 1080p and 4K resolution with beautifully crisp sprite work, dazzling new lighting effects, and meticulously hand-drawn backgrounds that burst with vibrant colors and incredible details. The remixed soundtrack brings the game's upbeat, lighthearted melodies to life with renewed clarity as well.
Perhaps the most exciting new addition, though, is the debut of a local 2-player co-op mode, allowing a friend to join in on Cotton's magical misadventures for some couch co-op pandemonium. By collecting special items during levels, player two can actually transform into different fairy characters—each with their own unique abilities—allowing for some wild strategic teamwork and combo attacks. For the first time in series history, Rainbow Cotton's frenetic shooting action can be an eye-popping social experience!
The HD remake has also incorporated a host of new quality-of-life improvements to fine tune the gameplay, such as additional spellcasting options, revamped scoring systems, optional auto-fire for simplified play, and more. Combined with the buttery smooth frame rates and gorgeously remastered graphics, these enhancements ensure that Rainbow Cotton looks, sounds, and plays better than ever before.
Of course, one of the most highly anticipated components of this HD remake is the addition of localized versions of the original Dreamcast game's anime cutscenes, which were previously only available in Japanese voice acting with no subtitles. Now, fans in the West can finally experience the full narrative scope and quirky humor of Cotton's misadventures with the inclusion of subtitle tracks in English, French, Spanish, Italian, and German. It's the most complete and accessible version of Rainbow Cotton's story to date!
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With its irresistible charm, vibrant personality, and action-packed gameplay, the original Rainbow Cotton established itself as a must-play for any self-respecting shoot 'em up enthusiast or Dreamcast collector back in 1999. Over 20 years later, this enchanting cult classic has been expertly rejuvenated with the kind of deluxe HD remaster treatment it so richly deserves, introducing its wonderful blend of frenetic shooting, spellcasting mechanics, and off-the-wall storytelling to a whole new generation of gamers.
So grab your trusty broomstick controller, pucker up those lips, and get ready to blow away the demonic hordes as the irrepressible witch Cotton in this lovingly crafted HD remake, available today on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Steam. It's the sweetest magical mayhem you'll experience all year! Just try not to stress out those poor fairy companions too much, okay?
